Newspaper Cuttings

SHuttonGR1586017v10001.jpg
SHuttonGR1586017v10002.jpg
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Title

Newspaper Cuttings

Description

Seven newspaper cuttings.
Item 1 is about Bombing-up the last Lancaster. Asterisked is a reference to Reg Hutton.
Item 2 and 3 refer to D-day viewed from a Lancaster by Flight Sergeant Hutton.
Item 4 and 5 refer to bombing of shore batteries by Hutton and crew.
Item 6 is a repeat of item 4.
Item 7 is a cutting with a photograph of the Queen and Princess Elizabeth surrounded by airmen.

Language

Type

Format

Seven newspaper cuttings

Rights

This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.

Contributor

Identifier

SHuttonGR1586017v10001, SHuttonGR1586017v10002, SHuttonGR1586017v10003, SHuttonGR1586017v10004

Transcription

WEST HERTS AND WATFORD OBSERVER, Friday, February 11, 1944 3

[missing letters]ncaster Bomber

BOMBING-UP THE LATEST LANCASTER
[photograph]
A Lancaster II, one of our latest giant bombers, being prepared for operations. The picture shows bombing-up in progress. Armourers add a finishing touch with 500-pounders to a load which includes a 4,000-pounder and incendiaries.

Wiliam Clarke, of 4, London-road Rickmansworth. He volunteered for the R.A.F. in March, 1942. Now, at the age of 21, he is almost a veteran flyer, having taken part in many raids on enemy-occupied territory, including several flights over Germany.

Like many of the men who now brave the adventurous hazards of the air, Sergeant-Observer Clarke formerly followed one of the most quiet and secluded of peace-time occupations. He was an assistant librarian at the Wick-lane library of the Poplar Borough Council.

Sergeant-Observer Clarke looks upon his part in the war as a personal struggle against the Nazi. He has good reason. His brother, Flying Officer Henry Thomas Clarke, was posted as missing on November 23, 1943, after a raid on Berlin.

Referring to the efficiency of the Lancaster bomber as a war weapon, Flight-Sergeant Prothero described this aircraft as “the best ‘kite’ there is for ‘ops.’” The Lancaster is most manoeuvrable at high altitudes, and is very fast.

“The Lancaster is a great favourite with air-crews. We have often thought we should like to meet the people who make them. They do a grand job.”

Flight-Sergeant Prothero, who has also bombed Brunswick and Magdeburg, and taken part in a leaflet raid on Abbeville, lost a brother two years ago in a raid over Essen. Two other members of his crew have lost brothers in raids over enemy territory.

The Wing Commander who conducted [indecipherable word] over the station told me, after much persuasion, how he helped to save the crew of a Lancaster bomber which had baled [sic] out into the sea.

Among that crew was Sergeant Gordon Stromberg, of 54, Sheepcot-lane, Garston. He was wireless operator aboard the aircraft, which was returning after a highly successful raid on Berlin.
“Evidently they had been chased by a German fighter, which got in a burst at their petrol tanks,” said the Wing Commander. The crew inflated their dinghy and kept afloat for fourteen hours. They managed to get a wireless message through to us giving details of their position before they left the plane, and a search was organised. After many hours of careful patrolling a narrow strip of sea, I happened to spot the dinghy tossing like a cork below. We at once directed a rescue launch to the scene, and the airmen were brought to safety – none, fortunately, with serious injuries.”

Sergeant Stromberg, who is 20 years of age, joined the R.A.F. in October, 1942. He was formerly employed in the Outfitting Department of the C.W.S. Stores, St. Albans-road, Watford.

[symbol] Other local men serving on the station are Sergeant Richard Hoddle-Wrigley of Whippendell Lodge, Chipperfield, and Sergeant George Reginald Hutton, of 57, St. George’s-drive, Carpenters Park, who are both air-gunners. [symbol]

As I left the station my mind was filled with the thought of how great the tragedy of this war really is. Instead of uniting forces for the emancipation of mankind, scientists and technicians have had to bring all their knowledge to bear on the subject of blasting life. The one comforting feature which emerged, however, was the fact that as a result of their many researches scientists may, by the time hostilities cease, have devised some means whereby war will be outlawed forever.

[page break]

How Watford Airman Saw Start Of Invasion

Flying in a Lancaster bomber on “D-Day,” Flight-Sergt. Hutton, of Watford, had a bird’s-eye view of the start of the invasion of Normandy. “Lunatics at Large” was the name given to the bomber, but a Wing Commander who went on the trip said, “There was nothing looney about that crew.”

Describing the scenes Flight Sergeant Hutton said, “It was an unforgettable sight, to be followed later on our return journey by an even more imposing spectacle.

“Suddenly, stretched away as far as the eye could see, were two massive convoys, one on our port-bow and the other to the starboard.

“These were no small fry, but big ships in line astern, with their escorts of destroyers and corvettes which fussed around them like chicks round an old hen.

“Some were flying balloons and the sight sent the pilot bouncing up and down in his seat and clapping his hands with joy. One of the crew counted 55.

“That was our big moment, for these two convoys steamed steadily on course as if such a thing as war and opposition were out of the question.

BOMBED THE BATTERIES

“We had bombed special six-inch coastal batteries. At our final briefing, the station commander said, ‘You may think this is the second front I’ve not been told that it is, but if you knock out those batteries, you will be doing a grand job.’

“The briefing was implicit: ‘Take notice of anything you see in the Channel. Under no circumstances may bombs be jettisoned in the sea west of your routing.’

“Fifteen miles from the French coast, there were large flashes of gunfire to the starboard. These went on for several minutes and there was one large explosion which seemed to burst right through the cloud.

“Suddenly the Channel appeared below us and in the distance we could see the outline of the French coast in the gathering dawn. On the sea below was a great regiment of tadpoles with white tails.

“All around our ‘plane were other Lancasters, silhouetted in the moonlit sky. They were far more frightening than flak which started to appear – three flak ships had suddenly opened up with everything they had. It was as good as any firework display.

DRAMATIC MOMENT

“Suddenly as we ran into our target an urgent call came from one member of the crew to the bomb aimer. ‘Don’t let your bombs go. There’s a Lanc passing right under us! We ran in to the aimer’s quiet ‘Open bomb door . . . Steady . . . Bombs going . . . bombs . . . gone.’

“A steep turn to the left. More flak. A warning to the pilot: ‘Look out, Skip, flak coming up right in front of us.’ And his chuckling reply: ‘Have you ever seen it going down?’

“The out over the coast in thick cloud until there was a lucky break through which we could see these two great convoys. ‘Oh boy! Oh boy! Just look at those beauties.’ someone said – So it was to our home base.

“We saw more ships than aircraft – many more. Many were in places I cannot mention for security reasons. As we came home in bright daylight we passed packs of Forts and Liberators speeding outwards to carry on the good work.”

[page break]

Watford Man’s Bird’s-eye View of Invasion

MEMBER of the crew of the Lancaster “Q for Queenie,” which had been sent out to bomb coastal batteries, Flight-Sergeant Hutton, of Watford, had a bird’s eye view of the start of the vast invasion armada, and appended is an account from the officer commanding the aircraft.

“Suddenly there, stretched away as far as the eye could see, were two massive convoys, one on our port bow and the other on the starboard,” said Wing Commander Charles Bray. “These were no small fry, but big ships in parallel lines in line astern with their escorts of destroyers and corvettes, the latter fussing around them like an old hen with chickens. ‘Who’s going to count this lot for me?’ I said over the intercom. The bomb-aimer replied: ‘I’ve counted fifty-five already.’ These two great convoys steamed steadily on, as if such a thing as war and opposition was out of the question.”

BOMBED THE BATTERIES

“We had bombed special six-inch coastal batteries. At our final briefing the Station Commander said: ‘You may think this is the second front. I’ve not been told that it is, but if you knock out those batteries you will be doing a grand job.

“The briefing was: ‘Take no notice of anything you see in the Channel. Under no circumstances may bombs be jettisoned in the sea west of your routing.’

“Fifteen miles from the French coast I suddenly saw on our starboard large flashes of gunfire. These went on for several minutes, and there was one large explosion, which seemed to burst right through the cloud.

“Suddenly the Channel appeared below us and in the distance we could see the outline of the French coast in the gathering dawn.

“All around ‘Q for Queenie’ were other Lancasters, like great black beetles silhouetted in the moonlit sky. They were far more frightening than the flak ships, which opened up with everything they had.”

“A LANC. RIGHT UNDER US”

“As we ran into our target an urgent call from one member of the crew to Harry the bomb-aimer: ‘Don’t let you bombs go: there’s a Lanc. passing right under us. Later came Harry’s quiet, ‘Open bomb doors. Joe. Keep her steady. Bombs going. bombs . . . gone.

“A steep turn to the left with other Lancs. clustered around us. A warning: ‘Look out, skip, flak coming up right in front of us.

“Then out over the coast in thick cloud, until suddenly a lucky break through which we were able to see these two great majestic convoys. ‘Oh, boy! oh, boy! Just look at those beauties,’ gleefully cried one member of the crew, and so on home to our base.”

[page break]

WE BOMBED BATTERIES ON COAST

(2) Continued from Page One.

in the sea west of your routing, and most important of all, don’t overshoot the target.

Immediately after take-off, Pilot Officer Joe Duncliffe, 21, of Rugby, who has 23 ops. to his credit, called me forward to the co-pilot’s seat.

After gaining height we set course and flew with a host of other Lancasters clustered all around us. It was so clear in the bright moonlight that I was able to see quite easily to write my notes.

Large Explosion

15 miles from the French coast I suddenly saw on our starboard bow large flashes of gunfire. These went on for several minutes. There was one large explosion which seemed to break right through the cloud.

And suddenly the flak came bursting up in a golden shower.

Calmly and quietly came instructions to the pilot from other members of the crew. Kite on your port bow, Joe . . .” “Kite dead ahead above . . .”

Three flak ships suddenly opened up with everything they had, fortunately well to our port and below.

We ran in to our target to Harry’s quiet order “Open bomb doors, Joe. Keep her steady. Bombs going . . . bombs . . . gone.”

A steep turn to the left with other Lancasters clustered around us. More flak.

A warning from Harry to Joe. “Look out, skip. Right in front of us; flak coming up.”

And Joe’s reply, “Ever seen it going down?”

Oh Boy, Oh Boy . . .

Then out over the coast in thick cloud until suddenly, through a lucky break, we again glimpsed those two majestic convoys.

“Oh boy, oh boy, just look at those beauties,” cried one member of the crew.

We saw more ships than aircraft, many more. Lots were in places I cannot say for security reasons.

And as we came home in bright daylight we passed packs of Forts and Liberators, speeding outwards to carry on the good work.

The crew for “Q Queenie” were Pilot-Officer Joe Duncliffe, Flight-Sergeant Jock Lewis, of Aberdeen; Flight-Sergeant Bourne, of Faversham; Sergeant Hollis, of Burnley; Sergeant Baker, of Amersham; Flight-Sergeant [indecipherable letter]utton, of Watford; and Sergeant Guy, of Glasgow.

The aircraft was named “Lunatics at Large” – but there was nothing loony about that crew.

[page break]

[underlined] Herald’s Air Correspondent [/underlined]

FLEW IN ATTACK AT DAWN

By WING COMMANDER BRAY

FROM my seat in the Lancaster “Q Queenie” I looked down and saw two massive convoys stretching far away, out of sight.

I looked sideways and counted 14 Lancasters, silhouetted like big black bats in the moonlit sky.

[italics] Then I looked ahead – and there was the coast of France – the invasion coast. [/italics]

And the spectacle of the vast armada of landing barges, speeding for the French coast, where the first rays of dawn were glinting, was weird and wonderful, like a huge shoal of tadpoles with tiny wispy white tails, but lined up with the precision of a regiment on parade.

A Grand Job

There were no small crafts in the two convoys steaming parallel in line astern, but big ships escorted by destroyers and corvettes.

Some were flying balloons and the sight sent my pilot bouncing up and down in his seat and clapping his hands for joy.

Over the intercom I said, “Who’s going to count this lot for me?”

Immediately came the reply from the Bomb-aimer Flight-Sergeant Harry Bourne, “I’ve counted 55 already.”

[italics] That was our big moment, for those two great convoys were sailing steadily on course as serenely as if on a peace-time cruise. [/italics]

At our final briefing the station commander said: “You may think this is the Second Front. I’ve not been told that it is, but if you knock out those batteries you will be doing a grand job.”

For our targets were special six-inch coastal batteries.

The briefing was implicit. Take no notice of anything you see in the Channel. Under no circumstances may bombs be jettisoned

(2) Continued on Back Page.

[page break]

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1944 Page 5

A Picture The Boys Will Treasure

[photograph]

ROYAL VISIT TO R.A.F.

The Queen, wearing R.A.F. wings in her buttonhole, and Princess Elizabeth, stop for their photograph to be taken with air crews who had just returned from attacking the flying bomb bases.

Occasion was a visit with the King to R.A.F. stations.

Collection

Citation

“Newspaper Cuttings,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed November 12, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/26410.

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