1
25
76
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1476/38901/MDayW[Ser -Dob]-160121-01.pdf
14537c8e21801c12f27156aab8a15b1b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Day, William
W Day
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-12-20
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Day, W
Description
An account of the resource
Three items. The collection concerns Warrant Officer William Day (1905 - 1995 Royal Air Force) and contains a photograph of his crew with added information and a list of operations. He flew 33 operations as an air gunner with 15 Squadron.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Neil Gribby and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Details of operations - of crew of Warrant Officer William Day - air gunner
Description
An account of the resource
List containing some some basic service history and some details of flights made by crew of Flight Sergeant A Barford with individual pages for pilot Barford, Warrant Officer William Day - air gunner, Flight Sergeant F Bolan RCAF- navigator, Warrant Officer P Whitehouse - Wireless operator, Flight Sergeant E Marshall - bomb aimer, Sergeant W Park - air gunner, Sergeant E Thomas - flight engineer as a crew on 15 Squadron between June and October 1944. Note at bottom of Day's page that he flew 33 operational sorties plus three aborted. Includes some extra sorties by Warrant Officer Woodhouse on Operation Dodge in September and October 1945 plus a Cook's our flight, listed as Baedeker trip.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-06
1944-07-02
1944-07-05
1944-07-07
1944-07-09
1944-07-12
1944-07-15
1944-07-25
1944-07-28
1944-08-01
1944-08-03
1944-08-05
1944-08-07
1944-08-09
1944-08-11
1944-08-12
1944-08-14
1944-08-16
1944-08-18
1944-08-25
1944-08-26
1944-09-06
1944-09-10
1944-09-11
1944-09-17
1944-09-20
1944-09-23
1944-09-25
1944-09-26
1944-09-28
1944-10-03
1944-10-06
1944-10-07
1944-10-19
1944-10-22
1944-10-23
1944-10-26
1944-10-29
1945-09-02
1945-10-07
1945-10-16
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Suffolk
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Canadian Air Force
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Personal research
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Seven page printed document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MDayW[Ser#-Dob]-160121-01
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
15 Squadron
air gunner
aircrew
bomb aimer
bombing
Cook’s tour
flight engineer
Heavy Conversion Unit
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
navigator
Operation Dodge (1945)
Operational Training Unit
pilot
RAF Mildenhall
training
wireless operator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2100/34779/SWeirG19660703v110010-0003.2.jpg
93182a8cf61b0a2a93def30df7395331
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Weir, Greg. Jubb, Robert
Description
An account of the resource
62 items. Collection concerns Pilot Officer Robert Venter Jubb DFC (b 1922, 426609 Royal Australian Air Force), a Halifax pilot he flew operations on 76 and 462 Squadrons between July and November 1944 when his aircraft was shot down. He evaded capture but remainder of crew were caught and became prisoners of war. Collection contains his log book, newspaper cuttings, photographs (including his target photographs), documents, correspondence and operational route maps.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-04-26
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Weir, G
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Route map Russelsheim
Description
An account of the resource
Aeronautical chart Hull to Venice with route to Frankfurt area. Titled '12-8-44, Russelsheim, Opel works, (Buzz Bombs)'. Has other notes on markers. Area marked in red.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-08-12
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-08-12
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Rüsselsheim
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Map
Map. Navigation chart and navigation log
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One map
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SWeirG19660703v110010-0003
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
anti-aircraft fire
bombing
V-1
V-weapon
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2100/34730/SWeirG19660703v110004-0016.2.jpg
bdce1a51197217c89957206e36ffb03c
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Weir, Greg. Jubb, Robert
Description
An account of the resource
62 items. Collection concerns Pilot Officer Robert Venter Jubb DFC (b 1922, 426609 Royal Australian Air Force), a Halifax pilot he flew operations on 76 and 462 Squadrons between July and November 1944 when his aircraft was shot down. He evaded capture but remainder of crew were caught and became prisoners of war. Collection contains his log book, newspaper cuttings, photographs (including his target photographs), documents, correspondence and operational route maps.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-04-26
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Weir, G
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Rüsselsheim
Description
An account of the resource
Night target photograph showing tracer lines. Captioned '4413 HLM12/13-8-44//NT8" 16000 >060 degrees 0016. Russelsheim RD, S 1x2000 12x4 29 Secs F/S Jubb Q76'.<br /><br /><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW98629362 BCX0">This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No </span><span class="ContextualSpellingAndGrammarError SCXW98629362 BCX0">better quality</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW98629362 BCX0"> copies are available.</span>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Rüsselsheim
Great Britain
England--Yorkshire
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/wphotograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SWeirG19660703v110004-0016
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
76 Squadron
aerial photograph
bombing
RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1764/30650/SJenkinsonPR1826262v10011-0001.2.jpg
eee6b20613d883b7472f1a5e712fd53f
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Jenkinson, Peter and Leslie. Peter Jenkinson
Description
An account of the resource
Fifty-three items concerning Peter Jenkinson who served as a flight engineer on 166 and 153 Squadron Lancaster and was killed with his crew on 28 January 1945. Collection contains official and family correspondence, photographs, biographies, newspaper articles, official documents, roll of honour and records of operations.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-08-24
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Jenkinson, LP-PR
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
1826262 Flight Sergeant Peter Racburn Jenkinson D.F.M.
R.A.F VR
[underlined] OPERATIONAL RECORD [/underlined]
[underlined] As a Flight Engineer on Lancaster Bombers [/underlined]
5.8.44 Posted to 166 Squadron at RAF Kirmington, Lincolnshire
T/O Landing A/C Target
12.8.44 1120 1825 ME812 Douai Marshalling Yards Bordeaux
14.8.44 1315 1715 ME812 Fontain Le Pen
15.8.44 0955 1340 ME812 Leculot Airfield,Belgium
16.8.44 2055 0515 NE170 Stettin(Combat with JU 88)
29.8.44 2100 0630 PD242 Stettin (combat with 2 FW 190s)
31.8.44 1325 1655 ND626 Agenville V2 site. flak damage
3.9.44 1550 1930 ME829 Gilze Rijen Airfield
8.9.44 0645 1040 NE170 Le Havre-no bombs dropped (MB)*
10.9.44 1645 2100 NE170 Le Havre
12.9.44 1755 0150 PB515 Frankfurt
16.9.44 2135 0135 PB515 Steenwuk-Havetle
23.9.44 1835 2355 PB515 Neuse Essen
25.9.44 0710 1155 PB515 Calais-no bombs dropped (weather MB)
On 13th October 1944 twenty seven crews from 166 Sqdn at Kirmington were posted to RAF Scampton to form 153 Sqdn.
11.10.44 1440 1735 PB151 Port Frederik Hendair-no bombing
14.10.44 0625 1054 PB639 Duisburg
23.10.44 1620 2215 PB515 Essen
25.10.44 1250 1720 PB515 Essen, flak damage
30.10.44 1735 2335 PB515 Cologne
31.10.44 1755 2325 PB515 Cologne
2.11.44 1625 2120 PB515 Dusledorf [sic] -attacked by JU 88
4.11.44 1730 2245 PB515 Bochum - combat with 2 ME 262 jets
9.11.44 0820 1250 NG184 Wanne Eickle
6.12.44 1635 0015 PB515 Leuna
15.12.44 1440 2100 PB515 Ludwigshafen
17.12.44 1515 2245 PB515 Ulm
22.12.44 1520 2025 PB515 Coblenz
7.1.45 1815 2120 PB786 Munich-Abortive, Oxygen failure
14.1.45 1905 0310 PB786 Leuma [sic]
22.1.45 1655 2145 PB872 Duisburg -With F/O Gibbins
28.1.45 1925 ---- PB638 Stuttgart + failed to return crashed at Michelbach, Aglasterhausen SW of Heidelburg with loss of all lives.
A memorial to the crew is erected at the crash site at the Gluck and Winkle. Built as a "Bridge of Friendship" in 1974. The crew are now buried in the War Graves Cemetery at Bad Tolz south of Munich. An original headstone remains in the churh [sic] cemetery at Michelbach.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Peter Jenkinson operational record
Description
An account of the resource
Lists 13 operations while a wireless operator on 166 Squadron at RAF Kirmington and 16 operations completed on 153 Squadron at RAF Scamption. He failed to return from his 17th operation from Scampton. Notes memorial to crew erected at the crash site - crew are buried Bad Tolz.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One page printed document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Personal research
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SJenkinsonPR1826262v10011-0001
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
France
France--Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
France--Falaise Region
Belgium
Belgium--Louvain
Poland
Poland--Szczecin
Germany
Germany--Bad Tölz
France--Amiens Region
Netherlands
Netherlands--Breda
France--Le Havre
Atlantic Ocean--English Channel
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Essen
France--Calais
Netherlands--Vlissingen
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Bochum
Germany--Leuna
Germany--Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Germany--Ulm
Germany--Koblenz
Germany--Munich
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Heidelberg Region
Germany--Aglasterhausen
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-08-12
1944-08-14
1944-08-15
1944-08-16
1944-08-29
1944-08-31
1944-09-03
1944-09-08
1944-09-10
1944-09-12
1944-09-16
1944-09
1944-09-23
1944-08-05
1944-09-25
1944-10-13
1944-10-11
1944-10-14
1944-10-23
1944-10-25
1944-10-30
1944-10-31
1944-11-02
1944-11-04
1944-11-09
1944-12-06
1944-12-15
1944-12-17
1944-12-22
1945-01-07
1945-01-14
1945-01-22
1945-01-28
1974
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Bradbury
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
153 Squadron
166 Squadron
aircrew
bombing
bombing of Luftwaffe night-fighter airfields (15 August 1944)
final resting place
flight engineer
Fw 190
Ju 88
Lancaster
Me 262
memorial
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
RAF Kirmington
RAF Scampton
tactical support for Normandy troops
V-2
V-weapon
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1763/30602/SJenkinsonLP1316403v10042-0001.1.jpg
faca8a5831c2e28c8e29cbb42be36715
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1763/30602/SJenkinsonLP1316403v10042-0002.1.jpg
ec3731ab7b9c4ecb9f304d7afc145eb0
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1763/30602/SJenkinsonLP1316403v10035-0002.2.jpg
f7575beb1fd7247a86fb88300bea7712
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Jenkinson, Peter and Leslie. Philip Jenkinson
Description
An account of the resource
56 items concerning Leslie Philip Jenkinson who served as a mid-upper gunner on 10 Squadron Halifax and was shot down on 6 September 1943 and taken prisoner. Collection contains documents, research, memoirs, maps, correspondence and photographs.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-08-24
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Jenkinson, LP-PR
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[deleted] [inserted] [three indecipherable words] 4 Sep 45 [/inserted] [/deleted]
[inserted] NIL 15/2/46 [indecipherable word] [/inserted]
[inserted] 14218 [/inserted]
TOP SECRET
M.I.9/Gen/
[inserted] LIB/ 1500 [/inserted]
MIS-X [inserted] [underlined] LIST 43 [/underlined] [inserted]
27.10.45
PART 1.
[underlined] GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR BRITISH/AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR. [/underlined]
1. No. 1316403 RANK F/Sgt. SURNAME JENKINSON.
CHRISTIAN NAMES LESLIE PHILIP
DECORATIONS
2. SHIP (R.N., U.S.N. or MERCHANT NAVY
UNIT (ARMY)
SQUADRON (R.A.F. or A.A.F.) 10
3. DIVISION (ARMY), COMMAND (R.A.F. or A.A.F.) BOMBER
4. DATE OF BIRTH 15.5.23
5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT 28.3.41
6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION POULTRY FARMER
(OR EXAMINATIONS PASSED WHILE P/W)
7. PRIVATE ADDRESS “BOSVARREN” FALMOUTH, CORNWALL.
8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE SHOT DOWN Sept 6, Captured IMMERSTADT 15.9.43
9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? NO
10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED.
[italics] Camp No. [/italics] [italics] Location [/italics] [italics] From [/italics] [italics] Till [/italics]
DULAG - LUFT FRANKFURT. 21.9.43 27.9.43
STALAG-LUFT VI HEYDEKRUG, EAST PRUSSIA. 2.10.43 15.7.44.
STALAG 357 THORN POLAND 16.7.44 12.8.44
STALAG 357 FALLINGBOSTEL, Nr HANNOVER 15.8.44 26.4.45
11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
[italics] Location [/italics] [italics] From [/italics] [italics] Till [/italics] [italics] Nature of Work [/italics]
NO
12. DID YOU SUFFER FROM ANY SERIOUS ILLNESSES WHILE A P/W?
[italics] Nature of Illness [/italics] [italics] Cause [/italics] [italics] Duration [/italics]
NO
(b) DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
[page break]
TOP SECRET
M.I.9/Gen/
MIS-X
[underlined] GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE. PART II. TOP SECRET. [UNDERLINED]
1. No 1316403 RANK F/SGT SURNAME JENKINSON
CHRISTIAN NAMES LESLIE PHILIP
2. LECTURES before Capture:
(a) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave in the event of capture? (State where, when and by whom).
YES. RUFFORTH, 1663, C.U. & 10 SQUD, MELBOURNE. YORKS INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
(b) Were you lectured on escape and evasion? (State where, when and by whom).
YES. 10 SQUADRON MELBOURNE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
3. INTERROGATION after capture:
Were you specially interrogated by the enemy? (State where, when and methods employed by enemy).
DULAG - LUFT, FRANKFURT. SEP 1943. Questions on Crew & Squadron.
4. ESCAPES attempted:
Did you make any attempted or partly successful escapes? (Give details of each attempt separately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, where and when recaptured and by whom. Were you physically fir? What happened to your companions?)
Evaded capture for 9 days from Sept 6 to 15. Captured at Immerstadt by civvy police. Weak from lack of food. Sgt Simmonds (Bomb Aimer) P.O.W.
5. SABOTAGE:
Did you do any sabotage or destruction of enemy factory plant, war material, communications, etc., when employed on working-parties or during escape? (Give details, places and dates.)
[author indicates nil answer]
6. COLLABORATION with enemy:
Do you know of any British or American personnel who collaborated with the enemy or in any way helped the enemy against other Allied Prisoners of War? (Give details, names of person(s) concerned, camp(s), dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
[author indicates nil answer]
7. WAR CRIMES:
If you have any information or evidence of bad treatment by the enemy to yourself or to others, or knowledge of any enemy violation of Geneva Convention you should ask for a copy of “Form Q” on which to make [obscured word] statement.
(NOTE: Form Q is a separate form inviting information on [italics] “War Crimes” [/italics] and describes the kinds [obscured words] coming under this title.)
[page break]
8 HAVE YOU ANY OTHER MATTER YOU WISH TO BRING TO NOTICE?
Taken from prisoner of war camp Oct 43 propaganda trip to bombed areas of Munich with 4 other NCO from Luft 6, 20 NCO's from IVB 4 Officers from Luft 3.
Signed by Philip Jenkinson.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
General questionnaire for British/American ex-prisoners of war
Description
An account of the resource
Debrief questionnaire. Gives personal details of Philip Jenkinson, list the camps he was in as well as providing answers to other questions including , interrogations, escapes attempted, collaboration with enemy and evidence of war crimes, In camps Stalag Luft VI and Stalag 357.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Three page printed document handwritten filled out
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SJenkinsonLP1316403v10042-0001, SJenkinsonLP1316403v10042-0002 SJenkinsonLP1316403v10035-0002
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Fallingbostel (Landkreis)
Poland
Poland--Toruń
Lithuania
Lithuania--Šilutė
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-09-21
1943-09-27
1943-10-02
1944-07-15
1944-07-16
1944-08-12
1944-08-15
1945-04-25
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Christian
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
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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.
Dulag Luft
evading
prisoner of war
Stalag Luft 6
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1414/28119/E[Author]J-E-RWareingJ440812.jpg
76e896dfc798177d1638fc3abaf24caa
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Wareing, Robert
R Wareing
Description
An account of the resource
258 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Robert Wareing DFC* (86325 Royal Air Force) and contains his flying logbooks, prisoner of war log book, memoirs, photographs, extensive personal and official correspondence, official documents, pilots/handling notes, decorations, mementos, uniform badges and buttons. He flew operations as a pilot with 106 Squadron. After a period of instructing he returned to operations on 582 Squadron but was shot down and became a prisoner of war.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Andrew Wareing and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-10-05
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Wareing, R
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Sandbeck Lane
Blyton
12/8/44.
My Dear Joan.
I feel I must write to let you know how very sorry we are to hear of the news of our Robert. But Joan God has been good and spared him all this while. So we do trust & pray for good news of him later on. He is such a grand lad and loved by us all he[deleted] ar [/deleted] [inserted] re [/inserted]. Gran says tell Joan to take care of herself and hope to hear better news later on from you. We all send our Best Love
Auntie Jin, Eddie Ray xxxxx
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Joan Wareing from Jim, Eddie and Ray
Description
An account of the resource
Sorry to hear the news about Robert.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-08-12
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
E[Author]J-E-RWareingJ440812
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Gainsborough
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-08-12
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Claire Monk
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Requires
A related resource that is required by the described resource to support its function, delivery, or coherence.
Workflow A completed
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1414/27751/E[Author]EWareingJ440812-0001.jpg
95edb7c5cb4ba4769e7b7dc679dd314e
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1414/27751/E[Author]EWareingJ440812-0002.jpg
c7e139b44392bbf121751c200b07286a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Wareing, Robert
R Wareing
Description
An account of the resource
258 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Robert Wareing DFC* (86325 Royal Air Force) and contains his flying logbooks, prisoner of war log book, memoirs, photographs, extensive personal and official correspondence, official documents, pilots/handling notes, decorations, mementos, uniform badges and buttons. He flew operations as a pilot with 106 Squadron. After a period of instructing he returned to operations on 582 Squadron but was shot down and became a prisoner of war.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Andrew Wareing and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-10-05
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Wareing, R
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
9 Headlands
Kettering
12.8.44
My dear Joan,
I was awfully upset to hear the news tonight. I opened your Mothers letter although it wasn’t addressed to me. You see they have gone to Chesterfield for the weekend and wont be back until Tuesday. Something told me it was important so I opened it.
I do want to assure you of my deepest sympathy and I am sure Maurice would want to join me. We will all be thinking of you during the time
[page break]
you are waiting for further news and I hope with all my heart that it will be good news.
They will seem very long days I know but be patient, dear, and don’t lose heart.
Father will be writing to you when he returns, in the meantime I send
My love
Eileen.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Joan Wareing from Eileen
Description
An account of the resource
Letter from Eileen to Joan expressing sympathy at her news and saying that they are all thinking of her at this time and hope that she will receive good news soon.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-08-12
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
E[Author]EWareingJ440812
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Northamptonshire
England--Kettering
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-08-12
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1343/22251/NTyrieJSB190601-04.2.jpg
b0f2e64b0a33d3a27159f65fcfe1a5c8
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tyrie, Jim
Tyrie, JSB
Description
An account of the resource
34 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Jim Tyrie (1919 - 1993, 87636 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, photographs, correspondence and prisoner of war log as well as a photograph album. He flew operations as a pilot with 77 Squadron before being shot down in April 1941.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Brian Taylor and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-06-01
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Tyrie, JSB
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Deutsche Allgemeine Beitung
Description
An account of the resource
Newspaper title
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-08-12
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One newspaper cutting
Language
A language of the resource
deu
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
NTyrieJSB190601-04
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Berlin
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-08-12
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/408/7573/SChattertonJ159568v10485.1.jpg
3a41e6adbaea7115667209bdd7b73a30
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/408/7573/SChattertonJ159568v10486.1.jpg
2e009bfc593b722312055f6b272ca9f8
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chatterton, John. 44 Squadron operations order book
Description
An account of the resource
Collection consists of 521 items which are mostly Operations orders, aircraft load and weight tables and bomb aimers briefings for 44 Squadron operations between January 1944 and April 1945. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by M J Chatterton and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. <br /><br />This collection also contains items concerning Dewhurst Graaf and his crew, and Donald Neil McKechnie and his crew. Additional information on <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/109020/">Dewhurst Graaf</a> and <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/115642/">Donald Neil McKechnie</a> is available via the IBCC Losses Database.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-03-14
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Chatterton, J
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[Boxed] BRUNSWICK [/boxed]
DATE 12-8-44
[Table of bomb loads]
PETROL [Deleted] 1800 [/deleted] 1900.
DISTRIBUTOR 20yds
T.V. 1000
[Calculations]
BOMB WEIGHT 8,300
ALL UP. WEIGHT. [Deleted] 62,460 [/deleted] 63,680
TIME OFF. [Deleted] 20 [/deleted] 2105 ZERO. H – H+3 (wave 1) 0005
WINDOWS. 30
TIME TO TARGET. 2.10 TARGET HEIGHT 250’
TARGET GROUND SPEED. 300
Command Bullseye.
[Page break]
If H2S u/s bomb MPI of incendiaries.
[Table of aircraft and heights]
[Underlined] Window Type [/underlined] MB – to be dropped from 0430E to target & back to 0430E at rate 1 per minute. MTH of 44. XVHQ of 619.
Old type window to be dropped from 0430E to within 20 miles of Δ.
Rate G (5 per min.) within 20 miles – Δ & then 2 per minute back to 0430E – (U O S Q F L G R of 44)
ASI BL/20.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Bomb aimers briefing 12 August 1944 - Brunswick
Description
An account of the resource
Shows a single bomb load for operation and includes distributor, and preselection settings, timings and other details. On the reverse instructions for H2S aircraft, list of aircraft and headings and Window instructions.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-08-12
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two sides front form document partially filled in on the reverse handwritten
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SChattertonJ159568v10485, SChattertonJ159568v10486
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Braunschweig
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-08-12
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Anne-Marie Watson
aircrew
bomb aimer
bombing
briefing
H2S
Window
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/408/7566/SChattertonJ159568v10476.1.jpg
daf1e7a58412e951deee18b082539d08
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chatterton, John. 44 Squadron operations order book
Description
An account of the resource
Collection consists of 521 items which are mostly Operations orders, aircraft load and weight tables and bomb aimers briefings for 44 Squadron operations between January 1944 and April 1945. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by M J Chatterton and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. <br /><br />This collection also contains items concerning Dewhurst Graaf and his crew, and Donald Neil McKechnie and his crew. Additional information on <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/109020/">Dewhurst Graaf</a> and <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/115642/">Donald Neil McKechnie</a> is available via the IBCC Losses Database.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-03-14
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Chatterton, J
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Squadron Detail. by
Squadron Leader G. A. Hildred.
Commanding, No 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron,
Royal Air Force, DUNHOLME LODGE.
Serial No……………..42.
Page No………………..1.
Date……………….12.8.44.
1. [underlined] CHANGE OF COMMAND. [/underlined]
Squadron Leader G.A.Hildred assumes command of No 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, vice Wing Commander F.W. Thompson,DFC. AFC.
2. [underlined] DISCIPLINE. – SERGEANTS’ MESS. [/underlined]
The Sergeant’s Mess is placed out of bounds to all Officers until further notice. Consideration may be given at a later date to the acceptance of any Mess invitation which the C.M.C of the Sergeant’s Mess may care to make to the Officers’ Mess.
Private invitations by members of the Sergeants (sic) Mess to a member of the Officers’ Mess must receive the approval of the Squadron or Section Commander of the Officer concerned, and in any case, such invitations will not be considered for at least one month from the date of this order.
3. [underlined] SICK PARADES. [/underlined]
Airmen who are exempted from full duties for a period owing to sickness, [underlined] MUST [/underlined] report on sick parade at the end of the period.
Aircrew MUST report immediately to the Adjutant after being recatagorised as fit for full flying duties.
3. [underlined] BANK ACCOUNTS – R.C.A.F.PERSONNEL. [/underlined]
(a) Many Officers, airmen and airwomen in the Royal Canadian Air Force have opened private bank accounts, other than, in the case of Officers, the accounts in the United Kingdom in which their pay is deposited. In the event of the death of any such personnel, if the pass book or some other record is not found among the personal effects, all trace of such a private bank account may be lost. Consequently, the monies deposited therein will not be included in the distribution of the estate.
(b) If therefore, R.C.A.F. personnel wish to ensure that the existence of their private bank accounts will come to the notice of the R.C.A.F. Officer i/c estates, they should have written notice thereof to the R.C.A.F Overseas Records Officer, who will maintain a record.
(c) Each such notice is to indicate –
(1) Number, rank & name in full.
(2) name (sic) & address of bank or other institution in which the account is kept.
(3) account (sic) number.
(d) All such notices are to be collected under unit arrangements and forwarded to the R.C.A.F. Overseas Records Officer 1, Hans Road, Knightsbridge, London. S.W.3.
(e) Any R.C.A.F. officer, airman, or airwoman may send a notice to the R.C.A.F. Overseas Records Officer at any time.
4. [underlined] DISCIPLINE. – FIRE PIQUET. [/underlined]
[underlined] DATE. [/underlined] [underlined] SITE NO.1. [/underlined]
14.8.44. Bowring. 276
15.8.44. Brewer. 131
16.8.44. Dowie. 356
17.8.44. Wilson. 310
18.8.44. Waine. 929
19.8.44. Ward. 037
20.8.44. Scoggins.743
[underlined] DATE. [/underlined] [underlined] SITE NO 5. [/underlined]
14.8.44 Smith 040
15.8.44 McKay. 165
16.8.44 Jagger 904
17.8.44 McKay. 299
18.8.44 Allen. 005
19.8.44 Clegg. 597
20.8.44. Roberts. 751
[underlined]
………………..page 2.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Squadron Detail 12 August 1944, Serial Number 42
Description
An account of the resource
Covers change of command of 44 Squadron to Squadron Leader G A Hildred, discipline in the Sergeants mess, Sick parades orders, and instructions regarding Royal Canadian Air Force personnel bank accounts. Finally discipline fire piquet lists. Scribbled through in blue pencil.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Squadron Leader G A Hildred
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-08-12
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SChattertonJ159568v10476
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Canadian Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-08-12
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Sally Des Forges
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One-page typewritten document
44 Squadron
military discipline
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Dunholme Lodge
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2557/44696/YBlamiresRG139996v1.1.pdf
6c32c25bea0d48eb2787b671cb83547c
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Blamires, Robert Geoffrey
R G Blamires
Description
An account of the resource
99 items. The collection concerns Robert Geoffrey Blamires (b. 1921, 139996 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, diary, correspondence, documents, charts and an <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/2645">Album</a>. He flew operations as a navigator with 103 Squadron. <br /><br />The collection was loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Judith Coad and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2022-05-11
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Blamires, RG
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Monday 8th. May 1944
Last full day of my leave at home. Got up at ten-ish and spent the rest of the morning cutting the grass. In the afternoon went down town and after quite a search managed to buy a bicycle at Wiley Bros. in Trinity St. Quite a nice job but it set me back £11-10s all told. Went to the Ritz to see an excellent show – a musical “Thousands Cheer” with a good supporting programme. Rode the new steed proudly home – or rather part of the way and pushed it the rest. Had a nice little spin to Farnley at night where I had a drink in the local. Aunt Edith came up and we had a fish and chip supper. Finished Hector Bolitho War in the Strand”. A grand day.
Tuesday May 9th. 1944
A lazy morning spent mainly in packing. Mrs. Reid to dinner. Cycled to Uncle Jimmy’s (J’s) in the afternoon and found them in the midst of spring cleaning. In a burst of enthusiasm I volunteered to give a hand with the carpet beating which I afterwards regretted, getting a huge blister on my right hand. Ephie came to tea and took my bag to the station while I cycled down. Caught the 5 o’clock and changed at Penistone. Uneventful trip. Very charming girl in our compartment. Picked up Gordon and Ted en route. Danny returned in his standard. One hour in the mess and so to bed.
Wednesday 10th. May 1944
Back to work again. Got up at 8 o’clock which was rather shocking after the leave. Doug had a bad cold and reported sick – off flying for the day. Did a spot of fighter affiliation in the morning – about an hour. Put on a night bullseye but this was eventually scrubbed. Had a first crack at ground Y with Doug in the afternoon. Cycled into Barnetby with Doug and Ted in time to catch the 6:30 pm to Scunthorpe. Saw a picture show there – Bing Crosby in “Paris Honeymoon” Wizard. Had a couple of beers and sandwiches at the Oswold. A good night. Not a cigarette all day.
Thursday 11th. May 1944
On a day X country. Bit of a panic and then aircraft u/s. finally got off just after 12 o’clock and had to be back by 4 o’clock so cut it a bit short. Not a bad trip. Had a high flying tea with the usual egg and then a bath. Wrote home and enclosed the last batch of crew snaps together with Frank’s photograph. After dinner cycled into Brigg with Ted and had a beer. Watched the boys take off.
Friday 12th. May 1944
Did a spot of Y in the morning. Should have gone on air to air firing in the afternoon but this was scrubbed as we were put on a bullseye and had to attend briefing. A lazy afternoon followed by a very leisurely briefing. Took off at 22:45 and had quite a good trip. No bother. Landed at 22:45 and had breakfast at 03:30 – and so to a late sleep.
Saturday 13th. May 1944
Got up at 12 o’clock. Had an unpleasant letter at dinnertime – my first mail since my return from leave – an income tax return form for 1944. Went out in the afternoon first off the coast and did our air to air firing. Got down just after 5 o’clock and had then finished for the day. After dinner Danny took five of us into Brigg and the other two went on Dennis’ motorbike. Had a couple of beers at the “Angle” and a look around the place. Came back at half past nine and did one or two odd jobs.
Sunday 14th. May 1944
Had another egg for breakfast. Intelligence lecture first thing in the morning followed by a bombing detail. Doug dropped a good set of bombs. No night ops. A Y lecture after lunch. After dinner cycled down into Brigg and had a couple of beers. Very pleasant run on the way in but dammed hard work coming home due to a hard head wind. Heard one of my favourite records in the pub – Bing and The Andrews Sisters singing “Yodelling Jive”. A spot of writing and then to bed. A very pleasant but cold day.
Monday 15th. May 1944
Station commanders parade at 08:15 but was just too tired to get up for it. A nondescript morning. No night ops for us. In the afternoon went on a Y X country. Passed over Huddersfield on route but there was too much cloud to see it. After a helluva rush - we landed at 5:40. Ted, Doug and I just managed to get the 6:30 train to Scunthorpe. Another Bing picture and a couple of beers at the Oswold made a banger evening. “Road to Singapore” very good.
Tuesday 16th. May 1944
Dirty, wet and cold weather – so another stand-down for the night. Did no flying through the day either. In the morning had an interesting and useful lecture and film on aviator rescue and ditching. After lunch Doug and I had another film show – this time on Y. Then went for a very badly needed haircut. In the meantime Danny and Ted had craftily caught the 4 o’clock into Scunthorpe. The rest of us followed on the 6:30 which eventually left at 7 o’clock. Had a pleasant evening. Saw “Goodbye Mr. Chips” which was well worth seeing again and a snack and beer in the Oswold. Forgot to mention we had our photographs taken in the morning for our new pink identity cards. And so to bye bye.
Wednesday 17th. May 1944
Another dirty day and another standdown. In the morning spent a couple of hours preparing a very pretty master chart of enemy defences. Should have been a lecture in the afternoon but the Wing Co. in charge of the squadron allowed us to fly with him on a local air test which took 40 minutes. On landing I thought he was going to drive it into the deck but he made it O.K. after all. Spent a very pleasant evening reading? T.M. and playing table tennis in the mess with Doug. A spot of writing and that’s all for today brother.
Thursday 18th May 1944
Another standdown. With Doug’s assistance finished my master chart. After lunch had a natter with F/L Evans, which was very useful. Packed up early and cycled into Barnetby with Danny. Doug, Ted and Frank to catch the 4 o’clock train to Grimsby. Intended to do a spot of shopping there but unfortunately it was early closing day. Had a very enjoyable plaice and chips tea for 1/9d and then went to the flicks. Tyrone Power in “the Mask of Zorro”. The other boys came by bus later. Picked up Charles map? En route – can that guy talk? Had a drink in the mess and then had a most interesting religious discussion in the billets with Danny and later on Ted and Doug. A swell day.
Friday 19th. May 1944
The weather had improved slightly and we were on a 2 ½ hour X – country in the morning. Landed just after 1 o’clock to find that ops were on and we were also on. Had lunch and then got our gear out to the kite. Briefing started at 6 o’clock and we took off at 10 o’clock. Orleans marshalling yards were the target and we had a good trip and a good prang. Landed shortly after 3 am and after interrogation and early breakfast finally got to bed at 5:45 am, I think I earned my 18/2d. and sleep.
Saturday 20th. May 1944
Got up at 12:45. I was very pleased to hear there was a standdown owing to duff weather. Changed my flying pullover in the afternoon – blue for white – filled in my log book, prepared another chart and did one or two other jobs in the afternoon. After a spot of tea had a bath which I certainly needed. Danny had got his antique wireless set working. After dinner listened to that and spent a lazy evening writing letters – Irene.
Sunday 21st. May 1944
Nasty dirty day for a start but met. Said it would clear and ops. were on. They were more or less right. Prepared in the morning and had a rest in the afternoon. Target – Duisberg. Took off at 22:30 and had quite a good trip but rather too much cloud over target. Got to bed at 6 o’clock the next morning.
Monday 22nd. May 1944
Got up at 1 o’clock. Ops. on again. Bombload again a cookie and incendiaries – the boys guess it is the Ruhr again. Preparing in the afternoon. Took off at 22:15 for Dortmund – the boys were right. Too bloody hot for my liking. Coned and hit by flak just after leaving the target. Starboard inner packed up shortly afterwards – we had to feather it due to a leak in the coolant and catching fire. Finally got out of it and struggled out of the Reich. Boy was I relieved. Then 80 miles from base the starboard outer packed up. After a sticky half hour reached base O.K. and Danny made a wizard landing on his two port engines. Left the kite just off the runway and examined the damage. I was never so glad to get the old dogs on terra firma once again. Bed at 6 o’clock. Charles missing. (see end of diary for info from web.)
Tuesday 23rd. May 1944
Got up at 12:30. Day off. I reckon we’ve earned it. Did a few odd jobs in afternoon. Danny took us into Brigg in his car just after 4 o’clock and left it there at a garage for some repairs. Did a spot of shopping there and had tea – poached eggs on toast. Then a bus to Scunthorpe and went to see Bing in “Holiday Inn”. A good show. Caught the 9:30 pm train back and then to bed. Doug’s new bike arrived during the day – royal Enfield roadster.
Wednesday 24th. May 1944
Ops. on again. Ted reported sick with eye trouble and was grounded until next Monday when he has to see a specialist. That meant we should be flying with a new rear gunner – his first trip – which we didn’t like very much. Spent afternoon preparing and then wrote home and had an hours nap before briefing. Laundry came back today for which I was well and truly grateful as I was reduced to my last collar. Target Aachen. Took off at midnight and had a relatively quiet trip. Landed at 05:10 and had to go like hell to get across the Dutch coast before dawn broke. Got to bed at 10:30 just as the batwomen started their days work. (see comment on this raid at end from Web.)
Thursday 25th. May 1944
Got up at 1:30 pm. On again. Went out to the kite in the afternoon and checked things over. Another new rear gunner. Ted went home for a day or two. Briefed at 19:00 for Mannheim. Just got everything set up and in the aircraft waiting to start up when the rocket went up and the op. was scrubbed – for which I was very glad being dammed tired. Had a beer in the mess, got this thing up to date, wrote home and so to bed for a good night’s rest.
Friday 26th. May 1944
Got up at 08:20 and just made breakfast. Doug was unlucky – he had to pump his tyre up and missed out. Went into the radar section to do a spot of Y bombing in the morning. Then came the welcome news that there was a standdown. Went to the briefing room and prepared a couple of charts before lunch. Afterwards went back to the billets and really got the bike up to scratch – cleaned it, oiled it and fitted new front brakeblocks. Caught the 4 o’clock train to Scunthorpe and after a long wait in the Majestic café managed to get sausages and chips. Saw a picture show, had a couple of beers in the Oswold and returned on the 9:30 train. An excellent day.
Saturday 27th. May 1944
Went over to the met. section in good time to see what the score was. Good chance of ops. they say but the trip wasn’t altogether a dead loss for I had a good cup of coffee across there. Ops. on O.K. but to our surprise – we had got our gear in the transport ready to take out to the aircraft – we weren’t on the detail. In the afternoon went around all the ops. kites with the rest of the boys to check up on the window supplies. Load 13 x 1,000 lbs and only 1,400 galls. Of petrol. What with a spot of moon and a late briefing at 21:00 it seems a cert French trip so maybe we have missed out. Had a sorely needed bath after tea and then Danny and I spent a highly exasperating hour getting his wireless set working sufficiently well to pick up F d….? programme. We eventually succeeded. Wrote a few letters at night and enjoyed the fruits of our success on Danny’s radio.
Sunday 28th. May 1944
Just made breakfast as usual. Ollier and Beer missing from last night’s effort on Aachen. Grand day and much to our surprise there was a standdown. Supposed to be on a Y X-country at 13:30 but Y u/s and we didn’t get off the deck After dinner cycled into Brigg and had a few beers with Doug, Carroll, Ted, Whiehoughs? and Ron evans. A good night.
Monday 29th. May 1944
A little of yesterdays stomach ache still present. Another standdown. C.O’s parade in the morning but got up too late and missed both it and breakfast. On a Y stooge in the afternoon with Y bombing and ordinary practice bombing on Mission. Up for three hours – weather hot and thundery and felt rather wishy washy though I coped O.K. After dinner cycled into Barnetby with Ted and Doug and had a beer in the Ship Inn Followed this by a game of pontoon and so to bed. A quiet Whit Monday. Heard from home – also an “Examiner”.
Tuesday 30th. May 1944
Got up at 0810 – rather earlier than usual. After working parade a lecture by the WingCo on window and discipline. Another standdown. Danny is now flight commander – bags of office work. Lecture by the G/C after lunch again on discipline – he spoke very well. With Ted, Doug and Frank – Danny was still working – caught the 4 o’clock train to Grimsby. A very good fish, chips and peas tea at the Savoy Café then quite a decent picture show – “Jack London” and “Sherlock Holmes Faces Death”. Caught the 20:50 bus back, had a beer in the pub at Barnetby and so to bed. A good day.
Wednesday 31st. May 1944
Another standdown due largely I think to a lot of thunderstorms about. Did very little before lunch except prepare another chart. Boys off training during the day but we were lucky and skipped off it. Nothing to do at flights in the afternoon so went back to the billets and wrote home. Collected my shoes from the cobblers – sent ‘em in a month ago. After dinner went for a cycle run with Doug – about 15 miles. Very pleasant. Had a couple of beers at a couple of country pubs. Ted met Kathleen in Barnetby and we passed them en route. Poor old Ted.
Thursday 1st. June 1944
Danny’s birthday. Ted went to see a specialist about his eye. Report rather grim – had to have an operation on Sat. – results will be doubtful. It rather looks as if we shall need a new rear gunner. Ops. on but we aren’t – not a maximum effort. Went into Brigg in Danny’s car which he was taking in for further repairs. Had a dammed good cold ham tea in there and then caught the 6 o’clock bus to Scunthorpe. Saw a film show “The Rising Sun” and caught the 9:30 train back. Saw an instructor from Blyton – Beardsall missing on his second tour.
Cycled to the mess and had a couple of beers with Doug – ops had been scrubbed a 7 o’clock and there was quite a party. Ted had gone home until Sat. Saw our Y bombing photos from 29th. – not so good. Letter from Don and the bank - £44 in the old account so I’m still solvent.
Friday 2nd. June 1944
Ops. on - light petrol load only 1,000 galls. So we reckon it should be a short – and we hope an easy trip. Jack – the gunnery leader – is coming with us as rear gunner. Did an air test just before lunch. Everything O.K. In the afternoon had a good sleep. After the usual meal – briefing. A costal bash on gun positions near Calais. Took off at 11pm and were on the target at 12:30. A dead loss for the target was covered in 10/10 cloud and we had to stooge round for another hour and a half to use some more petrol and get our weight down. Finally landed with our bombs at 4 am – five hours to Calais – we could have walked it quicker. That makes five trips. Tyre burst while taxying.
Saturday 3rd. June 1944
Ops. on again but we’re not – no rear gunner. Got up at 12:30. Had a look in the nav. section. Went into Brigg with Danny, had a good tea at a little café there and then into Scunthorpe. Saw “This is the Army” – a grand show. Had a couple of beers while Danny phoned home and then caught the 9 o’clock bus back to Brigg. Danny picked up his car there and drove us back to camp. Later on went on to the control office roof and watched the boys take off in rotten weather from 11pm until a quarter to twelve. Target more guns near Boulogne. A good day.
Sunday 4th. June 1944
Standdown. In the morning another crew took us over to Killingholme to pick up one of our aircraft which had lobbed down there last night. After a long wait we eventually got it and brought it back. Had hoped to see Manny there but he was still in bed having been on last nights ops. Had a much needed bath in the afternoon. A very wet evening which I spent letter writing – a rather belated effort and listening to the radio. As usual there were several requests of the old maestro including the title song from his latest film “Going My Way”. Old Ted having his eye operation today. Hope all goes well.
Monday 5th. June 1944
Ops. on. Got our gear out to the kite in the morning and had a good sleep in the afternoon. Briefing at 6 o’clock rather shock us – much earlier than usual. Bombed gun emplacements in Cherbourg Peninsular. Took off at 9:30 and landed at 2 am. Light most of the way there and even when darkness fell it was still almost as light as the daytime by the full moon. Quite a good trip. Saw a lot of ships crossing the channel towards France on our way back – the invasion fleet.
Tuesday 6th. June 1944
Got up at 1 o’clock. On again. Got prepared in afternoon. Took off at 10 o’clock to bomb a railway and road bridge just behind the front. Very bright night again. Not a bad trip. Bombed from only 4,000 feet – much too low for my liking. Landed at 3:30 and so to bed.
Wednesday 7th. June 1944
Got up at 1 o’clock to hear the very pleasant news that there was a standdown. After lunch went to the section and did one or two odd jobs. Afterwards drew my revolver and cartridges from the armoury. Heaven help me if I ever need to use it. Wrote a letter to mother and Margaret at Blackpool. Had an early dinner and caught the 6:30 train to Scunthorpe with Danny and Doug. Saw a film show “100 Men and a Girl” and “divide and Conquer”. Felt very sleepy with a slight head ache. Had a couple of beers and then back to camp.
Thursday 8th. June 1944
Just made breakfast – as usual. Ops. on – went out to the kite with our gear. After lunch prepared a chart and then had a couple of hours kip on old Flo. Received a letter from Irene in the morning mail. Had our meal at 6:30 pm but still no gen about time of briefing etc. Eventually at 7:15 the news came through that ops. were scrubbed. Cycled to Brigg with Doug and Dennis and had a very enjoyable hour in the “Dying Gladiator” – locally rechristened as the “Dying Navigator”. A very pleasant night.
Friday 9th. June 1944
Ops. on. Got our new rear gunner. Bill Bancroft from Manchester who is on his second tour and seems a good chap. Went out to the aircraft in the morning and had a sleep in the afternoon. Times very late in coming through and when they did our briefing wasn’t until 9 o’clock. Target – airfield at Flers. Took off at 00:40 and didn’t bomb until 03:30 – latest yet. A first class prang but we didn’t get to bed until 07:45. Hope there are no more ops. tonight. Our quietest trip yet.
Saturday 10th. June 1944
Nancy woke us at 13:30 with the very welcome news that there were no ops. on. Had a rather belated lunch and then slipped up to the new section to see to one or two small items. Caught the 4 o’clock train to Grimsby and had a very pleasant evening there. Caught the 20:50 train or rather bus to Barnetby and so to bed. As has been the custom for the past few days the question of our leave came up for much discussion during the course of the day. The position is still pretty obscure but it seems we should get home on the 26th. or 27th. The sooner the better. A good day.
Sunday 11th. June 1944
Prepared a chart and got everything ready for the night in advance. Just as I finished the gen. came through that there was a standdown – duff met. Apparently the message came through that ops. were on and then a further message came through almost immediately cancelling them. After lunch went up to the nav. Section and was promptly nailed to give a lecture to some ATC cadets who were on a days visit to the station. This went off reasonably well apart from a couple of passes on met. and the square search. Afterwards had a very pleasant soak and wrote a few lines to Puol? At night cycled into Brigg with Doug, Dennis and a gunner of Mursating? Crew. Had a few beers in the “Dying Gladiator”. One or two quite decent women in there. Must go down there solo some evening. Another excellent day.
Monday 12th. June 1944
Ops. on. Went out to the aircraft – T Tommy this time – and checked things over in the morning. After lunch cleaned the bike up and then had three hours horizontal P.T. which stands one in good steed on these night ops. Briefed at 19:15 – target Gelsenkirchen (Oil refinery, synthetic oil, in heavily industrialized Ruhr – see end of diary). Didn’t like the idea much after the shaky visit to the Ruhr but we took off at 22:45 and it went off quite nicely. Quite a strong wind and got there at 01:00 – 80 minutes after S/C. Bed at 6 o’clock.
Tuesday 13th. June 1944
Nancy woke us at 12:30 with news that ops. were on – which rather cheesed me off. A nice piece of pork for lunch. Received a welcome letter from home. Got up to flights a 2 o’clock just in time to hear that ops. had been scrubbed. Went to Scunthorpe with the boys on the 4 o’clock and saw “The Velseen Touch” and had tea there. A couple of beers at the Oswold and then back on the 9:30 pm. A spot of writing and then to bed.
Wednesday 14th. June 1944
Went to the briefing room soon after 9 am and got all my things ready for the night’s ops. which I thought were a cert. Actually they were but we weren’t on due to Danny being put in hospital with a slight temperature – nothing serious I hope. Had a navigation natter with S/L Gallagher before lunch. Wrote home for my pipe and one or two other odds and ends and mooched around the nav. section in the afternoon. Briefing at 17:30 – hellish early. After dinner went down and saw Danny who wasn’t feeling too bad and then had 15 mile cycle over to Barton – very pleasant with a couple of beers en route. Had a game of bar billiards and table tennis in the mess afterwards – learnt that the boys were doing a daylight on Le Havre. Hope all goes well.
Thursday 15th. June 1944
Danny still in dock so spent quite a free day. Prepared a pilot’s master chart after managing to rearrange some Perspex, quite a long job. Ops. on. Saw Danny – he should be out tomorrow and took him some cigarettes. Then cycled to Barton with Doug and Frank where we had a smashing tea for 2/6d. each at a little café – egg (real), steak, chips, jam, cakes, biscuits and cheese.
Cycled through S. Feriby where the rain held us up for a pint After it cleared went on into Brigg where we had intended going to see a cinema show but the rain had delayed us so we had a drink at the “Dying Gladiator” instead. A total of 24 miles of cycling for the night. A grand day. Ops. had been scrubbed – probably because of the duff weather. All the boys had got back O.K. from last nights trip. Made a good resolution to cut smoking to 5 cigs / day for at least a month.
Friday 16th. June 1944
Again just made breakfast – and a pretty poor effort it was too. Ops. on but again will stand down due to Danny being in hospital still. After a spot of chow when the NAAFI man came round went down to see the skipper. He was just getting ready to come out – feeling rather weak but otherwise O.K. In company with Doug, Denis and Frank went to Grimsby on the 4 o’clock train. Met Danny in there and had the usual fish and chip tea. Saw the film show at the Savoy which was quite good and then caught the 20:50 bus to Barnetby. Had a couple of beers at the “Railway Hotel” and then got back to camp just before the boys took off. Hope they have a good trip. Got a letter from Frances in the morning – a very bright and good letter. She has guts. She has courage and deserves better of life in the future. A good day.
Saturday 17th. June 1944
After a leisurely breakfast and a look at the papers went up to flights. Nobody around the Nav. Station. Last nights effort on a small place in the Ruhr. Pretty sticky trip apparently with bags of combat and fighters and flak. Not at all sorry we missed it. Went down the billets and was just in the middle of a letter to Jimmy when Gordon came down with a message to report to the adj. filed for orderly officer. Ops. on but Danny still not feeling up to the mark so were stood down again. Orderly duties of writing letters filled in the rest of the day and night. One thing about being orderly officer (O.O) you can sure whip off your correspondence. I got seven written. Received a birthday card – rather early but what the hell – and P. order for 5/- from Auntie Hannah. The boys took off from about 23:00 – 23:30. Hope it’s a better trip for them tonight.
Sunday 18th. June 1944
The boys had an abortive trip last night – cloud below 600 ft. and they all brought their bombs back. No one in flights for a time and then worked out some airmiles. About 10:30 went across to met. and prepared synoptic chart. Had a cup of tea and a cake across there and a yarn with navigators union. Went down early to the mess and read the Sunday papers. News came through while we were at lunch that Ops. were on. Danny reported to the M.O. for treatment but he wouldn’t let him fly – still ear trouble. Wrote a letter to Keith before tea. After dinner saw an excellent film show at the camp cinema “French Without Tears” – one of the brightest comedies I’ve ever seen. Also a “Superman” and Mickey Mouse cartoon and a shout on the destruction of the Czech village of Lidice by the Nazis. Grand show. Early to bed. A good day. Ops. were scrubbed.
Monday 19th. June 1944
Up at half past seven – G.C’s weekly parade which I attended for a change. After that Ron gave us a lecture on Y and a general natter. Ops. on again but Danny’s ear is still troublesome and we’re stood down. Strange as it may seem, you get a hell of a rotten feeling seeing all the boys getting ready for the trip when you’re not on. You actually feel out of it. One or two odd jobs in the afternoon then went into Scunthorpe with the boys. Had tea in Brigg first and then saw a film show in Scunthorpe – William Powell and Hedy Lamarr in “Heavenly Body” – what a women – and supporting film. Very good. Half past nine train back after a couple of beers in the Oswald. Cycled to the mess and had a coffee and collected my mail – six in all – they’re birthday cards.
Tuesday 20th. June 1944
Another birthday and another years service in the Air Force. The boys gave me 150 Canadian cigarettes as a birthday present. Did nothing particular in the morning – standdown for once. In the afternoon we were going to do an air test to see how Danny’s ear shaped but the aircraft wasn’t ready in time. Incidentally 15 of the boys actually took off last night and then it was scrubbed. They had to go out to sea and jettison some of the bombs and then return and land – rather an abortive effort! Wrote to Goldthorpes thanking them for £1 and good wishes. No letters for me nor has the parcel from home arrived yet. With Danny, Doug, Ted and Denis cycled into Barton and had a smashing birthday meal there – the usual steak, chips and egg ensemble etc. – my treat. Afterwards went to the local cinema and saw a couple of quite decent musicals. Cycled back and had a beer in the mess. Rather a panic. Briefing at 03:15 and meal at 02:15 in the morning. We are to be called at 01:30 even though it is very doubtful whether we shall be on. A good day.
Wednesday 21st. June 1944
Not called during the night, thank goodness, so got up at the usual time and as is my want, just made breakfast. No work during the day. Standby. Wrote three letters – home, Courtney and for a civil navigators “examination” syllabus. Wally Boscock rang up while I was at dinner asking us over to a cocktail party at N. Killingholme on Friday evening. Hope to go. Cycled into Brigg and had a few beers with Ted – the navigation officer – and Gibson – the intelligence officer. A grand day. Still the parcel hasn’t arrived from home. Heard three Bing records in the course of the day.
Thursday 22nd. June 1944
Rather a panic up at flights in the morning. Ops. on – another daylight. Briefing at 11:30. After lunch watched the take off – a pilotless plane base near Calais. Hitched into Brigg for tea and from there caught the usual bus into Scunthorpe. Saw a rather gaudy Technicolor musical “The Girl he left behind” with Alice Faye and Carmen Miranda. Had a beer or two in the Oswald and so home. My “birthday” parcel arrived. 9 days en route. Very good cake. All the boys had a piece also the two batwomen.
Friday 23rd. June 1944
As usual just made breakfast. After messing about for a time did an airtest in W which is our own aircraft from now on. Danny’s ears stood up quite well. Took about 6 ATC cadets up with us – only one was sick. Ops. on but we’re stood down. Read a book and had a bath in the afternoon. There is no chance of our going on leave tomorrow – M.O. does not want Danny to fly before his leave so he can have a good rest. After dinner had a doubles at T.T. (table tennis) and Danny and I beat Doug and Ted after a good game. Got most of my things packed and then cycled into Brigg with Denis and Gordon. Had a beer or two in the “Dying Gladiator” and felt rather tempted to pick up a women in there but thought better of it. Had my last piece of birthday cake and so to bed.
Saturday 24th. June 1944
Got dressed in my best bib and tucker straight away in case we could get on leave today. Eventually Danny, being unfit, was allowed to go but the rest of the crew has to stay behind until Monday or Tuesday. I was bloody annoyed and bound the adjutant rigid – also the world at large, but it was no go and eventually the Wing commander kind of ticked me off about being so insistent. Cheesed off over the whole affair. Doug went into Scunthorpe. After dinner read for a while then went to the local at Barnetby with Denis and had a couple of pints. Made another good resolution to cut drinking down to a minimum and smoking to five cigarettes per day. A good day on the whole and one to remember.
Sunday 25th. June 1944
Another disappointing day as far as leave is concerned. Messed about in general through the day and gave the bike another clean up. At night went to a party at Killingholme with Doug. Saw Mannay and Wally there – they have done 18 now. Actually first class party – loads of beer and spirits, cigarettes and food, all free to the guests. Got pretty well oiled and Doug was pretty out. Eventually left at 1 o’clock but the transport broke down. We had to get another one sent from Elsham and we eventually arrived back at camp at half past three.
Monday 26th. June 1944
The C.O’s parade cancelled - good show. Just made breakfast – Doug still feeling rather grim and didn’t get up till 1 o’clock. Finished packing in afternoon and got our leave forms and ration cards at 5 o’clock but no trains until the morning. Got the girls to take my case down to their prequet post for me to pick up in the morning. Spent a quiet night in the mess.
Tuesday 27th. June 1944
At long last we’re on leave. Early breakfast and caught the early train from Barnetby. Changed at Retford where we had an hours wait and a spot of toast and tea. More changes at Sheffield and Penistone and a bus from there. Eventually got home at half past one – mother and Margaret both in. Mother took my battledress in to be cleaned – ready for Saturday. Saw a rather poor show at Ramsden Street at night. A game of solo – a read and then to bed. A grand day. Heard the bad news that Ron Fox is missing. Hope he is O.K.
Wednesday 28th. June 1944
Got up at 9 am and spent the morning finishing reading “The Man on the White Horse” and sticking some more snaps in my collection. Went to the Ritz in the afternoon and saw Andy Hardy’s? “Blonde Trouble” – very funny. After tea watched a cricket match at Hall Bower between them and P.H. (Primrose Hill) – for the Red Cross. Saw Llewellyn and several people up there that I know. Left early but I think Hall Bower would win 134 for 5 & P.H 76 for 3 – only 5 more overs to go. A very pleasant evening. Took two tickets for a bottle of sherry raffle but no luck. Had a chat with Mr. Pollitt and then home. Still smoking too much – decided to cut it down.
Thursday 29th June 1944
Had a read in the morning. After dinner went to the Empire and saw Arthur Askey in “Bees in Paradise” and a Sherlock Holmes picture “The Spider Women” – a good show. Visited Greeds at night and had a good yarn. The news of Ron Fox was in The Examiner – also the surprising news that Primrose Hill had won last night – 136 – must have knocked up 60 in the last 5 overs. A good read and then to bed. A grand day.
Friday 30th. June 1944
Nothing much in the morning – went to Jimmy’s and collected meat. After dinner went to see Mrs. Fox at Hornby – she was very cheerful. Went to Aunt Hannah’s for tea. Saw a film show at the Carlton. A bath when I got home. And so ends another month.
Saturday 1st. July 1944
Went down town in am and collected my battle dress which had been cleaned – quite well – and found my train for the journey back. In afternoon went to Elland to see the Sykes Cup 3rd. round – Hall bower v Elland. We lost 113 to our 101. But a very good match. Had a couple of pork pies and a mug of tea up there in company with Archie Sykes. The weather was quite good after a rather shaky start. Went to Batty’s afterwards. Found them quite well and pleased to see me. Had a couple of pints with Mr. B at the Fountain before coming home. A grand day.
Sunday 2nd. July 1944
Got up at 10 o’clock and continued reading “Hatters Castle” in the morning. After dinner went with mother to Firths and saw Mrs. Read – then on to Uncle Jimmie’s for a very good salmon tea. Left there at 8 o’clock. Rhodes came over and another family chat. More reading and then to bed at 1:30. A good day.
Monday 3rd. July 1944
Another sorrowful day – go back to camp today. Raining all day and did not go out until it was train time. Mrs Read came just before I left. Caught the 5 o’clock as usual – Ephie was at the station to see me off. Only change – Penistone but I got soaked to the skin getting to camp with suitcase and bike from Barnetby station. Doug already in. got unpacked and dried and then to bed.
Tuesday 4th. July 1944
Got up to flights at 09:15 and got the gen – nothing much fresh. Danny and Ted not yet back. Stuck in Doncaster for the night. On ops. tonight and got things cleaned up in readiness. Danny and Ted arrived at lunchtime but Danny has spent half his leave in shelter and other half down with laryngitis so M.O says he hasn’t to fly tonight. Ted has also had quite hectic time with the buzz bombs. Got two weeks chocolate ration. Had a yarn with Danny and the boys after lunch and went up to the nav. section in the afternoon. Some of my clothes still wet from yesterday’s soaking. After dinner tried to get into a camp concert but full house. Cycled into Brigg with Doug and had a pint. Came back and heard the old maestro in an American show. A good day.
Wednesday 5th. July 1944
Spent quite a busy morning in charge of the nav. section – Ted and Ron were flying – bags of airmiles and concentration times from last nights trip to Orleans. All our boys got back but the other squadron lost one aircraft and one bomb aimer. Four of our navigators have been severed in the past fortnight. We went to see a camp concert in the afternoon – RCAF show and very good. At tea time was nailed by the flight commander to do an airtest with F/O Bartlest but after waiting round from 17:30 till 20:30 it was cancelled. Ops. on – a big trip – but Danny still unfit. Ted on with another crew. After a late dinner wrote a letter home and did a spot of repair work on my braces before turning in for the night. A grand day.
Thursday 6th. July 1944
The boys had been diverted from last nights long st …/ and returned just after 9 o’clock. A 9 hour trip to Dijon without loss. Ted was on it and they had a rather shaky trip getting 100 miles off track and straying over St. Nazaire all by themselves. Did an airtest in the morning to see how Danny’s ears worked out – they didn’t and he is to see a specialist tomorrow. Worked out some concentration times in the afternoon and then caught the 4 o’clock to Grimsby with Doug and Danny. Had a good tea there with strawberries and then went to Cleethorpes. A grand night and a very pleasant time there with putting (a hole in one) and slot machines (no Bing on the radiogram was the only snag). Back on the 20:50 and a beer in the mess. Doug and Ted on as spares early tomorrow morning.
Friday 7th. July 1944
Ops. on – briefing at 09:15 instead of 03:30 as originally planned. I was duty nav. After about an hour it was scrubbed – duff weather. Strawberries for sweet at lunchtime. No mail. Went up to the nav. section in afternoon but nothing doing so soon left. Briefing at 17:00 Doug and Ted flying as spares. The boys are all reserves. Danny rolled back at 19:00 pretty grim. He is to see a specialist again on Monday. More strawberries for dinner. Watched boys take off at 19:30 – daylight on Caen. Wrote a couple of letters and had a beer in the mess and then to bed as the boys were just arriving back. A good day.
Saturday 8th. July 1944
Danny saw the M.O. – not wanted until Monday – eventually got away on the 13:30 train for London till Monday. Worked the air miles out for last nights prang on Caen and had a cup of tea in the met. Office. All got back O.K – a good prang. Doug just about got a decent hit. Ted had another rather shaky navigational effort. Moore was in a collision over target – rear turret (with gunner) was chewed off also one fin and rudders. Landed at Tangmere. Two day ops. scrubbed. Read a book in the mess during the afternoon. Heavy shower just after tea. Cycled to Barton with Ted, Tony and Ron Evans. Got mixed up with --- ? screening session but finally got away to the usual good feed. Another pint and then cycled home. Still no mail. Heard F/O Moss broadcast on last nights Caen effort.
Sunday 9th. July 1944
Nothing doing in the morning. Standby until 23:00. Lecture by S/L Gallagher and radar bods at 2 o’clock. Then returned to billets and finished Warwick Deepings “Mr. Gurney and Mr. Slade” – I enjoyed it. After dinner the rain stopped and Denis, Doug and I cycled to the “Dying Navigator”. I had a couple of pints. Then home to bed – C.O’s parade on the morrow. A good day.
Monday 10th. July 1944
Got up at 07:40 and had a helluva rush to get on the G.C parade at 08:15 but just made it O.K. Ted didn’t. In charge of the nav. office in the morning – standdown but bags of training. Air Chief Marshall – Inspector General – and bags of other high bods at the station for lunch. All the nav. kings down for a conference as well. Went into Scunthorpe with all the boys on the 4 o’clock. Saw John Garfield in quite a decent picture with a couple of beers at the Oswald afterwards. Danny back – still not fit – to see a specialist on Thursday.
Tuesday 11th. July 1944
Just made breakfast – Danny didn’t. After kicking around in the nav. section for an hour or so, went out to U uncle and had a look over it. Ted and Ron over at Lindholme so looked after nav. section while they were away. Three letters today from home – heard that Blezard has been killed in a crash – also from Margaret, Milnes and Pual. Doug and Denis had dates and went to Scunthorpe. Frank and I had a wizard evening. We left camp just after 6 o’clock and cycled to Barton where we had the usual banger meal of steak, egg, tomato and chips. Then saw a film show with two not very well known, but excellent films. Returned via South Ferriby where we had a pint with the locals and then to the mess for another odd one. An excellent day. Standdown.
Wednesday 12th. July 1944
Ops. on. Went across to met. and had a cup of tea in the morning, also checked my nav. gear. Went to radar in the afternoon and got a bit of practice in. Caught the 4 o’clock train to Grimsby – Doug was writing letters and Ted was with Jo – so went there with Frank and Danny. Gordon had been on a Y cross country with another crew and Denis was to see the G/C about his commission. More strawberries and fish and chips for tea. Saw “The North Star” about Russia and quite good. A spot to eat and then back on the 20:50. Boys had just taken off – a long trip – 2,000 galls and max all up weight. Had a beer with Frank and so to bed.
Thursday 13th. July 1944
The boys had been diverted last night – bad vis – and had landed all over the place. A complete shambles of a raid – no markers and returned after skirting for a hell of a time. Losses hefty – about 12% - /_\ 100 miles SE of Paris. Those from our squadron – Abbott, Phillips and Harrison. Another crew bailed out through lack of petrol on return. Spent a useful hour with Doug in the radar section in morning and then with Ted and Doug did a spot of clay pigeon shooting – lost a bob to Ted but won it back shortly afterwards at table tennis. Wrote home and cashed a cheque at lunch time. Spent an hour at the nav. station in the afternoon – the boys were just getting back from last nights effort – and then caught the 4 o’clock to Scunthorpe with Danny and Ron Evans. A good tea of chips, spam and tomatoes and then saw “A Guy Called Joe” with Spencer Tracey and June Dunne – very good. Then a walk and a pint at a new and very pleasant pub. Saw Gordon on the home train – vis clamping again.
Friday 14th. July
Worked out some air miles in the morning. An egg for breakfast. Had my first game of Bridge for nearly a year. F/S Thomas and I played together and did quite well. After lunch went up to the Nav. section and gave F/O Fairlie the gen. Just after 4 o’clock flew down to Kelston with F/L Allwood and Denis to pick up another kite. Landed again at base just after 5 o’clock. Danny has got the whole crew a 48 until Monday morning but it was too late to go home tonight. Had a letter from Frances and Mrs. Howell – Grace has been bombed out – Frances is still chirpy. Gordon and Frank are on as spare bods – 9,000 bombs, 2,000 petrol T/O (take off) 21:00 hrs. Had a bath then went into Brigg for a pint with Denis. An excellent day.
Saturday 15th. July 1944
Had bad news first thing. From last nights raid on Ravigny – bombs brought back again – two kites were lost from our squadron – Ogden with Frank as midupper and P/O Anthony in U. A bad night. Eventually decided to go home for the weekend. Caught the 11:10 and after four trains and two buses finally got home at 6 o’clock. Met the twins – Rene and John – two grand little kiddies. Spent a quiet evening and tumbled into the camp bed at 2am after a long tussle trying to put a new wick in my lighter but I didn’t manage it. Met Shirley in town. (N.B Rene and John were evacuees).
Sunday 16th. July 1944
Rose at 09:30. Took John and Rene over to Thorntons in the morning. A grand day and spent a pleasant afternoon in a deck chair. Mother and Margaret and Rene went to the chapel while John collared me for several games. Ephie and Mrs Read came down just before I left. Caught the 21:00 to Manchester. Changed stations there and had a bite at the YMCA. Eventually got the 01:35 from Manchester and went via Penistone (which I reached 5 hours after leaving home) etc to Barnetby at 05:30. Eventually got to bed at 06:30.
Monday 17th. July 1944
C.O’s parade and I no sooner got to bed than it was getting up time again. After the parade went into the nav. section and got the latest score. Then lunch followed by a game of bridge and a lecture by S/L Gallagher on some new equipment. My letter from (to?) Ron Fox returned. Had a sleep and then dinner. Wrote a bit and then a spot of washing and so to welcome bed.
Tuesday 18th. July 1944
Danny still unfit – to see specialist again on Friday. Went across to the met. In the morning and prepared a chart for Ted showing jettison area. Danny flight commander – gone on last nights trip on a place near Caen – a good prang in early morning light – 1,000 kites – 5,000 tons – 6 lost – none from our station. Stooges around in afternoon. Went down to 8 site and shook two crew up to fetch a new a/c? (aircraft) from another station. Had a bath and then went out after dinner to Brigg for a couple of pints. Op. on – experienced crews and cookies – looks like a German bash – hope all goes well – Danny wrote to Frank’s parents on behalf of the crew.
Wednesday 19th. July 1944
Last nights effort on an oil refinery near Gelsenkirechen. All our kites got back but several had shaky efforts. A good prang. 5 Group went to Remigny and lost 26 out of just over a hundred. Worked out some airmiles and then just hung around. Ops. on. In afternoon looked in nav. section and met new nav. leader – a F/L whom I met in the group section at Wymeswold – seems quite a decent chap. Went into Grimbsy on the 4 o’clock with Danny and Ted – Doug on with another crew and going to the camp cinema. Went to usual café for tea – more strawberries – and then spent a very pleasant evening in Cleethorpes – won two rounds of putting. Returned on the 8:50 train – a wizard conductress – just had time for a beer in the “Station” and so home. Wrote home and sent Margaret’s birthday card. Ops. on and not back until early morning. An excellent day.
Thursday 20th. July 1944
No early morning ops. Had a decent game of bridge with Vanell as partner in the crew room. Ops. on – Doug on with F/S Hill and Gordon with a new crew. Gordon managed to get out of it eventually. Went into the nav. section in the afternoon and had a yarn and then a cup of tea (and doughnut) with Ron in the met. section. Had a game of table tennis with Danny and a nod before dinner. Heard Bing in his weekly programme on the American Forces wavelength at 19:05 and then saw an excellent film at the camp cinema “Girl Trouble” – Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. Boys took off at 7 and should be back by this time 10:30. An excellent day.
Friday 21st. July 1944
Margaret’s birthday. Had a game of bridge in the morning – Doug had a go but he’ll need a fair bit of practice. Ops. on – cookies again. Last nights chemical bash was a piece of cake. Got July’s “Taxes” at lunchtime. Went to radar in the afternoon with Ron and Ted. Just got the 4 o’clock train with all the boys. Had quite a good tea then saw “Halfway House” – unusual and very good also a Charlie Chan picture. Afterwards went to the (pub) and had a couple of pints – Danny the worse for wear. Met Kathie. Train late. News of attempt on Hitler’s life and revolt in Germany on everybody’s tongues. A good day.
Saturday 22nd. July 1944
Last nights ops. scrubbed. Got up to flights by 9 am. Had a game of bridge until about 11 am and then returned to the mess where I had a good game of T.T. (table tennis) with Walker. Doug and Ted had tried to get tomorrow off and to go to London but W/C wouldn’t wear it. However we were given the rest of the day off and Doug and Ted went to Grimsby on the 2:30. Danny got tomorrow off and went home. I offered to fly as a Y screen with F/O Avon. However we got a couple of u/s kites – coolant leaks – so it was a waste of an afternoon. After dinner went into Brigg with Ron Evans and had a few beers. Several pieces of ? around. Made a good resolution – no more than 5 cigs per day and a minimum of drink. A good day.
Sunday 23rd. July 1944
Went on a church parade in the morning – quite a good service. Afterwards had the usual game of bridge. Ops. on – full effort. Ted and Doug arrived back about 10:30 after spending the night at the “Bluebell” – rather a dirty dive. Spent a bit of time on the Y trainer in the afternoon but it is rather a dead loss. Cookies, incendiaries and 1550 – looks like the Ruhr. After tea had a bath and read then went to the 8:30 camp cinema show “By Hook or by Crook” – Red / Rod Skelton and Eleanor Powell – not bad. Had a cup of coffee and a beer in the mess. Saw some of the take off. Should go on leave again on Aug. 8th. – A good day.
Monday 24th. July 1944
Worked out last nights air miles – a good trip to Kiel – no losses from here. Then spent the rest of the morning working in latitude and longitude on some new gee charts. Continued this in the afternoon and at 4 o’clock went to a lecture in the station cinema by the S.A.S.O – an Air Commander on the last big daylight attack near Caen. Very interesting. Read my little gen book at night. Got my pair of shoes back. Ted’s had gone to the Committee of Adjustments in Frank’s name. Danny back – O.K. again for local trips. Doug had a grand parcel from his cousin. Had a letter from Margaret and Danny had a letter from Frank’s people.
Tuesday 25th. July 1944
Last nights effort on Stuttgart – one from each squadron missing. Also prepared several new charts during the day. Danny taking an Indian D.S.O major around in the afternoon. No kites so we couldn’t fly. Ops. on – seven on a long and the other seven on a short trip. Ted on with F/L Marsden. Went into Scunthorpe with Doug on the 6:30pm and saw “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”. Quite good and had a couple of pints. Letter from Donald and gloves from home.
Wednesday 26th. July 1944
Worked out some more air miles for the second Stuttgart and Channel bash – Dyer missing. Finished off the new charts I started yesterday. Got a couple of hours in, in the afternoon doing a couple of air tests – our own kite and zebra in which we went 60 miles out to test the rear turret. Had a good wash and then after dinner saw a camp cinema show – “New Moon” – so, so. Had a pint and then to bed.
Thursday 27th. July 1944
Had a haircut in the morning and wrote home. Danny fit for Ops. up to 14,000 ft. Ops. on and for a change we’re on – briefing early in the morning. Bath and a sleep in the afternoon. Got our gear out to the kite at teatime. Got to bed at 8 o’clock and slept until 2 am. Briefed for a French trip and got out to the kites only for it to be scrubbed at the last minute.
Friday 28th. July 1944
Got to bed by 7 o’clock and up again at 12:30. Ops. on – cookies and 500 pounders. Got all prepared in the afternoon and had a sleep. Breakfast at 7 pm – picked to bomb on Y – another Stuttgart prang. After a hell of a rushed briefing we were scrubbed at the last minute – M.O’s orders. Saw the boys take off – hope all goes well. Had a couple of pints and a game or two of table tennis in the mess. A yarn with the boys and so to bed.
Saturday 29th. July 1944
A wicked night – eight lost on Stuttgart and several others badly smashed and landed away – four lost from each squadron. Worked out some airmiles and had the usual cup of tea at the met. office. Broadbent (Wood), West (Vouell?), Maso (Oliver) and Armstrong (Shaw – last trip) from our squadron. Ops. on five crews from our squadron – we’re on. Got our gear out to the kite in the afternoon. Subsequently ten crews on and an early morning effort.
Sunday 30th. July 1944
Woken up by Jack Braheny at 02:30 – what an ungodly hour? Meal at 03:00 hours and our briefing started at 4 am. Another raid supporting the army – about 30 miles in. Very poor weather for take off but Danny made a good job. Navigation not bad for such a long lay off – one or two minor boobs. Gordon had more finger trouble. A good prang – went down to 2,000 to bomb and sure felt the blast. Landed at a Yankee station in East Anglia at 10:30 am and had lunch and quite a good time. Looked over a Fort (American Flying Fortress bomber?) When weather permitted took off at 13:00 and landed at base just before 2 o’clock. Interrogation and then a good hot bath. A…. to stay in camp - nothing definite on. Had a few grapefruits in the mess with Doug – then gen came through - …….. standdown. Dinner, a write, a read and an early night.
Monday 31st. July 1944
C.O’s parade – what a bind. Had to tote our vapirators and gas capes around? in the morning. Natter by Gallagher to navs and B/A’s (Bomb Aimers) at 10 am. Ops. on and so are we. Should have done our air test at 2 pm but meal at 3 and briefing at 3:45, so it was scrubbed. U uncle just off its inspection. Feeling very tired and a slight headache. Le Havre – target and a good briefing. Bad headache and felt very grim. Sick after we had been up about an hour but OK afterwards and coped fairly well. Took off at 6pm and bombed at 20,000 feet. Flak moderate and accurate. We were hit very slightly on the mid upper. Flew with our new rear gunner – Eric Tidd. Saw F/O Avon shot down – tough. Two of his crew were seen to get out O.K. Landed at 9:30 pm and after interrogation and an egg got to bed. A good prang.
Tuesday 1st. August 1944
Had breakfast at 09:30 then went to a lecture on escape by a F/Lt. who got out of Germany in the last war. Ops. on. Got everything ready – briefed at 17:00 Took off at 18:50 – a channel flying bomb site. Over target just after 20:30 but just as we crossed the coast the master of ceremonies told us to abandon and go home. Got quite a lot of accurate flak pumped up at us by a flak ship just off the coast. Jettisoned some of our bombs and returned. Cloud base pretty grim – 700 feet – but Danny made a good job.
Wednesday 2nd. August 1944
Got up to flights by 9 o’clock. Cleaned up charts and got gear ready again. Ops. on and took our things out to the kite. After lunch wrote home and then lay down for a while. Meal was at 15:00 but when I got up there was a standdown until 23:00 hours. Ted, Doug and I went into Grimsby – saw “p g motion” ? and returned on the 20:50 bus. Had a beer and so to bed. Rumoured that briefing is 09:30 in the morning.
Thursday 3rd. August 1944
Got up to the mess to find that Ops. were on – briefing at 09:30. Took off at 11:35 for a flying bomb site about 100 miles in France and had quite a good trip. Landed at 16:10. After interrogation had another egg, a bath and a quiet evening with a couple of beers in the mess. Letters from home, (Mrs Howell) Dan - who is getting leave from 10th. – 17th. and feels should be able to see Don OK, and wrote him.
Friday 4th. August 1944
Ops. on first thing. A hell of a rushed briefing – an hour – what a panic. Target Pauillac oil refinery way down almost in Spain. A long sea crossing at 10,000. Not a bad trip but took 7 ¾ hours. Long range fighter support. Landed at 21:30. Had a spot of something to eat a drink and rolled into bed. Halfway through our turn.
Saturday 5th. August 1944
Just had time to slot our leave applications in before briefing again – 11:30. Almost same place, same route and same tactics – another oil refinery just across the river estuary. Another 8 hours only this time diverted to Ossington – a Canadian Wimpy OUT. A lot of balling around but eventually got a bite, a drink and a bed status at base.
Sunday 6th. August 1944
Woke up at 09:30. An egg for breakfast, a wash and took off for base at 11:30. Landed to hear that there was a standdown – welcome news after six in seven days. My nose still very sore – poisoned by continued rubbing of the oxygen mask. Landed O.K. at base and after interrogation had a wash, a drink and then got my gear ready for the next one. A bath and then a spot of lunch at 2:45 pm. Spent ½ an hour clearing my log book up and then a game of pontoon with the boys which set me back 3/-. Had a letter from accounts waiting for me asking for another £14- another. Got changed, had dinner and a few games of T.T. with Roy Walton and then cycled to Brigg with the two D’s – Doug and Danny for the odd beer. Danny trying to get accommodation for Olive and himself for next week but no luck. Hope to get away on leave tomorrow. A cup of cocoa in the mess and so to bed.
Monday 7th. August 1944
Got up full of hope that we may get on leave today but these were dashed near lunchtime when Ops. were put on and being a full effort we were on. Did a dual Y stooge as ? – ahem – in the morning with P/O Smith’s crew – it didn’t go off too badly. Got my gear out to the kite in the afternoon – briefing 18:30. An army support job – a big one – the other side of Caen and we didn’t mind the trip but met. said we were almost certain to be diverted. Took off at 21:00 and it was a good prang. Met. were wrong and we roared back to base. One kite missing – crew had bailed out O.K. Got to bed at 3 am.
Tuesday 8th. August 1944
On leave. Got up at 7:30 am the 9:05 / 9:5? – the boys caught the 8:30 / 8.3? Travelled to Doncaster in company with Les – the met. chappie. Hung up for an hour at Penistone where I had a pint and a yarn with an - - -? Got home at 2 pm and to find Mrs. Howell there – all the news. The twins went off to Greenhead Park for the day. A grand day. At night had a walk to the same park and then popped up to Goldthorpes. Got home at 10:45 pm.
Wednesday 9th. August 1944
Didn’t get up till 11:30 am – a dammed good sleep on the camp bed. After lunch slipped up to Gurds – Donald home tomorrow. Went to the station and got the gen on the trains to Leeds. Then went to the Princess to see “Phantom of the Opera” – very good. Gladys and Lizzie to tea. Did a spot of writing at night. A good day.
Thursday 10th. August 1944
Went to Leeds for the day with mother and Mrs. Howell. The twins packed off to Bar(n)croft Road for a couple of days. Caught the 10:43 train and had to stand all the way. Finally managed to get a spot of lunch at the “Imperial Hotel”. Mother and Mrs H. went shop touring so I slipped into Leeds and saw Herbert Laing and Miss Dalton – it quite reminded me of old times. Then spent the next hour in the news theatre. In the morning went into the Royal and had a beer – mother had a sherry. Finished up with seeing David Niven in “The Way Ahead” at the Odeon. Very good. Had a bite at the station and caught the 8.8 went to Gurds where I met Don and Geoff and had supper.
Friday 11th. August 1944
After breakfast went over to Jimmie’s – received £1. The twins had slept at Glady’s and seemed O.K. They seem to want to spend all their time telephoning. Had a game of cricket with John. After lunch went to the butchers for the meat then to the Ritz with Don and Geoff to see “Destination Tokyo” with Cary Grant. Not bad. Went up to Don’s just before 9 o’clock and had a walk up to Castle Hill. Back to Don’s for supper then to bed. Mrs. Howell rather ill.
Saturday 12th. August 1944
Packed diary in for a time.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Geoff Blamires diary May to August 1944
Description
An account of the resource
Handwritten diary with a transcription. Covers a short period of time when Geoff had just arrived at Elsham Wolds flying operations on the Lancaster. A detailed account of his life concentrating on the non operational aspect.
Creator
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R G Blamires
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-05-08
Temporal Coverage
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1944-05-08
1944-08-12
Spatial Coverage
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Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Civilian
Language
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eng
Type
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Text. Diary
Format
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One printed diary with handwritten additions
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LBlamiresRG139996v1, YBlamiresRG139996v1-Transcript
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IBCC Digital Archive
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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.
103 Squadron
aircrew
Lancaster
navigator
RAF Elsham Wolds
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1652/26481/SBriarsRA1299161v1.1.pdf
2a781daac7a5ee89fd2d6eb170264b96
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Casswell, Robert Ivan. Ralph Briars DFM
Description
An account of the resource
1 Item. Was an air gunner on John Sanders and Roy Machin's crew on 49 Squadron. Collection consists of a memoir.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2015-10-27
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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. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
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Briars, R
Transcribed document
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Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[picture]
REAR VIEW
Ralph Briars
[page break]
[photograph]
TO MARK AND AMANDA, IN THE FERVENT HOPE THAT THEY AND THEIRS NEVER BECOME INVOLVED IN WORLD UPHEAVALS SUCH AS HAPPENED BETWEEN 1939 AND 1945
DEDICATED FIRSTLY TO MY TRAVELLING COMPANIONS IN THOSE UNFRIENDLY SKIES, PARTICULARLY TO JOHN SANDERS WHO FLEW US THERE AND BACK, AND JAMES BARRON WHO GUIDED US. THE OTHERS AL AND ARTHUR, ROY AND TOMMY, ALL STRANGERS THROWN TOGETHER IN THE COMMON CAUSE.
SECONDLY TO BILL HUDSON WHO CAME WITH ME FROM GUNNERY SCHOOL TO FISKERTON, A WARMLY REMEMBER [sic] PERSON WHOSE FAVOURITE TIPPLE WAS GUINESS AND GIN-MIXED. SADLY HIS AIRCRAFT DID NOT RETURN FROM A RAID IN MARCH 1944, SHORTLY BEFORE WE WERE POSTED TO 617 SQUADRON.
[page break]
[underlined] FORE-WORD [/underlined]
TO EMPLOY A WELL WORN BUT NONE THE LESS ACCURATE CLICHÉ, LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES. THUS I PONDERD [sic] RUEFULLY, IN JANUARY 1944, ON FINDING MYSELF SITTING AT THE REAR OF A LANCASTER BOMBER EN ROUTE TO STETTING, WHICH IS THE WRONG SIDE OF DENMARK. NOT THAT I AM UNPATRIOTIC REALLY, BUT DURING THE TIME THAT HAD PASSED SINCE JOINING THR [sic] ROYAL AIR FORCE I DID THINK THAT SOMEONE OUGHT TO GET A MOVE ON AND WIN THE WAR BEFORE I BECAME INVOLVED.
THE R.A.F. INVITED ME TO JOIN IN 1941 ON THE ROSY PROSPECT THAT TRAINING AS A WIRELESS OPERATOR/AIR GUNNER – KNOWN IN THE TRADE AS A WOP/AG – WOULD FOLLOW INITIAL INSTRUCTION ON GETTING THE LEFT FOOT AND RIGHT ARM IN SYNCHRONISATION ON MOVING OFF. SO AWAY TO SAMPLE THE DELIGHTS OF THE BLACKPOOL LANDLADIES, BLESS-EM. SOME WERE LIKE MUVVERS, OTHERS LET YOU WASH IN THE YARD AND NO WARM SHAVING WATER. ONE LEARNED, USUALLY TOO LATE, NEVER TO EXPOUND THE VIRTUES OF THEIR COOKING – OR ANY OTHER ACTIVITY – FOR THE PERMANENT STAFF SOON HAD YOU OUT AND THEMSELVES IN, TO USE THE VERNACULAR, WITH THEIR FEET AND TRULY UNDER THE TABLE.
NOW I WOULD NOT SAY THE MORSE CODE IS PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO LEARN GIVEN MORE TIME MY INSTRUCTORS WERE PREPARED TO OFFER, AND AS THE WAR WAS NOT GOING ALL THAT WELL I HAD TO DEPART FROM THIS POSH PART OF LANCASHIRE. ALTHOUGH I WAS A BIT MIFFED AT THE TIME, THE DECISION WAS EVENTUALLY ADVANTAGEOUS, AS I WILL EXPAND LATER,..
SO THERE I WAS, WITH A FEW OTHER FAILURES, ON THE ISLE OF SHEPPEY, BEING INSTRUCTED ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT, PARACHUTE AND CABLES. BEAR WITH ME, IF YOU WILL, YOU’LL NOT BELIEVE THE REST. SOME BRIGHT SPARK IN THE MIN. OF DEFFENCE [sic] INVENTED A FORM OF DEFENCE AGAINST LOW FLYING AIRCRAFT CONSISTING OF A ROW OF TUBES SET VERTICALLY AND CONTAINING ROCKETS TO WHICH WERE ATTACHED. [sic]
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LONG LENGTHS OF STEEL CABLE, WITH INCREDIBLE ACCURACY YOU FIRED THESE OFF JUST AS AN AIRCRAFT – PREFERABLE [sic] BELONGING TO THE OTHER SIDE – WAS ABOUT TO CROSS THE LINE, WHERE-UPON UP THEY WENT TO AROUND 800 FEET, EJECTING A PARACHUTE FIXED TO THE CABLE WHICH THEN SLOWLY DROPPED TO THE GROUND. IF THEN YOUR TARGET WAS NOT ENTANGLED IN THE STEEL CURTAIN, OR A SECOND ONE CAME ALONG, YOU NEEDED AT LEAST 30 MINUTES TO REFILL THE SYSTEM, PRESUMABLY THIS VISIONARY TYPE OF DEFENCE AROSE DURING THE PROBLEMS OF SUPPLYING CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS AT THAT STAGE OF THE WAR, AND WAS USED TO DEFEND MERCHANT SHIPPING AS WELL AS AIR FIELDS.
ANYWAY, I WAS PACKED OFF TO SAVE THE R.A.F. BASE AT LINTON-ON-OUSE, NEAR YORK, AND IN THE PERIOD FROM CHRISTMAS 1941 TO AROUND FEBRUARY 1943 WE FIRED NOT ONE SHOT. NO DOUBT THE LUFTWAFFE HAD HEARD ABOUT IT ALL. DURING THIS EXCITING PERIOD I MADE REGULAR APPLICATIONS TO TRAIN AS AN AIR GUNNER, FOR NOT ONLY WAS THIS DEFENCE WORK FARCICAL – FOR EXAMPLE ONE COULD NOT OPERATE AFTER DARK AS THERE WAS NO REFERNCE [sic] TO JUDGE DISTANCE – OUT DEFENCE DUTIES WERE BEING SLOWLY TAKEN OVER BY THE NEWLY FORMED R.A.F. REGIMENT, WITH ALL THE ASSOCIATED ARMY STYLE TRAINING WHICH I COULD PLAINLY SEE WAS NOT GOING TO BE MY CUP OF TEA AT ALL.
EVENTUALLY I FOUND MYSELF IN ST. JOHNS WOOD, IN LONDON, ONCE AGAIN ON ASSESSMENTS AND INITIAL TRAINING LEADING TO A GUNNERY COURSE. THENCE TO BRIDLINGTON FOR THE REAL THING, WHERE AMONGST DIVERS ACTIVITIES WE SPENT HOURS IN A LOCAL GARAGE WHIRLING AROUND ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF GUN TURRETS MOUNTED UPON METAL FRAMES CONTAINING SMALL PETROL ENGINES WHICH SUPPLIED ELECTRIC AND HYDRAULIC POWER. NEARBY FLAMBOROUGH HEAD WAS USED FOR LIVE FIRING MUCH TO THE DISCOMFORT OF THR [sic] RESIDENT GULLS, FOR THE CONTINUAL USE OF OLD GUNS SEEMINGLY SO WIDENED THE BORE THAT TRACER BULLETS RARELY FOLLOWED EACH OTHER BUT WANDERED ABOUT LIKE GUNSHOT.
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THE NEXT STOP WAS DALCROSS, THE FLYING SCHOOL NEAR INVERNESS WHICH IS NOW THAT TOWN’S AIRPORT. WHERE WE SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS IN LOVELY WEATHER FLYING OVER THE MORAY FIRTH IN OLD DEFIANTS AND ANSONS FIRING AT TOWED TARGET DROGUES OR SEA MARKERS. MANY OF THE PILOTS WERE POLISH, TEMPORARILY WITHDRAWN FROM ACTIVE DUTY, AND THEY UNDERSTANDABLY WANTED TO RETURN TO BASHING THE HUN RATHER THAN FERRYING AROUND THREE TYRO GUNNERS AND THEIR INSTRUCTOR. ONE OCCURRENCE THAT WOULD INVITE A FLOW OF FURIOUS POLISH – THE PURPORT OF WHICH WAS CLEAR EVEN THOUGH THE LANGUAGE WAS NOT – WAS WHEN AFTER PAINFULLY CLIMING [sic] TO HEIGHT AND AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF THE TARGET TOWING AIRCRAFT THE FIRST GUNNER IN THE TURRET SHOT OFF THE DROGUE. AMONGST US GUNNERS THIS WAS SEEN AS EVIDENCE OF GREAT PROWESS, BUT THE RESULT WAS RATHER A LONG HOPEFULL [sic] WAIT FOR A NEW DROGUE TO BE STREAMED BY THE TOWING AIRCRAFT, OR, AS MORE OFTEN HAPPENED, A RETURN TO THE AIRFIELD. EACH GUNNER FIRED 200 ROUNDS. THE TIPS OF WHICH HAD BEEN DIPPED IN A STICKY SORT OF PRINTERS INK, RED PURPLE OR GREEN, SO THAT THE HITS COULD BE COUNTED. THE PROCEDURE WAS FOR US TO LAND FIRST AND AWAIT THE DROPPING OF THE DROGUE TARGET, WHICH WE HAD TO LUG INTO THE SCOOL [sic] FOR ASSESSMENT. OH! THE EXCITEMENT! HOW MANY WOULD YOU HAVE? HAD YOU, IN FACT ANY? 10 WAS EXCELLENT 15 INCREDIBLE, MORE OFTEN IT WAS SINGLE NUMBERS. AIR TO AIR FIRING WAS WILDLY WASTEFUL, NONE OF YOUR HEAT-SEEKING MISSILES THEN!
WE DID A LOT OF GUN TURRET TRAINING, AND COULD EVENTUALLY WRITE OUR NAMES BY MEANS OF A PENCIL WEDGED INSIDE THE GUN BARREL WHICH ENABLED ONE TO TRACE THE LETTERS ONTO A BOARD HELD IN FRONT OF THE TURRET. HOURS WERE SPENT INSIDE LARGE WHITE WASHED DOMES WHERE MOVING FILMS OF VARIOUS ATTACKING AIRCRAFT WERE PROJECTED, AND WITH A TORCH STRAPPED TO THE GUN BARREL ONE HAD TO SHOW CONVINCING ABILITY TO TRACK AND LEAD THE TARGET. ALERTNESS WAS EVERYTHING, FOR SOMETIMES A BRITISH AIRCRAFT WOULD BE SHOWN, AND IF NOT
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IDENTIFIED HEAVY SARCASM WOULD BE OBSERVED BY THE INSTRUCTOR, HAD NOT THE SERVICE ENOUGH TROUBLES ALREADY?
THE END OF THE COURSE CAME AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE UNFORTUNATE SOUL WE ALL PASSSED [sic]. THERE WE WERE AGAIN, BACK ON THE OLD L.M.S., TRAIN, DESTINED FOR VARIOUS COMMANDS AND GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. PASSING ALONG THE GRAND SCOTTISH SCENE THROUGH AVIEMORE, PERTH AND CARSTAIRS, AND THEN BY WAYS DEVIOUS I ENDED THE JOURNEY, WITH ONE ACQUAINTANCE FROM DALCROSS, AT 14 C.T.U. [sic] 9 (OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT) AT COTTESMORE IN WHAT AT THE TIME WAS THE PLEASANT COUNTY OF RUTLAND.
HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME WE MET OTHER FLYING TRADESMEN, PILOTS, NAVIGATORS, WIRELESS OPERATORS AND BOMB AIMERS. FIVE TO A CREW FOR THE TIME BEING, AS WE TRAINED ON WELLINGTON TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT. IN A SURPRISING BUT SOMEHOW VERY BRITISH WAY, A NOVEL WAY OF FORMING CREWS WAS ADOPTED.
NOT FOR US A LIST OF WHO WOULD FLY WITH WHOM, WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED, BUT INSTEAD A PERIOD – FROM LONG MEMORY AROUND TWO DAYS – IN WHICH WE MADE OUR OWN SELECTION. ANYONE NOT CREWED UP IN THE TIME ALLOTTED WAS MADE UP WITH OTHERS SIMILARLY PLACED. SO IT WAS DOWN TO THE (GEORGE) AT OAKHAM, AND BY THE TIME WE WERE CHUCKED OUT MOST CREWS WERE ARRANGED. HOW, YOU MIGHT SAY, DID ONE CAREFULLY SELECT SUITABLE SKILLED, ALERT, ETC. COMPATRIOTS WITH WHOM TO GO SWANNING AROUND GERMAN SKIES? DID ONE EARNESTLY ASK A PILOT HOW MANY HAD HE WRITTEN OFF ALREADY, OR SEEK A NAVIGATORS OPINION ON THE TRIANGLE OF VELOCITIES? YOU MUST BE JOKING! AFTER A FEW DRINKS WE WERE ALL EXCELLENT FELLOWS! THIS NAVIGATOR STEADIED HIMSELF ON ME AND SAID HE HAD A PILOT, WAS I FIXED UP? SEEMINGLY REASONABLY RESPECTABLE I WANT ALONG WITH HIM TO SEE THE PILOT, WHO HAD TWO WINGS UP SO WAS CLEARLY RELIABLE, AND HE TOOK ME ON, WE THEN ALL FOUND A WIRELESS MAN APPARENTLY KNEW ALL THE PUBS IN NOTTINGHAM, AND ON---
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ON THE WAY BACK ASSISTED THIS CANADIAN BOMB AIMER WHO WAS NOT SURE WHICH WAY EAST OR WEST, AND SO SANDERS SAINTS WERE FORMED.
TOGETHER WE TRAINED AS A TEAM UNTILL [sic] THE END OF SEPTEMBER, FLYING OUT OF SATELLITE AIR FIELDS AT MARKET HARBOROUGH AND HUSBANDS BOSWORTH, TOTALLING AROUND 80 HOURS FLYING TIME. INITIALY [sic] THE PILOT WAS MOST INVOLVED IN FAMILIARISING HIMSELF, UNDER INSTRUCTION, WITH THE LARGER AND HEAVIER AIRCRAFT. ONE HAS SOME FEELING FOR HIM IN THIS, FOR HIS SKILL AND PROGRESS WERE WITHIN SIGHT AND SOUND OF THE REST OF US PASSENGERS DURING SEVERAL HOURS TAKINF [sic] OFF AND LANDING, COLLOQUIALLY KNOWN AS CIRCUITS AND BUMPS. HOWEVER JOHN SANDERS WAS QUITE UP TO ALL THIS, AND BEFORE LONG WE ALL HAD TO JUSTIFY OUR TRAINING DURING CROSS-COUNTRY EXERCISES, PRACTICE BOMBING AND GUNNERY. IN THESE THE PILOT AND NAVIGATOR WERE OF COURSE CONTINUALLY EXTENDING THEIR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE, AS WAS THE WIRELESS OPERATOR, TUCKED UP IN HIS LITTLE NICHE, AND HERE I WOULD INTERPOSE MY FEELINGS TOUCHED UPON EARLIER CONCERNING MY SUMMARY EXIT FROM THE WIRELESS SCHOOL.
THE VITAL WIRELESS OPERATOR, - RECEIVING INFORMATION ABOUT WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION CHANGES, ALTERATIONS TO BOMBING TECHNIQUES, CHECKING THE INTERCOM, TUNING IN TO ENEMY AIRCRAFT AND THEIR CONTROLLERS WAVELENGTHS SO THEY COULD BE JAMMED VIA A MICROPHONE IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, TRACKING POSSIBLE NIGHT FIGHTERS ON A SMALL VDU, - SAW LITTLE OF ACTUAL WAR. SOME MAY THINK IMAGINATION WOULD HAVE WORKED OVERTIME WONDERING WHAT WAS HAPPENING OUTSIDE, LISTENING AND FEELING BUT NOT KNOWING. THE SIGHTS I SAW FROM MY VANTAGE POINT AT THR [sic] REAR WERE NOT ALWAYS ENTIRELY REASSURING, BUT THAT’S REALITY, AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO NOT KNOWING AT ALL, WAS PREFERABLE.
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SHORTLY BEFORE LEAVING COTTESMORE AT THE END OF OCTOBER 1943 TWO MORE CREW MEMBERS ARRIVED, THE ENGINEER AND THE MID-UPPER TURRET GUNNER. WHILST THE FORMER COULD BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE DUAL COCKPIT OF THE WELLINGTON, THE NEW GUNNER WAS LESS FORTUNATE AND SPENT A FEW DRAUGHTY COLD SPELLS IN THE FUSELARGE [sic]. ROY MACHIN WAS A LITTLE LESS THAN DELIGHTED WITH LIFE, BUT IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE WE MOVED AND HE HAD HIS OWN NEST.
SO IT WAS OFF TO THE LAST STAGE OF TRAINING AT WINTHORPE, NEAR NEWARK. THIS PERIOD OF SIX WEEKS WAS SIMILAR TO THAT AT COTTESMORE, EXCEPT THAT THIS UNIT, 1661 CONVERSION UNIT, FAMILIARISED US WITH THE SAME TYPE OF AIRCRAFT USED IN OPERATIONS, THE HALIFAX AND THE LANCASTER. I BELIEVE OUR 5 GROUP WAS PHASING OUT THE HALIFAX AT THE TIME, ANDWE [sic] ONLY FLEW ABOUT FIVE HOURS IN THEM. FROM THE GUNNERS POINT OF VIEW THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO TYPES WAS THE BOULTON AND PAUL (BP) TURRET IN THE HALIFAX AND THAT MADE BY FRAZER-NASH IN THE LANCASTER. BOTH HAD FOUR GUNS FED BY AMMUNITION CONVEYED ON TRACKS FROM BINS NEAR THE CENTRE OF THE FUSELAGE TO AVOID UNWANTED WEIGHT AT THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE BP TURRET WAS ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AND CONTROLLED BY A SINGLE JOYSTICK, WHEREAS THAT IN THE LANCASTER WAS HYDRAULICALLY DRIVEN WITH BICYCLE TYPE HANDLEBAR CONTROLS. I PREFERRED THE LATTER, PROBABLY DUE TO FAMILIARITY THOUGH BOTH HAD A SMOOTH AND PRECISE ACTION, EACH ‘303 BROWNING GUN FIRED ABOUT 1200 ROUNDS A MINUTE, AND WERE (HARMONISED) THAT IS FOCUSED FOR MAXIMUM CUMULATIVE EFFECT ON TARGET AT 400 YARDS. HAVING SEEN THE DEVASTATING RESULT OF SIX GUNS ON AN ENEMY AIRCRAFT DURING OUR FIRST OPERATION TO STETTIN WE HAD MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THEM.
THE PROBLEM WITH NIGHT OPERATIONS WAS, SIMPLY, SEEING THE ATTACKER. THE REAR GUNNER SEARCHED BEHIND AND BELOW, THE OTHER GUNNER BEHIND AND ABOVE, BOTH CONSTANTLY SCANNING THE SIDE AREAS AS WELL. THE MAIN DANGER CAME FROM TWIN ENGIND [sic] ME110’S AND JUNKERS 88’S NEITHER OF WHICH WAS ------
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PARTICULARY [sic] FAST BUT EASILY SURPASS A LADEN LANCASTER’S CRUISING SPEED OF 170 M.P.H. FURTHERMORE, SOME FIGHTERS WERE FITTED WITH UPWARD FIRING 20 M.M. CANNON, AND WOULD CREEP ALONG BELOW BOMBERS WHICH TENDEDTO [sic] SILHOUETTE AGAINST THE LIGHTER UPPER SKY. THEY WERE VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE, UNLESS THE GROUND WAS SNOW COVERED AND ALL WE COULD DO WAS TO CARRY OUT A BANKING SEARCH – THE PILOT DOING THE HARD WORK TILTING THE AIRCRAFT ENABLING THE AREA BELOW TO BE INSPECTED. THIS WAS, OF COURSE, DIFFICULT WITH A LOADED BOMBER, AND DOUBTLESS MANY GOOD CREWS WERE LOST DUE TO THE SHEER SLOG OF CONTINUAL SEARCHING AND A CONSEQUENT FALLING OFF OF EFFICIENT LOOKOUT.
THERE IS THOUGHT, HOWEVER THAT AS THE CANNON WERE, I BELIEVE, INCLINED AT 60 DEGREES ABOVE THE HORIZONTAL, IN ANY LIKELY FIRING ATTITUDE THE FIGHTER HAD TO BE BELOW, AND BEHIND, THUS WITHIN THE REAR GUNNERS FIELD OF SEARCH. PROVIDED NATURALLY IT WAS NOT TOO DARK TO SEE ANYTHING AT ALL!
MANY OF THE RADIAL ENGINED LANCASTER II WERE FITTED WITH AN EXTERNAL GUN POSITION OPERATED REMOTELY FROM WITHIN THE REAR FUSELARGE [sic], PROBABLY WITH A PERISCOPIC SIGHT VISIBILITY AT NIGHT WITH THE NAKED EYE IS OBVIOUSLY LIMITED AND MOST REAR TURRETS EVENTUALLY HAD THE PERSPEX PANEL FRONT OF THE GUNSIGHT REMOVED ENTIRELY. ANY FORM OR [sic] PERISCOPE WAS NO DOUBT FOUND TO HAVE SUCH A POOR FIELD OF VISION TO NOT JUSTIFY THE ADDITIONAL CREW MEMBER AND THE WEIGHT PENALTY INSTALLATION.
I HAVE INTERJECTED ONE OR TWO MATTERS FOR THE RECORD, AS THIS FORWARD TO THE DIARY FINISHES WITH COMPLETION OF THE COURSE AT WINTHORPE AND OUR POSTING TO 49 SQUADRON AT FISKERTON, A FEW MILES EAST OF LINCOLN, IN DECEMBER 1943.
A WORD ABOUT THE DEPTH OF TRAINING THE R.A.F. GAVE US. DESPITE THE WAR LOSSES OF PERSONNEL AND MATERIAL – MANY AND MUCH OR [sic] WHICH CAME BY HAZARDOUS SEA PASSAGES – THERE WAS NEVER ANY FEELING OF HASTE IN INSTRUCTING TRAINEES SO THEY COULD BE PASSED ON QUICKLY TO OPERATIONAL DUTIES.
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THE INSTRUCTING AND TRAINING SOMETIMES WAS UNIMAGINATIVE AND REPETITIVE, BUT IN THE OUTCOME IT WAS OF SUFFICIENT DEPTH FOR ONE TO ACHIEVE SOME SKILLS AND QUICK REACTION TO EVENTS. THIS IS PROBABLY TRUE OF THE OTHER SERVICES, AND SOMETHING FOR WHICH ALL TRAINEES SHOULD BE THANKFULL [sic]. HOWEVER, IT IS AN INEVITABLE FACT THAT IN WARTIME THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF TRAINING IS SUBJECT IN MANY RESPECTS TO LUCK, OR FATE, OR WHAT YOU WILL. THAT IS, BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME OR BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE AT ANY TIME.
CONSIDER AIR COLLISIONS, A MATTER MUCH DISCUSSED IN THESE ‘80’S OBVIOUSLY IT CAN NEVER NOW BE KNOWN WHAT PROPORTION OF WARTIME LOSSES WERE DUE TO THIS CAUSE, BUT VISULISE [sic] THE FACTS. IN 1944 UP TO 800 OR SO BOMBERS TAKING OFF IN THE DARKNESS FROM DOZENS OF AIRFIELDS IN THE MIDLANDS AND EASTERN ENGLAND, NAVIGATION LIGHTS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE CROSSING THE COAST, ALL CLIMBING TOWARDS THE FIRST TURNING POINT. AS TIME TO BE OVER THE TARGET IS STAGGERD [sic] THROUGHOUT THE FORCE OVER A PERIOD OF SAY 20 MINUTES, AND THE NAVIGATOR FINDS SOME TIME MUST BE LOST, (DOG-LEGGING) IS RESORTED TO. SIMPLY THIS MEANS THE AIRCRAFT DIVERGES FROM THE COURSE BEING FOLLOWED AND RETURNS WHEN SUFFICIENT TIME HAS BEEN DROPPED.
THE IMPLICATION OF DELIBERATELY TURNING ACROSS THE PATHS OF MANY UNSEEN OTHERS AND RETURNING A LITTLE LATER STILL CHILLS ME. WHILST STILL OVER THE NORTH SEA IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE AN EXPLOSION IN THE SKY, FOLLOWED BY BURNING DEBRIS, AND IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY PREVIOUS AIR TO AIR FIRING IT WAS REASONABLE TO ASSUME A COLLISION HAD OCCURRED. SOMEWHAT WORSE WAS WHEN THE TARGET WAS REACHED AND GROUND MARKERS HAD NOT BEEN DROPPED, OR WERE IN THE WRONG POSITION OR HAD BURNT OUT, AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO CIRCLE WHILST AWAITING FRESH MARKERS. CLEARLY, NOT ALL AIRCRAFT WOULD BE CIRCLING CONCENTRICALLY!
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THEN UPON RETURN TO ENGLAND THERE WOULD BE A CONVERGING OF THE THRONG, WHICH FOR VARIOUS REASONS WOULD BE FROM MANY DIRECTIONS. ONCE AGAIN WITHOUT NAVIGATION LIGHTS UNTILL CLOSE TO BASE (OR NOT AT ALL IF THE LUFTWAFFE WAS INFILTRATING THE STREAM HOPING TO FIND SOMEONE ASLEEP) WHERE WE CIRCLED HOPEFULLY WELL AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER BEFORE BEING CALLED TO LAND. THIS WAS IRKSOME AT WOODHALL SPA BECAUSE BEING CLOSE TO CONINGSBY THE RING OF MARKER LIGHTS GUIDING AIRCRAFT AROUND EACH FIELD ACTUALLY INTERSECTED AND TO AVOID COLLISIONS AT THIS POINT WE ALL HAD TO FLY THE DOUBLE CIRCLE THUS CONSIDERABLY EXTENDING THE TIME TAKEN TO LAND. THIS PROCEDURE WAS OF COURSE PARTICULARLY TIRING TO THE PILOT WHO HAD BEEN AT THE CONTROLS CONTINUALLY FOR MANY HOURS.
THE POINT OF ALL THIS IS TO REITERATE THAT THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF TRAINING CANNOT NECESSARILY OVERCOME CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE ODDS ARE ADVERSELY STACKED. THE MIRACLE IS THAT SO MANY SURVIVED THESE ODDS; THE SADNESS THAT SO MANY CAPABLE CREWS WERE LOST, OFTEN THROUGH CAUSES OTHER THAN ENEMY ACTION. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS MENTIONED IN THE NOTES CONCERNING A RAID ON A TARGET NEAR RHEIMS ON THE 31ST OF JULY.
AS TO THE DIARY, WELL, THIS WAS WRITTEN UP SHORTLY AFTER EACH TRIP, USUALLY IN BED FOLLOWING THE TRADITIONAL SUPPER OR BREAKFAST OF EGG AND BACON. I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION WHY I WROTE IT, IT’S JUST THE SORT OF THING I USED TO DO. THE DIARY WAS MISSING FOR YEARS, BUT I HAD A FEELING IT WOULD RE-APPEAR, AND WHEN IT DID I DECIDED TO PROPERLY LAY IT OUT BEFORE IT WENT AGAIN. DESPITE WINCING AT THE STYLE AND PROSE OF THOSE TIMES I FELT IT RIGHT TO REPRODUCE IT VERBATIN [sic], WARTS AND ALL.
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[underlined] 6 – 1 – 44 STETTIN [/underlined]
FELT MORE INTEREST THAN NERVOUSNESS ON THIS TRIP – QUEER,. NOT TOO COLD AT 22,000 FEET, TARGET WELL ALIGHT. ENGAGED 109 WHICH WAS FINALLY SEEN WITH BROWN SMOKE POURING HEAVILY FROM THE ENGINE, OUR DAMAGE WASA [sic] FEW BULLETS FROM M.U. THROUGH THE FUSELAGE AND ONE THROUGH THE TURRET, SHAKY DO! SIX HOURS BACK – TERRIBLE, SAW SUN RISE OVER THE SEA, TEA NEVER SO WELCOME. SHORT OF FUEL, S.O.S. PREPARED, READY TO DITCH, FINALLY MADE IT AND LANDED AT THE FIRST DROME, LUDFORD MAGNA. PRETTY TIRED, 9 HOURS 50 MINUTES IN THE AIR. DICKENDS [sic] OF A JOB TO KEEP AWAKE, LUCKILY BAGS OF CLOUD, NEVER DID LAND LOOK MORE WELCOME AS THE COAST OF LINCOLNSHIRE.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] 109 WAS A SINGLE ENGINE MESSERSCHMITT AIRCRAFT, NORMALLY A DAY FIGHTER, BUT OCCASIONALLY SEEN AT NIGHT. WHEN THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE WE HAD JUST ENTERED AN AREA ILLUMINATED BY FLARES DROPPED BY HIGH FLYING GERMAN AIRCRAFT; THE FIGHTER APPROACHED FROM NEARLY DEAD ASTERN, FIRING – BUT MISSING – ALL THE WAY IN. AS I STARTED FIRING I SAW TRACER PASSING OVERHEAD FROM ROY MACHIN IN THE – UPPER TURRET (M.U.) AND ALTHOUGH INTERUPTER [sic] GEAR SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED HIS FIRE FROM DAMAGING OUR AIRCRAFT IN THIS INSTANCE IT DID NOT, FORTUNATELY WITOUT [sic] DISASTROUS RESULTS.
[underlined] 14 – 1 – 44 BRUNSWICK [/underlined]
FAIRLY COLD, -32 CALL LIGHT REPEATEDLEY [sic] FLASHED FOR NO GOOD REASON, HAD TO SMASH BULB HAVING NO WISH TO ADVERTISE OUR POSITION. CLEAR MOST OF THE WAY, 7/10 OVER TARGET, FIRES WERE NOT SO GOOD AS BEFORE, SAW 110 BUT DID NOT ENGAGE, LITTLE FLAK, BAGS OF SEARCHLIGHTS, NO OTHER FIGHTERS SEEN. SCARECROW FLARES SEEN, TWO LOADS JETTISONED NEAR TEXEL,. ENGINEER SHORT OF OXYGEN, DROPPED MY KNIFE WITH LEAFLETS. BACK AT 10-30 BEST LANDING JACK MADE. EGG, SAUSAGE, AND BACON FOR SUPPER, LOVELY;
[underlined] NOTES NEXT PAGE [/underlined]
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[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] CALL LIGHT WAS A SIGNALLING LIGHT AT ALL CREW STATIONS FOR USE IN CASE OF FAILURE OF THE NORMAL INTERCOM, IN THE GUNNERS POSITION IT COULD BE SEEN FROM OUTSIDE THE AIRCRAFT. 110 WAS A TWIN ENGINE MESSERSCHMITT, MUCH USED AGAINST THE R.A.F. AT NIGHT. SCARECROW FLARES GAVE THE EFFECT OF AN AIRCRAFT EXPLODING PRESUMABLY EMPLOYED AGAINST MORALE. WHEN BOMBS HAD TO BE JETTISONED THE RESULTING LINE OF EXPLOSIONS GAVE AN INDICATION OF ROUTE TO ANY NIGHT FIGHTERS IN THE AREA. BETTER THE BOMBS WERE DROPPED (SAFE) BUT THIS WAS UNDESIRABLE OVER ENEMY OR OCCUPIED TERRITORY AS THEY COULD BE RECOVERD [sic] AND EXAMINED. FUSES WERE OFTEN RE-DESIGNED TO FRUSTRATE, UNEXPLODED BOMBS BEING MADE SAFE BY THE ENEMY. TO BE HONEST, HOWEVER, IN AN EMERGENCY NECESSITATING JETTISONING A HEAVY LOAD IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT THE (SAFE) OR (LIVE) ASPECT WOULD OFTEN BE CONSIDERED! 7/10 INDICATED PROPORTION CLOUD/SKY.
[underlined] 20 – 1 – 44 BERLIN (MY BIRTHDAY) [/underlined]
NICE TRIP, FELT QUITE GOOD ALL WAY, EXCEPT USUAL SINKING FEELING OVER TARGET; THIS WAS WELL LIT UP, ANOTHER BROCKS BENEFIT, SCARECROWS AND ROCKETS ABOUT, FLAK NOT TROUBLESOME, NO FIGHTERS SEEN. DICKENS OF A JOB TO KEEP EYES OPEN LAST TWO OR THREE HOURS, EVEN STICKING HEAD INTO THE WIND DOESN’T HELP MUCH. MIKE WAS U/S FOR A PERIOD, HEARD SKIPPER SAY WAS I ASLEEP, CHEEK! FIRED TEST BURST OVER TARGET, GUNS O.K. WASN’T VERY COLD. CAME HOME A BIT QUICKER THAN USUAL, HOPE ALL TRIPS ARE AS PEACEFUL.
[underlined] Notes [/underlined] (MIKE) WAS MICROPHONE BUILT INTO OXYGEN MASK AND OFTEN FROZE DUE TO BREATH EXHALATION FREEZING. EVENTUALLY SMALL HEATERS WERE FITTED INTO THE MASK, AND THESE CURED THE PROBLEM.
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[underlined] 21 – 1 – 44 MAGDEBURG [/underlined]
HAD LITTLE TROUBLE OURSELVES, NO ENGAGEMENTS, A FEW FIGHTERS SEEN, BAGS OF FIGHTER FLARES AND SOME SCARECROWS. MIKE FROZE AS WE CAME ON TO THE TARGET, LUCKILY THERE WAS NO TROUBLE, IT BECAME U/S 1 HOUR FROM BASE. SPOOF ON BERLIN ABSOLUTELY USELESS, THERE BEING NO FLAK, FLARES OR ANYTHING, RAN INTO COASTAL FLAK ON RETURN, NO DAMAGE. TARGET WELL ALIGHT, LIKE STETTIN, 3/10 CLOUD. DON’T KNOW HOW I KEPT AWAKE AFTER LAST EFFORT, DARNED TIRED NOW.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] (SPOOF) WAS A DIVERSIONARY RAID, OFTEN CARRIED OUT BY MOSQUITO AIRCRAFT TO SOW DOUBT INTO THE GERMAN DEFENCES AS TO THE REAL TARGET. LIKE MANY THINGS IN WARTIME, SOME WORKED, OTHERS DID NOT.
[underlined] 27 – 1 – 44 BERLIN [/underlined]
VERY QUITE TRIP ON THE WHOLE, WARM TOO, TEMP. ABOUT – MINUS 20, DIFFICULT TO CLIMB – OVER TARGET AT .17,500 FEET. 10/10 CLOUD OVER CITY, NO FIGHTERS SEEN, THO’ OBVIOUSLY ACTIVE, QUITE A NUMBER OF FIGHTER FLARES, SAW ONE LANC. ONLY, NOT MUCH DOING OVER THE TARGET, QUEER. LONG ROUTE BACK, TERRIBLE BIND, ARRIVED AT ENGLISH COAST BANG-ON, DON’T KNOW HOW JOCK DOES IT. JACK WHEELED KITE IN, PERFECT LANDING NO TROUBLE WITH MIKE THESE DAYS.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] (JOCK) WAS THE NAVIGATOR JAMES BARRON, A CHEERFUL, SCOT WHO GUIDED US THERE AND BACK WITH LITTLE FUSS BUT WITH MUCH EXPERTISE. LIKE MOST BRITISH AIRCRAFT OF THE TIME, THE LANCASTER NORMALLY LANDED ON TWO MAIN WHEELS AND THE TAIL WHEEL, (THREE POINT) LANDING. OCCASIONALLY THE PILOT WOULD TOUCH DOWN ON ONLY THE TWO MAIN WHEELS, HOLDING THE TAIL WHEEL OFF THE RUNWAY UNTILL SPEED REDUCED. THIS WAS MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE FOR THE REAR GUNNER.
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[underlined] 29 – 1 – 44 BERLIN [/underlined]
THE BOYS WERE CERTAINLY WAITING FOR US TONIGHT, SAW COMBATS ALL THE WAY IN FROM THE COAST, BAGS OF FIGHTER FLARES, ROUTE LIKE PICCADILLY IN PEACE TIME. FIRED AT ORIGIN OF GREEN TRACER, SAW SOMETHING FALLING. TARGET HORRIBLY WELL LIT UP, HOW WE GET AWAY WITH IT BEATS ME, MARVELLOUS PRANG, FAR BETTER THAN PREVIOUS, SAW GLARE WHILE NEAR ROSTOCK ON THE WAY BACK. BAGS OF CLOUD MOST OF RETURN, - VERY USEFUL. CLOUD AT BASE DOWN TO 800 FEET, DON’T CARE FOR HEDGE HOPPING IN EARLY MORNING. VERY TIRED, BUT WE GO ON LEAVE TOMORROW!
[underlined] 15 – 2 – 44 BERLIN [/underlined]
10/10 CLOUD OVER MOST OF GERMANY, LITTLE TROUBLE EXCEPT AT TARGET, - LOADS OF FIGHTER FLARES AND FAIR AMOUNT OF FLAK BELOW, NO FIGHTERS SEEN. GENERATOR WENT U/S AFTER TARGET, GYRO COMPAS [sic] U/S, HAD TO USE P4. JACK MANAGED WELL. 23,000 FEET ON THE WAY BACK, SUITS NOT VERY USEFUL OWING TO LOW VOLTAGE. R/T U/S AT BASE, HAD TO USE VERY’S TO COME IN. TARGET NOT MUCH TO LOOK AT GENERALLY
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] I DON’T REMEMBER HOW MANY GENERATORS THERE WERE, BUT CLEARLY MORE THAN ONE! THE P4 WAS A STANDBY MAGNETIC COMPASS, QUITE RELIABLE BUT NOT SO EASY FOR THE PILOT TO FOLLOW AS WAS THE GYRO COMPASS REPEATER. (SUITS) REFERS TO ELECTRICALLY WARMED SUITS WORN BY BOTH GUNNERS. THERE WAS NO HEATING IN THE FUSELAGE AFTER THE MAIN SPAR AT THE WIRELESS OPERATORS POSITION, -- AND NOT A LOT FORWARD EITHER. VERY’S ARE SIGNALLING PISTOLS, USED HERE TO SEEK LANDING PERMISSION BY FIRING APPROPRIATETCOLOUR [sic] TO RUNWAY CONTROLLER IN THE CARAVAN, WHO SIMILARLY RESPONDED.
I NOTE FROM MY LOG BOOK THAT DURING THESE FIRST SEVEN OPERATIONS 261 AIRCRAFT WERE LOST. TOWARDS THE END OF FEBRUARY THIS INFORMATION WAS OMITTED, PRESUMABLY FOR BEING TOO GLOOMY TO INCLUDE.
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[underlined] 19 – 2 – 44 LEIPZIG [/underlined]
ON THE WAY OUT COULD GET NO GUN DEPRESSION, AGREED TO GO ON, FLACK AND SEARCHLIGHTS OVER COAST, SAW A NUMBER OF COMBATS, AND AIR WAS FAIRLY LIVELY ALL THE WAY TO THE TARGET; ARRIVED EARLY AND HAD TO STOOGE AROUND UNTILL THE MARKERS WENT DOWN. NOT A LOT OF OPPOSITION OVER TARGET, WHICH BLAZED UP QUITE WELL. SOON AFTER LEAVING THE TARGET OXYGEN TUBE DISCONNECTED FROM MASK, AND HAD TO COME HOME SUCKING TUBE – NOT VERY COMFORTABLE CLOUD MOST OF THE TRIP, COLD TOO – MINUS 30.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] ONE OF THOSE TRIPS; DESPITE PRE-FLIGHT AIR TEST, FAULT OCCURRED IN TURRET HYDRAULICS THAT PREVENTED GUNS BEING DEPRESSED BELOW HORIZONTAL. FORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT ATTACKED, - AND 79 AIRCRAFT WERE LOST.
[underlined] 20 – 2 – 44 STUTTGART [/underlined]
COLD TRIP, ABOUT 20,000 FEET MOST OF THE WAY, WENT OVER READING, FELT QUITE HOMESICK. VERY QUIET TRIP, COUPLE OF FLAK BURSTS OVER FRENCH COAST SHOOK ME A BIT. MIKE FROZE UP SOME TIME BEFORE TARGET, GETTING A REGULAR HABIT. 5/10 OVER TARGET, SAW BITS OF GROUND, GOOD PRANG, NOT MUCH FLAK, FIGHTER FLARES DID NOT ARRIVE UNTIL ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING. HAD TO LAND AT DUNHOLME OWING TO TAKE-OFF CRASH AT BASE. PRETTY TIRED, BED LOOKED GOOD TO ME
[underlined] 24 – 2 – 44 SCHWEINFURT [/underlined]
ARRIVED AT THE SOUTH COAST IN TIME TO GET MIXED UP IN HUN RAID; CONED BY OWN SEARCHLIGHTS, LUCKILY COLOURS OF THE DAY DOUSED THEM BUT IT WAS PRETTY WARM. OVER THE OTHER SIDE IT WAS VERY QUIET, DIDN’T SEE ONE FIGHTER FLARE OR COMBAT. GOOD VISION, NO CLOUD, BOMBS WELL CONCENTRATED ON TARGET, BAGS OF SMOKE -----
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--- AND FIRES AS WE LEFT, AIRCRAFT CLIMBED WELL 23,000 FEET WAY BACK; FOR ONCE MIKE DIDN’T FREEZE, BUT ICE FORMED ON MASK OVER FRANCE.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] COLOURS OF THE DAY WERE FIRED FROM A VERY PISTOL FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES, RED/WHITE GREEN/RED ETC. COLOURS WERE CHANGED AT REGULAR INTERVALS, SOMETIMES EVERY 12 HOURS, LEST THE ENEMY USED THEM TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST OUR DEFENCES.
[underlined] 25 – 2 – 44 AUGSBURG [/underlined]
7 HOURS SLEEP, AND NO SQUARE MEAL BEFORE TAKE-OFF, BAD SHOW ARRIVED FRENCH COAST IN SOME LIGHT, PROMPTLY GOT SHOT-UP BY FIGHTER, FEW HITS ON PORT WING AND COCKPIT. LOTS OF ACTIVITY OVER FRANCE, SAW SEVERAL KITES GO DOWN. 30 MILES FROM TARGET LANCASTER BELOW SQUIRTED AT US, DAMAGED AIRCRAFT BEHIND DOOR SEVERELY, ON FIRE, ROY AND I PUT IT OUT, REAR TURRET U/S, NO OXYGEN, HAD TO GO FORWARD. BOMBS JETTISONED, STARBOARD ELEVATOR FABRIC STRIPPED, BALANCE TAB PRACTICALLY SHOT OFF, INTERCOM U/S, KITE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE, SKIPPER DID WIZARD JOB GETTING US HOME AND LANDING – SHAKY NIGHT.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] (SQUIRTED) – FIRED AT US FROM REAR TURRET. U/S – UNSERVICEABLE. THE FOLLOWING WAS ADDED TO MY DIARY ENTRY, UPON SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN HIT BY CANNON SHELLS SO IT SEEMS WE WERE HIT BY STRAY SHELLS AT THE IDENTICAL MOMENT THE LANCASTER FIRED. ALTERNATIVELY THE LUFTWAFFE WAS USING A CAPTURED LANCASTER WITH CANNON IN THE TURRET. THE 5 GROUP INVESTIGATOR THOUGHT IT HIGHLY UNLIKELY. WONDER IF WE’LL EVER KNOW? I STILL HAVE NO DOUBT AS TO WHAT I SAW THAT NIGHT. THE LANCASTER BELOW US WAS QUITE VISIBLE AT INTERVALS WHEN WE PASSED OVER PARTLY SNOW COVERD [sic] LAND, I HAD NOTICED IT EACH TIME THE TURRET WAS ROTATED IN THAT DIRECTION, AND NO ONE WAS MORE SURPRISED THAN I WHEN THE STREAM OF TRACER CAME TOWARDS US – AND WE WERE ON FIRE. THE DIRECTION OF THE SUSTAINED DAMAGE AND THE EXPLOSIVE EVIDENCE SUGGEST
S THAT POSSIBLY -------
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------- AND AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE STRUCK BY CANNON SHELLS FROM A NIGHT FIGHTER BELOW AND TO THE OTHER SIDE. IT SOUNDS A BIT THIN, BUT THE CASE WILL HAVE TO REST.
PILOT JOHN SANDERS WAS AWARDED A IMEADIATE [sic] D.F.C. THE WIRELESS OPERATOR ARTHUR WARD AND THE TWO GUNNERS ROY MACHIN AND RALPH BRIARS WERE AWARDED IMEADIATE D.F.M.
[underlined] 10 – 3 – 44 OSSUN [/underlined]
FIRST TRIP IN BRIGHT MOONLIGHT, FELT VERY OBVIOUS IN THE SKY, VISION ABOUT 3 MILES. EXPECTED BAGS OF FIGHTERS, BUT NONE SEEN, DIDN’T GET IT; OVER FRANCE AT 15,000 FEET TEMPERATURE MINUS 14, LOVELY, TARGET AT 8,000 FEET. CLEAR OVER OSSUN, HAD TO IDENTIFY TARGET FOR A CHANGE, WERE STOOGING AROUND FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BUT DIDN’T FEEL UNDULY WORRIED, - IT WAS TOO PEACEFUL. AL FINALLY SAW THE TARGET AND WE BOMBED, WE HAD D A’S SO DID NOT SEE RESULT, BUT SAW AND HEARD OTHER BOMBS GO OFF. SAW PYRENEES, LOKED [sic] GRAND BUT RATHER FORBIDDING. RATHER TIRED ON RETURN.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] AL WAS OUR CANADIAN BOMB-AIMER, D A’S WERE DELAYED ACTION BOMBS, JUST TO CONFUSE OUR FRENCH ALLIES, WHO NO DOUB-T [sic] HAQD TO DEFUSE THEM.
[underlined] 15 – 3 – 44 STUTTGART [/underlined]
BAGS OF OPPOSITION ON THE WAY IN, SAW SEVERAL COMBATS – AND SEVERAL GO DOWN, NOT SO GOOD, MAKES ONE WONDER WHO’S NEXT. FLAK HEAVY OVER TARGET, NO FIGHTER FLARES, SAW ONE COLLISION. BIT IF [sic] A MIX UP, PFF LATE, FEW T I’S UNTILL WE LEFT, APEARED [sic] TO BE QUITE A GOOD BLAZE ON TARGET LATER. VERY QUIET RETURN, SAW NOTHING; CLOUDS UP TO 20,000 FEET IN PLACES, CON TRAILS APPEARD [sic] NEAR FRENCH COAST, MOON BRIGHT, EXPECTED TROUBLE, NONE CAME.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] PFF WAS PATH FINDER FORCE WHO IDENTIFIED THE TARGET AND DROPPED TARGET IDENTIFIERS – COLOURED GROUND MARKERS WHICH THE MAIN FORCE FOLLOWING BEHIND SIGHTED UPON -----
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----- AND THESE WERE BACKED UP AS NECESSARY AS THR [sic] RAID PROGRESSED SO POOR OLD PFF HAD TO CIRCLE AROUND UNTIL EVERYONE HAD DONE THEIR BIT, NOT AN ENVIABLE JOB; CON. TRAILS THEN, AS NOW, OCCUR WHEN AIR CONDITIONS ARE SUCH THAT WATER VAPOUR IN EACH ENGINE’S EXHAUST BREEZES [sic] AND TRAILS ALONG WHITE PLUME, JUST RIGHT FOR A NIGHT FIGHTER TO FOLLOW. CHANGING HEIGHT DOWNWARDS WAS THE CURE AND THE PILOT PROMPTLY DID SO ON HEARING THE WAILS FROM THE GUNNERS.
[underlined] 30 – 3 – 44 NUREMBURG [/underlined]
VERY COLD TRIP, OPPOSITION HEAVY SOUTH OF RHUR, FULL MOON NO CLOUD TO KEEP FIGHTERS DOWN. USUAL TROUBLE, ROUTE TOO LONG, JERRY MARKING TRACK ON BOTH SIDES WITH COLOURED FLARES, 96 AIRCRAFT LOST A.M. WILL HAVE TO REVISE ROUTING METHODS. SAW AT LEAST A DOZEN KITES SHOT DOWN, BAD FOR MORALE IF NOTHING ELSE, SEVERAL ROCKETS OBSERVED. TARGET LOOKED POOR, THICK FLAK AT 17,000 TO 19,000 FEET. WAY BACK AGONY TO SIT TWO HOURS AND KEEP AWAKE. PERHAPS DAYLIGHTER WOULDN’T BE SUCH A STRAIN. TIRED AS HELL, BED;
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] THE LOSSES ON THIS RAID WERE THE WORST SUSTAINED DURING ONE OPERATION. AIR CHIEF MARSHALL HARRIS LATER SAID THAT AGAINST AN EXPERIENCED, WILY ENEMY, WHO WAS FAMILIAR WITH MOST OF OUR AIR WAR STRATAGEMS BY 1944, THINGS WERE INEVITABLE OCCASIONALLY DISASTROUS. SEEMINGLY THE LONG STRAIGHT ROUTE LEGS WERE, HOPEFULLY, A RUSE TO SUGGEST TO THE LUFTWAFFE THAT WE WERE GOING TO NUREMBURG, WHERE UPON THEY WOULD, BY EXPERIENCE, SUSPECT WE WOULD SUDDENLY DIVERT ELSEWHERE AND DISPOSE THEIR FORCES ACCORDINGLY, THIS TIME THEY WERE NOT DECEIVED. TRULY ONE CANNOT WIN’EM ALL, PARTICULARLY IN WARTIME. REFERENCE TO (DAYLIGHTS) REFERRED TO DAY OPERATIONS, OF WHICH AT THAT TIME, WE HAD NO EXPERIENCE. WHEN, LATER, WE FLEW MANY SUCH RAIDS, I ADDED A FOOTNOTE TO THIS DIARY ENTRY – AFTER 22 DAYLIGHT TRIPS I FOUND THIS TRUE – WELL, THERE’S NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTES.
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FOLLOWING THR NUREMBURG TRIP WE WERE POSTED, QUITE SUDDENLY AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, TO 617 SQUADRON AT WOODHALL SPA, NORTH OF BOSTON LINCOLNSHIRE. THE MUCH PUBLICISED RAIDS ON THE GERMAN DAMS AT MOHNE, SORPE AND EDER WERE CARRIED OUT BY THIS SPECIALLY FORMED SQUADRON, WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY, THOUGH NOT ENTIRELY RETAINED FOR SPECIALISED OPERATIONS. LEONARD CHESHIRE WAS THE WING COMMANDER WHEN WE ARRIVED AND HE WAS REPLACED BY WILLY TAIT IN JULY, I THINK BOTH WERE OF SIMILAR MOULD AND MUCH RESPECTED.
[underlined] 18 – 4 – 44 JUVISY RAILWAY YARDS – PARIS [/underlined]
DARK NIGHT, 10,000 FEET ALL THE WAY, TEMPERATURE MINUS 5,. DROPPED FLARES TO HELP MOSQUITOES IDENTIFY MARSHALLING YARD, THEN CIRCLED AND BOMBED THEIR MARKER, SAW ONE MOSQUITO CIRCLING AT 2-3000 FEET APPARENTLY UNCONCERNED AT WHAT LITTLE FLAK THERE WAS, IMAGINED BOMBS SHOOK IT RATHER. NO FIGHTERS, FLAK SHIP IN THE CHANNEL FIRED AT US, WISH WE HAD BEEN LOW ENOUGH TO DO THE SAME. CIRCLED BASE FOR 50-55 MINUTES BEFORE COMING IN, - SHADES OF FISKERTON.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] MOSQUITOES WERE TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT, LARGELY BUILT OF PLYWOOD AND GLUED TOGETHER. FAST AND HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN VARIOUS ROLES – NIGHT FIGHTERS, BOMBERS THAT COULD DROP 4000 POUNDS ON BERLIN, RECONNAISSANCE AND CLANDESTINE MISSIONS INCLUDING CONVEYING DIPLOMATS AND OTHERS IN THE (VERY COLD) BOMB BAY BETWEEN BRITAIN AND SWEDEN. BOTH CHESHIRE AND TAIT USED THESE FOR TARGET MARKING, LATER CHANGING TO ANOTHER EXCELLENT DESIGN, THE ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINE MUSTANG FIGHTER. PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWED AN UNUSUALLY CONCENTRATED BOMBING PATTERN, AT THE TIME WE DID NOT FULLY APPRECIATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS RAIL DISRUPTION SIX WEEKS OR SO BEFORE THE JUNE INVASION OF FRANCE. REFERENCE TO FISKERTON IS DUE TO THE GOOD OLD HABIT OF BELIEVING THE LAST WAS BETTER THAN THE NEW; ------
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------ INITIALLY I THINK WE FELT PROCEDURE AT WOODHALL WAS NOT TO THE STANDARD OF FISKERTON, IN OTHER WORDS WE WERE KEPT WAITING FOR OUR SUPPER; THIS SOMETIMES WAS DUE TO HAVING TO FLY AROUND TWO OUTER MARKER CIRCLES OF LIGHTS WHEN NEARBY CONNINGSBY WAS ALSO RECEIVING AIRCRAFT, AS MENTIOND [sic] IN THE FORWARD. TO BE FAIR, THOSE IN THE CONTROL TOWER WERE NO DOUBT JUST AS ANXIOUS TO GET US DOWN QUICKLY AS WE WERE; ONE’S FIRST DUTY WAS TO THE KING, THE SECOND TO GRUMBLE ABOUT THE METHOD OF SO DOING ..
[underlined] 20 – 4 – 44 PARIS – LA CHAPPELLE [/underlined]
INTRUDERS OVER AS WE TOOK OFF, STARTS STRAIN AT ONCE, STILL THERE WAS NO APPARENT TROUBLE. QUIET ALL IN AND OUT, BOMBED AT 11,500 FEET, TARGET, BEING NEARER THE CENTRE OF THE CITY, HAD QUITE A BIT OF MEDIUM AND LIGHT FLAK. LONG STRINGS OF RED AND GREEN CAME ALL ROUND, BURSTING ABOUT 1000 FEET BELOW, WITH BRIGHT SPARKLING FLASHES – PRETTY; AL WELL AND TRULY HIT THE YARDS WITH OUR BOMBS, CARRIED 12 X 1000 LBS BOMBS, NICE LOAD. SAW MOSQUITO RUN INTO AREA – AND SHOOT HELL OUT OF THEM. TEMPERATURE MINUS 5.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] (INTRUDERS) WERE NIGHT FIGHTERS PROWLING AROUND FOR SOMEONE LEAVING THEIR NAVIGATION LIGHTS ON TOO LONG AFTER TAKE-OFF MIND YOU, A TRICKY DECISION. LEAVE THEM ON FOR FRIENDS TO SEE – AND THE LUFTWAFFE, TURN THEM OFF AND RISK A COLLISION.
[underlined] 22 – 4 – 44 BRUNSWICK [/underlined]
LITTLE FIGHTER OPPOSITION IN OR OUT, CONDITIONS HAZY OVER TARGET ABOVE 18,000 FEET, SO WE DIVED THROUGH TO ABOUT 16,000 FEET TO BOMB, PFF A FEW MINUTES LATE SO IT WAS A NIGHT-MARE OF KITES COMING IN ALL DIRECTIONS. HEARD FLAK BURSTING FOR THE FIRST TIME, TARGET WAS WELL ON FIRE. LONG TRIP BACK, TO AVOID ANOTHER LANCASTER JACK DIVED SO SUDDENLY AND STEEPLY MY NEW THERMOS WAS BROKEN, MY KNEE BRUISED AND ALL THE AMMUNITION WAS THROWN OUT OF THE TANKS. -----
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----- INTRUDERS ALL THE WAY HOME, DARNED NUISANCE BUT WE HAD NO TROUBLE, TEMPERATURE MINUS 15 TO MINUS 20
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] AS MENTIONED IN THE FOREWARD, CIRCLING THE TARGET WHILST AWAITING MARKERS TO BE DROPPED BY THE PATHFINDERS WAS NOT THE MOST DESIRABLE OCCUPATION. LOOK AT THE MOANS AND GROANS, TOO, DON’T YOU KNOW THERE’S A WAR ON.
[underlined] 24 – 4 – 44 MILAN (ABORTED) [/underlined]
OUR FIRST BOOMERANG; (EARLY RETURN TO BASE) SHORTLY AFTER TAKE-OFF AN OIL PIPE IN THE TURRET BURST AND IN A FEW MINUTES THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE SYSTEM, - MOST OF IT WAS ON ME. AFTER A BIT OF NATTERY WE DECIDED TO RETURN, REMEMBERING THE LEIPZIG TRIP, AND IN VIEW OF A LONG JOURNEY – MILAN. PITY, BUT IT WAS THE BEST THING, BESIDES, WE GO ON LEAVE TOMORROW.
[underlined] 6 – 6 – 44 2ND FRONT (D-DAY) [/underlined]
AFTER NEARLY SIX WEEKS OF VERY BORING TRAINING AND INACTION WE DID OUR STUFF – SLINGING OUT WINDOW TO SIMULATE A CONVOY AND TO CONFUSE POOR JERRY; BY THE LACK OF OPPOSITION DURING TROOP LANDINGS IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A USEFUL TRIP. TOOK TWO CREWS IN ONE KITE, ROY AND I TOOK TURNS AS FRONT GUNNER, QUITE A CHANGE. SAW SOME OF THE SHIPPING IN THE CHANNEL – GRAND SIGHT – ALSO THE LUFTWAFFE APPARENTLY ATTACKING A CONVOY, ONE SHIP CAUGHT FIRE AND BLEW UP. LOTS OF TUGS AND GLIDERS SEEN GOING OVER. QUIET TRIP.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] (WINDOW) WAS METALLIC COATED STRIP DROPPED TO CONFUSE ENEMY RADAR. WE FLEW OVAL COURSES, EACH CIRCUIT BEING PROGRESSIVELY NEARER FRANCE. THE INTERVALS OF DROPPING THE FOIL MATCHED THE SPEED OF AN IMAGINARY CONVOY IN THE CHANNEL APPROACHING THE COAST MILES TO THE EAST OF THE ACTUAL LANDING AREA IN NORMANDY -------
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------ I AM NOT NOW SURE, BUT POSSIBLY ANOTHER SQUADRON WAS WITH US. TWO CREWS BECAUSE OF THE QUANTITY OF WINDOW TO BE DROPPED. AGAIN, MANY AIRCRAFT ORBITING UNSEEN TO EACH OTHER OVER A FOUR HOUR PERIOD IN QUITE A NARROW SPACE. I DOUBT THE BLOOMIN’ INFANTRY BELOW CONCIDERED [sic] THERE WAS A LACK OF OPPOSITION! WE CAN ONLY HOPE OUR EFFORTS SOMWHAT [sic] REDUCED THE PRESSURE.
[underlined] 8 – 6 – 44 SAUMER (FRANCE) [/underlined]
FLEW THROUGH CLOUD MOST OF THE WAY THERE AND BACK, WEATHER CLEAR OVER TARGET. USUAL SCHEME, H2S KITES DROPPED FLARES AND MOSQUITOES MARKED WITH RED SPOT FIRES. SQUADRON CARRIED 12,000 POUNDER BOMBS, - LOOK LIKE TORPEDOES – AND WE TOOK 1,000 POUNDERS TO ATTACK NEARBY BRIDGE, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE FAIRLY UNSUCESSFUL [sic]. BIG BOMBS MADE COLOSSAL FLASH AND WE SAW EARTH FLUNG TO HELL OF A HEIGHT, THIS WAS SUCESSFUL! FLAK FROM ONE GUN BURST AT OUR HEIGHT BUT ONLY IN ONE AREA, SO WE CIRCLED ROUND IT – NO FIGHTERS ARRIVED, - NO TROUBLE, DIVERTED TO METHERINGHAM AIRFIELD TO LAND BECAUSE OF LOW CLOUD.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] SAUMER WAS ON THE MAIN RAIL LINK TO NORTHERN FRANCE AND THE OPERATION WAS TO PREVENT PANZER DIVISIONS ARRIVING AT THE DEVELOPING BRIDGEHEAD AT NORMANDY. THERE ARE PICTURES SHOWING HOW COMPLETELY THE TUNNEL WAS BLOCKED. H2S WAS AN EARY [sic] FORM OF RADAR THAT GAVE THE NAVIGATOR A RATHER POOR PICTURE ON HIS VDU OF THE GROUND BELOW. RIVERS AND ESTUARIES SHOWED UP QUITE WELL, OTHER FEATURES WERE NOT EASILY DISTINGUISHABLE. THE EXTERNAL SCANNER WAS CONTAINED IN A PROMINENT HALF-EGG SHAPE HOUSING BELOW THE AIRCRAFT. THIS TRIP WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD COME ACROSS THE 12,000 LB. BOMB, CODE NAME (TALLBOY) AND WE SUBSEQUENTLY DROPPED MANY ON SPECIALIST TARGETS. THEIR TAIL FINS WERE OFFSET, AND WHEN DROPPED FROM NEARBY AIRCRAFT ONE COULD OBSERVE THEM STARTING TO SPIN AS THEY RAPIDLY FELL OUT OF SIGHT. MY LOG BOOK REVEALS THAT WITH CAPTAIN SANDERS I WENT TO METHERINGHAM BY ROAD TO FLY OUR LANCASTER BACK TO WOODHALL. AS FLIGHT ENGNEER [sic] (TEMPORARY UNPAID) I THINK I WAS PERMITTED TO RAISE THE UNDER-CARRIAGE (MY FINEST HOUR.)
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[underlined] 14 – 6 – 44 LE HAVRE [/underlined]
FIRST DAYLIGHT RAID – OVER THE TARGET ABOUT 10-30 P.M. FLEW IN FORMATION GOING, SOME SIGHT, WENT AS FRONT GUNNER AS WE STILL HAVE NO KITE OF OUR OWN. SECOND TO BOMB – WITH TALLBOY – TARGET QUIET UNTILL A FEW MINUTES BEFORE DROPPING THE BOMB, THEN THEY LET LOOSE BAGS OF LIGHT AND MEDIUM FLAK, PREDICTED, TOO AS BOMB LEFT FLAK HIT STARBOARD INNER ENGINE AND TOP TURRET, GUNNER OK, ENGINE HAD TO BE FEATHERED. E BOAT PENS, 25 FEET THICK, WERE HIT, GOOD BOMBING. SAW PART OF SPITFIRE ESCORT, NO ENEMY FIGHTERS SEEN, INTERESTING TRIP.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] THE LANCASTER WE FLEW FROM FISKERTON WHEN POSTED TO 617 SQUADRON IN APRIL 1944 REMAINED A 49 SQUADRON AIRCRAFT, ALTHOUGH WE USED IT ON SEVERAL OPERATIONS PENDING IT’S RETURN TO THAT SQUADRON. EVENTUALLY WE WERE ALLOCATED A 617 AIRCRAFT THAT HAD BEEN REPAIRED AFTER A SPOT OF BOTHER LATE IN 1943. OMINOUSLY NUMBERED ME562, IT NEVERTHELESS SERVED US WELL OVER NINE MONTHS FOR NINETEEN OR SO OPERATIONS, SURVIVED THE WAR AND WAS SOLD OUT OF SERVICE IN JANUARY 1947. BY CONTRAST, OF THE TWELVE OTHER OPERATIONAL LANCASTERS WE HAD FLOWN IN – EITHER ON RAIDS OR PRACTICE BOMBING OR OTHER EXERCISES – ONLY TWO SURVIVED, ONE BEING THE FIRST WE HAD FLOWN IN ON A CROSS-COUNTRY EXERCISE ON ARRIVAL AT FISKERTON.
[underlined] 15 – 6 – 44 BOULOGNE [/underlined]
FOUND PORT OUTER ENGINE MOUNTING HAD ALSO BEEN HIT AFTER LAST NIGHT, SO IT HAD TO BE CHANGED, THIS MADE US FORTY MINUTES LATE TAKING OFF BUT WE GOT OVER THE TARGET SHORTLY BEFORE REST OF KITES LEFT, VISIBILITY WAS VERY BAD WITH LOW CLOUD AND WE WERE TOLD TO RETURN TO BASE. BOB KNIGHTS, BEING A KEEN TYPE AND IN VIEW OF THE WORK THE GROUND CREW HAD DONE DECIDED TO BOMB. BAGS OF LIGHT AND MEDIUM FLAK, HOT FOR A FEW MINUTES, REAR TURRET AND OIL TANK HIT, NO ONE INJURED. TARGET LOOKED QUITE A MESS WHEN WE LEFT, SAW LITTLE FIGHTER COVER. TARGET HEIGHT 7,500 FEET. ------
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------ [underlined] NOTES [/underlined] HERE AGAIN, I FLEW WITH THE SAME PILOT AS THE DAY BEFORE. WHAT NOW PUZZLES ME IS WHY I FLEW FIVE SUCCESSIVE TRIPS WITH BOB KNIGHTS, AS FRONT GUNNER. WHAT WAS THE THEN P.O. SANDERS DOING ALL THIS TIME? I HAVE A FEELING HE WAS AWAY HAVING A BABY, FOR I HAVE A FAINT RECOLLECTION OF A CONSTANT AIR OF CRISIS CONCERNING THE EVENT. THERE WERE EVEN STRONG RUMOURS THAT A LANCASTER HAD BEEN BORROWED TO FURTHER THE ABOUT-TO-BE-FARTHER’S [sic] CAUSE.
[underlined] 19 – 6 – 44 WATTEN (PAS DE CALAIS) [/underlined]
TOOK OFF ABOUT 6 PM IN TRUE FIGHTER STYLE, ONE EACH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, FLEW OVER IN FORMATION OF FIVE, WEATHER PERFECT. FIGHTER COVER OF SPITFIRES., MET US AT ORFORDNESS. TARGET 10-12 MILES INLAND, SAW RESULTS OF THE MARAUDERS WORK IN LOTS OF PLACES, A LITTLE FLAK OUTSIDE TARGET AREA DIDN’T TROUBLE US. CIRCLING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE WING COMMANDER GAVE THE OK TO BOMB, TARGET DIFFICULT IT WAS IN A CLEARING ON THE EDGE OF A WOOD. BOMBING FAIR, BOMBAIMER’S [sic] A BIT DISAPPOINTED WITH RESULTS, WATCHED THE REST OF THE AIRCRAFT COMING IN TO BOMB AND THEN CAME HOME. BELIEVE BANDITS TURNED UP AS MOSQUITOES LEFT – GOOD SHOW, FLEW AT 17,000 FEET.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] THE OPERATION WAS AGAINST FLYING BOMB SITES AS WERE MANY OTHERS THIS MONTH AND AGAIN IN JULY. (MARAUDERS) WERE TWIN ENGINE AMERICAN BOMBERS MUCH USED BY THE TACTICAL AIR FORCES.
[underlined] 4 – 7 – 44 ST-LEV-D’ – ESSERENT (PARIS) [/underlined]
FULL MOON – EXPECTED – AND HAD A RECEPTION AS AT NUREMBURG, SEARCHLIGHT BELT JUST INSIDE COAST ANNOYING BUT NO FLAK. COMBATS SEEN ALL THE WAY IN AND OUT, AT TARGET WE TURNED AND HAD THE MOON BEHIND, HARDLY HELPFUL; FIGHTERS CAME IN FROM ALL DIRECTIONS, NEVER SEEN SO MUCH TRACER, GOT VERY MAD AND SCARED; ------
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------ JU88 AT LAST CAME NEAR ENOUGH TO GIVE IT TWO LONG SQUIRTS OF GUN FIRE AND IT APPEARED TO GO INTO ONE BIG BALL OF FIRE, LOST SIGHT OF IT BUT SKIPPER RECKONS IT BROKE IN HALF AND HIT THE DECK. UNABLE TO BOMB BECAUSE MARKERS INDEFINITE, PITY. FIGHTERS FOLLOWED ALL THE WAY TO OUR COAST, COULDN’T HAVE ANY COFFEE TILL WE GOT TO READING.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] TARGET HERE WAS A V.1 STORAGE DEPOT ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PARIS. V1’S WERE PILOTLESS FLYING BOMBS V2’S WERE THE LATER GUIDED ROCKETS. THE LAUNCH SITES OF BOTH WERE THE FOCUS OF MUCH BOMBING EFFORT, AND WERE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO LOCATE.
[underlined] 17 – 7 – 44 WIZERNES (FRANCE) [/underlined]
TOOK OFF 11 A.M FLEW IN LOOSE BUNCH TILL REACHING TARGET, CLOSED UP A LITTLE THERE. WEATHER GRAND, ABOUT 1/10 CLOUD COVER OVER FRANCE, TARGET VISABLE [sic]. TARGET AREA HEAVILY BOMBED. SPITFIRE ESCORT, SAW NO HUN FIGHTERS, NO FLAK AT ALL, GENERALLY ALL WAS REMARKABLY QUIET. BOMBING SEEMED GOOD – ALTOGETHER VERY NICE AND QUIET TRIP. HAD TWO EGGS FOR DINNER, WONDER WHAT THE CATCH IS.
[underlined] 25 – 7 – 44 WATTEN [/underlined]
TOOK OFF ABOUT 07-00 FAIRLY CLEAR, COOL. SKY CLEARED NICELY OVER THE CHANNEL, TARGET EASILY SEEN. WATCHED KITES BEHIND AS WE RAN IN, SO INTERESTED THAT I FORGOT ABOUT DEFENCES, AND THEY LET GO SOME VERY ACCURATE FLAK JUST BEFORE BOMB WENT DOWN. DESPITE ALL THIS BOMBS WERE WELL DROPPED, GRAND SHOW ON BOMBAIMERS [sic] PART. WEAVED LIKE HELL FOR A FEW MINUTES TILL CLEAR OF AREA, NEVER FELT OR HEARD FLAK SO NEAR – SLUNG OUT SOME WINDOW MYSELF, STARBOARD TAILPLANE SLIGHTLY DAMAGED. SAW ONE KITE HIT IN ENGINE, SMOKE POURED OUT, ENGINE WAS FEATHERD [sic] AND THEY GOT BACK HOME.
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[underlined] 31 – 7 – 44 RILLY-LA-MONTAGE (NEAR RHEIMS) [/underlined]
WENT WITH ABOUT 200 MAIN FORCE KITES, - MADE A SIGHT WORTH SEEING. TARGET 120-150 MILES INLAND, JUST SOUTH OF RHEIMS, ANTICIPATED SOME JERRY ACTIVITY BUT NONE APART FROM HEAVY FLAK IN TARGET AREA. TARGET IN WOOD, DEPOT FOR FLYING BOMBS, RESULTS APPEARED GOOD, DIFFICULT TO ASSESS DUE TO SMOKE. JUST MANAGED TO WEAVE OUT OF THE WAY OF A STICK OF BOMBS FROM KITE ABOVE. BILL REID V.C. WAS HIT THE SAME WAY AND WAS LOST – SEE NOTES. WEATHER QUITE CLEAR. SPITFIRE ESCORT. ONE PIECE OF FLAK IN AIRCRAFT NOSE, AL (BOMB AIMER) DIDN’T KNOW TILL WE LANDED.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] BILL REID’S AIRCRAFT WAS TO ONE SIDE AND BELOW US AND WAS HIT BEHIND THE TOP TURRET BY A BOMB THAT DID NOT EXPLODE BUT SO DAMAGED THE FUSELAGE THAT IT MOMENTARILY SAGGED, THEN BROKE IN TWO AND SPUN AWAY. MIRACULOUSLY, BILL AND ONE OF HIS CREW SURVIVED. DURING THE LUNCH FOLLOWING THE SQUADRON MEMORIAL DEDICATION IN 1987, BILL TOLD US OF HIS FEELINGS AS HE FELL FROM THE STRICKEN LANCASTER, KNOWING HE HAD WON A FEW POUNDS GAMBLING, (THERE GOES THAT B----- REID) THEY WOULD BE SAYING (TAKING OUR MONEY WITH HIM) A LOVELY CHAP.
[underlined] 5 – 8 – 44 BREST [/underlined]
TOOK OFF 09-45, CLIMBED ON TRACK FOR A CHANGE. WEATHER PERFECT, COUNTRYSIDE LOOKED GRAND, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH WEST. SPITFIRE’S MET US OFF SIDMOUTH. TARGET U-BOAT PENS, DIDN’T FEEL SO HAPPY KNOWING BREST’S REPUTATION FOR FLAK, OVER 80 HEAVY GUNS TO BE SHARED AMONGST SIXTEEN KITES. AS WE RAN IN FLAK BANGED VERY CLOSE, BUT CLEARED FOR BOMBING RUN. GOOD RESULTS, FIVE PENS HIT, REST VERY CLOSE. SAW ONE PARACHUTE FROM KITE THAT WAS LOST, QUEER THING, IT APPEARED TO BE UNDER CONTROL BUT MADE NO EFFORT TO COME HOME. WE HAD FLAK THROUGH THE NOSE AND ONE ENGINE COVER.
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[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] THE AIRCRAFT LOST AT BREST WAS PROBABLY F/LT CHENEY’S, AND BRINCKHILL’S BOOK (THE DAM BUSTERS) HAS A VIVID DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED TO IT AFTER RECEIVING DIRECT FLAK SHELLS. THE PILOT AND TWO OTHERS WERE PICKED UP BY A FRENCH FISHING BOAT AND LATER RETURNED TO THE SQUADRON, THE REST WERE NEVER FOUND.
[underlined] 6 – 8 – 44 LORIENT [/underlined]
TOOK OFF ABOUT 18-00, WEATHER AND FLIGHT PLAN AS BEFORE, PROBABLY; SAW AN AIRFIELD BEING SHELLED NEAR TARGET. FLAK STARTED EARLY BUT AT 16,000 FEET WE SEEMED TO BE IN A FREE BELT, AS ABOVE AND BELOW IT WAS VERY THICK. BOMBING RUN GOOD, ALTOGETHER IT DIDN’T APPEAR TO BE SUCH A GOOD EFFORT AS YESTERDAYS, BUT DIFFICULT TO TELL REALLY. HEAVY FLAK FOR A FEW MINUTES OUT OF THE AREA, HIT IN TAILPLANE AND SPINNER, NO KITES LOST. HOPE THERE ARE NO MORE PENS TO HIT, JERRY GETS ANNOYED SOMEWHAT.
[underlined] 9 – 8 – 44 LA PALLICE [/underlined]
TOOK OFF 10-00, WEATHER GOOD. BEING A BIT LATE WE CUT ACROSS COUNTRY, PASSED QUITE CLOSE TO ALDERNEY AND GUERNSEY, EVENTUALLY CAUGHT UP WITH THE REST NEAR FRENCH COAST. WENT NEAR TO LORIENT AND FOLLOWED COAST TO THE TARGET. RAN IN FROM THE SEA, NO FLAK UNTILL BOMB WENT, RESULTS GOOD EXCEPT FOR ONE BOMB THAT WENT A LONG WAY WIDE AND HIT THE HARBOUR WORKS INSTEAD OF THE PENS. FLAK MODERATE, HIT ON ONE SPINNER. QUITEA [sic] LONG TRIP, SAW NO ENEMY FIGHTERS, ESCORT OF MUSTANGS AND SPITFIRES, MOST OF THEM MET US ON THE WAY BACK – HELPFUL; SKIPPER AND ROY’S THIRTIETH TRIP.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] ALTHOUGH AIRCREWS NORMALLY FLEW TOGETHER UNDER ONE PILOT, THERE WERE OCCASIONS WHEN INDIVIDUALS WOULD JOIN OTHER CREWS, AS I DID FOR SEVERAL TRIPS WITH BOB KNIGHTS. THE REASONS WERE MANY, SICKNESS OF ONE MEMBER MIGHT RESULT IN A REPLACEMENT FROM ANOTHER CREW, OR THE VARIOUS TRADES MIGHT BE FARMED OUT TO OTHER CREWS NEEDING TEMPORARY STAFF. ------
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------- THUS DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE SAME CREW OFTEN HAD VARYING NUMBERS OF OPERATIONAL SORTIES TO THEIR CREDIT, I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT ON ARRIVING AT 49 SQUADRON OUR PILOT, JOHN SANDERS, FLEW HIS FIRST FLIGHT OVER GERMANY AS SECOND PILOT, SO HE WAS ONE UP ON THE REST OF US ALREADY; I SUPPOSE THE IDEA WAS TO SEE IF HE LIKED THE EXPERIENCE. . . . THE FIRST TOUR WAS THIRTY OPERATIONS, THE SECOND FIFTEEN.
[underlined] 11 – 8 – 44 LA PALLICE [/underlined]
TOOK OFF ABOUT 11.30, LOAD 6 X 2.000 LD. [sic] ARMOUR PIERCING, DON’T KNOW WHAT USE THESE ARE AGAINST PENS, - OURS NOT TO REASON WHY. ROUTE AS YESTERDAY, AS WAS THE ESCORT. MUCH MORE FLAK ON RUN IN, SAW ONE KITE HIT AND CONTINUE ON THREE ENGINES, HEARD LOTS OF BURSTS, BOMBS WENT DOWN BANG ON TARGET, WE WERE HIT IN THE AIRCRAFT NOSE AND ONE ENGINE, NOTHING SERIOUS. LANDED AT GROVE, SHORT OF PETROL. HOPE THIS TARGET IS FINISHED, FLAK FAR TOO ACCURATE FOR COMFORT,
[underlined] 12 – 8 – 44 BREST [/underlined]
TOOK OFF 07-00 – 12 HOURS AFTER LANDING. WEATHER PRETTY FOUL, TRIED TO CLIMB THROUGH CLOUD, BECAME ICED UP, HAD TO REDUCE TO 11,000 FEET AND CLIMB OVER CHANNEL. ONLY EIGHT KITES ON THE RAID, EXPECTED TO BE SHOT TO HELL, BUT LUCKILY FLAK WAS LIGHTER AND LESS ACCURATE THAN BEFORE, - ONE FLAK SHIP IN THE HARBOUR. PENS APPEARED TO RECEIVE SEVERAL DIRECT HITS, SMOKE POURED FROM GAP IN THE ROOF, SMALL DENT IN SPINNER, NOT BAD TRIP, INTERCOM BETTER THAN YESTERDAY, SO CREW WAS MORE SOCIABLE; SAW NO ESCORT, EXCEPT USUAL MOSQUITO.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] IT SEEMS WE HAD MORE DENTED SPINNERS THAN ANYTHING ELSE, WHICH IS PROBABLY VERY FORTUNATE, CURIOUS REFERENCE TOA [sic] MOSQUITO AS ESCORT, WHEREAS I KNOW VERY WELL IT WAS THE MARKING AIRCRAFT. PERHAPS THE CRACKS WERE BEGINNING TO SHOW.
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[underlined] 13 – 8 – 44 BREST [/underlined]
TOOK OFF 08-30, WEATHER GOOD. TARGET FOR US WAS A SHIP IN THE HARBOUR THAT MIGHT BE USED AS A BLOCKSHIP, OTHERS BOMBED PENS, AND 9 SQUADRON SUPPORTING HAD ANOTHER VESSEL. FLAK; COR! IT WAS HOT, JUST LIKE FIRST TIME TO BREST HIT IN UNDERCARRIAGE AND HYDRAULICS, BEFORE OUR BOMB LOAD (12 X 1.000 POUNDERS) WENT DOWN, BAGS OF HOT OIL AND VAPOUR IN THE NOSE, PANIC FOR A FEW MINUTES; TOMMY’S HARNESS WAS HIT AND THERE WERE OTHER HOLES. SAW ONE KITE GO DOWN, STRAIGHT DOWN AND BURST ON THE SHORE, NASTY, ONE BURST OF FLAK WAS PINK, - GREMLINS GOT ME AT LAST; ALTOGETHER FAR TOO LIVELY FOR MY LIKING.
[underlined] 14 – 8 – 44 BREST [/underlined]
TOOK OFF 08-30, USUAL TIME, WEATHER GOOD. AFTER YESTERDAYS EFFORT FELT LOUSY ON THE WAY ANTICIPATING EVERY SORT OF TROUBLE, THE OLD TUMMY GETS A BIT SORE THINKING OF FLAK THESE DAY’S. TARGET – SHIP IN THE HARBOUR AGAIN, 9 SQUADRON SUPPORTING RAN INTO TARGET IN MORE N.W. DIRECTION – OVER – BAY HEIGHT 16,200 FEET, FLAK BOUNCED US ABOUT A BIT BUT IT WASN’T QUITE SO BAD. PIECES OF FLAK THROUGH JACK’S SCREEN, MID UPPER TURRET AND ONE ENGINE, NOTHING SERIOUS. SAW SEVEN STICKS OF BOMBS GO DOWN, EACH JUST MISSED THE SHIP, HOPE SOMEONE HIT IT OR BACK WE GO ANOTHER DAY. BOMB LOAD 6 X 2,000 POUNDERS, ARMOUR – PIERCING.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] (STICKS) WERE THE ENTIRE BOMB LOAD DROPPED BY EACH AIRCRAFT. IT WAS INFURIATING TO WATCH THE FOUNTAINS OF SPRAY APPEAR AS EACH BOMB HIT THE WATER ON EITHER SIDE OF THE VESSEL. I WONDER IF IT EVER SANK, WE DIDN’T GO TO BREST AGAIN, THANK GOODNESS, (THE SHIP WAS THE GERMAN CRUISER GUEYDON) WE THEN WENT ON TO MORE INTERESTING THINGS. -----
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[underlined] 11 – 9 – 44 KAA FIORD NORWAY (VIA RUSSIA) [/underlined]
THE BIG ONE AGAINST THE GERMAN POCKET BATTLESHIP [underlined] TIRPITZ [/underlined], WHICH HAD SO FAR LED A CHARMED LIFE DESPITE A VARIETY OF ATTACKS BY EVERY – BODY EXCEPT THE ARMY, - AND SURVIVED THE LOT AS THE VESSEL WAS OUT OF RANGE FROM BRITAIN THE PLAN WAS TO FLY TO YAGODNIK, AN ISLAND AIRFIELD UPSTREAM FROM ARCHANGEL, REFUEL, CARRY OUT THE RAID, REFUEL AGAIN IN RUSSIA AND RETURN TO LINCOLNSHIRE. AS ADDITIONAL PETROL HAD TO BE CARRIED THE TOP TURRET WAS REMOVED, TOGETHER WITH MUCH OF THE AMMUNITION FOR THE REAR TURRET, SOME OF THE RADAR AND THE EXHAUST COWS [sic] FROM EACH ENGINE, - WHICH SEEMED RATHER EXTREME AND MAY HAVE BEEN DONE UNDER THE OLD DICTUM THAT EVERY LITTLE HELPS. A 250 GALLON FUEL WAS INSTALLED IN THE FUSELAGE, AND THE LENGTH OF THE TANK NECESSITATED THE DEPARTURE OF THE TOP TURRET. WE CARRIED TWELVE 450 POUND BOMBS – WHICH I HAVE A FEELING WERE A SORT OF SEA MINE – AND OTHERS HAD THE 12,000 POUND “TALLBOY”. THERE WERE TWENTY LANCASTERS FROM 617 AND EIGHTEEN FROM 9 SQUADRON. THE DIARY ENTRY:
TOOK OFF 19-00, HEADED FOR NORWAY AT 2,000 FEET, CLIMBED TO 6,000 FEET AT THE COAST TO CLEAR THE MOUNTAINS, BIT CLOUDY, SAW GLIMPSES OF THE PEAKS AT TIMES. SWEDEN WAS WELL LIGHTED, EVEN SAW NEON SIGNS OCCASIONALLY, SOME FLAK IN ONE AREA, ONE KITE DAMAGED. AS IT BECAME LIGHTER WE DROPPED TO AVOID CLOUD AT 500-1,000 FEET, CROSSED WHITE SEA VERY LOW, LOOKED SOMEWHAT INHOSPITABLE AND COLD. EVENTUALLY FOUND ARCHANGEL IN THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER, AND AFTER SOME SEARCHING CAME ACROSS THE AIRFIELD ON A [sic] ISLAND DOWN STREAM. LANDED ON GRASS WITH BOMBS ON BOARD. QUARTERS IN A OLD RIVER STEAMER, HAD TO CLEAN OUT, WASHING AND SANITARY CONDITIONS LOUSY. MEALS GOOD GENERALLY, PLENTY OF EGGS, BUTTER AND SUGAR. TEA WITHOUT MILK – IN GLASSES – SLIGHTLY SOUR BREAD AND SPAM WILL BE REMEMBERD [sic]; --------;
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----- SWAPPED CIGARETTES FOR CAP BADGES, COINS, PAPER MONEY AND BUTTONS. ENTERTAINED EVERY NIGHT WITH CONCERTS, FILMS AND DANCES. BAND COULD EVEN PLAY (LAMBETH WALK) SAND AND GRASS FIELD, WEATHER SLIGHTLY COLDER THAN AT HOME.
TOOK OFF 09-30 ON SEPTEMBER 15TH LOOSE GAGGLE, 1,000 FEET, ROUTE OVER FINLAND, SWEDEN AND NORWAY, A GOD-FORSAKEN COUNTRYSIDE OF HILLS, RIVERS, TIMBER AND MARSHES. WE LED J.W. FORCE AND CAME IN FROM A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. TO THE MAIN FORCE. SAW SMOKE GENERATORS START UP A FEW MINUTES BEFORE BOMBING, NUISANCE. SAW J.W’S SWINGING DOWN ON PARACHUTES, WEIRD SIGHT, FLAK SCATTERD [sic] AND INACCURATE, SUPRISING [sic] AS WE BOMBED AT 11,000 FEET, NO FIGHTERS. ONE KITE ONLY DAMAGED.
TOOK OFF 19-15 ON THE 16TH TO RETURN HOME. WEATHER DULL, POOR VISIBILITY, 1,500 FEET OVER FINLAND, CLIMED [sic] TO 7,000 OVER SEA AND SWEDEN. DARK NIGHT, SAW SOME AIRFIELDS LIGHTED, OCCASIONAL LIGHT FLAK. BAD WEATHER JUST AFTER LEAVING SWEDEN, HAD TO DROP TO 4,000 FEET TO CLEAR CLOUD AND HEAVY RAIN, OFF TRACK, RAN OVER NORTH DENMARK, SEARCHLIGHTS EVADED BY USING CLOUD COVER, FLAK SHIPS A DARN NUISANCE OFF COAST. CARRIED THREE OF ROSS’S CREW BACK. BET THEY WERE COLD IN THE FUSEELARGE [sic]. GLAD TO SEE ENGLISH SEARCHLIGHTS AND AIRFIELDS AGAIN – AND REAL EGG, BACON AND CHIPS ON RETURN.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] RE READING THE DIARY REMINDS ME OF THE PROFICIENCY OF OUR NAVIGATOR, JAMES BARON, WHO SO SKILLFULLY [sic] GUIDED OUR WAY TO RUSSIA AND BACK, BASICALLY WITH ONLY HIS EXPERTISE, MAP, AND SIX PAIRS OF ANXIOUS EYES TO ASSIST. NO NAVIGATIONAL AIDS IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD, SEVERAL AIRCRAFT FORCE-LANDED IN THE AREA WHEN FUEL RAN OUT IN THEIR VAIN SERCH [sic] FOR THE LANDING FIELD; SO FAR AS I RECALL, NO ONE WAS LOST, THE RUSSIANS BROUGHT THEM ALONG IN VARIOUS ANCIENT LIGHT PLANES AT INTERVALS. THERE IS A PHOTO OF A DOWNED LANCASTER, IT’S 12,000 POUND TALLBOY BOMB HURLED FREE ON LANDING INPACT [sic] AND LAYING FORLORNLY IN THE MUD. A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE FROM THE AIRCRAFT.
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THE CREWS INVOVLED [sic] WITH THESE CRASHED LANCASTERS CAME HOME IN OTHER AIRCRAFT AND THEIR AIRCRAFT LEFT IN RUSSIA.
THE RUSSIAN FILMS WERE TERRIBLE, LONG AFFAIRS OF CONTINUAL WAR SCENES, AND I SEEM TO RECALL THAT THE ROYAL NAVY CONTINGENT AT ARCHANGEL SENT SOME CARTOONS WHICH CHEERED US UP AND LEFT OUR HOSTS BAFFLED. LIVING AROUND THE AIRFIELD IN VARIOUS PRIMITIVE HUTS WERE SOME OF THE RUSSIAN STAFF, INCLUDING, NO DOUBT, THE LADIES WHO FELL ABOUT IN LAUGHTER WHEN ASKED FOR HOT WATER TO SHAVE WITH – SUCH WESTEN [sic] DECADENCE. THE MEN SPENT MUCH TIME PLAYING CARDS ON THE RIVER BANK. THEIR WIVES ONLY APPEARED WHEN CALLED TO HAVE LARGE TREE TRUNKS, THAT HAD FLOATED DOWN FROM THE URALS, HOISTED ON TO THEIR STURDY SHOULDERS BY THEIR CARING PARTNERS; IT WAS A PEACEFUL SCENE, ONLY DISTURBED BY THE SOUND OF CHOPPING AND SAWING WHILST THE INTERRUPTED CARD GAME CONTINUED. LENIN WOULD SURELY HAVE APPROVED. I JEST A LITTLE, WITHIN THE LIMITATION OF THE TIMES, THE RUSSIANS WE MET WERE GENERALLY KINDLY, GENEROUS HOSTS. THEY BEAT US HANDSOMELY AT FOOTBALL TOO.
THE WAIT FOR SUITABLE WEATHER ACCOUNTED MAINLY FOR THE FEW DAYS THAT PASSED BEFORE ATTACKING THE (TIRPITZ) AND THE TIME WAS PROBABLY USEFUL TO ENABLE SOME AIRCRAFT SERVICING TO BE DONE. I THINK OUR J.W. BOMBS WERE KNOWN FOR SOME REASON AS JOHNNY WALKERS, AND AS DESCRIBED, THEY FLOATED GENTLY DOWN ON PARACHUTES. IF THEY HIT SOMETHING SOLID THEY EXPLODED ON CONTACT, IF THEY FELL INTO THE WATER THEY WOULD SINK ARMED THEM SELVES AND RISE TO THE SURFACE HOPEFULLY DETONATING UNDER A SHIP IF NO TARGET WAS FOUND THEY WOULD SINK AGAIN AND MOVE 30 FEET AND REPEAT.
AT THE TIME OWING TO THE SMOKE SCREEN THE RAID WAS NOT THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN THAT SUCCESSFUL, BUT LATER IT WAS FOUND THAT TALLBOY NEAR MISSES HAD DAMAGED THE SHIP AND PREVENTED IT FROM RETURNING TO THE SEA.
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THE TAKE-OFF TO RETURN HOME TO ENGLAND WAS AN INTERESTING SIGHT FOR ONLOOKERS, AS REFUELLING HAD TO BE DONE WITH THE ONLY AVAILABLE LOWER OCTANE RATED PETROL SO THERE WAS SOME ENGINE COUGHING AND BANGING AS EACH LANCASTER SPED ALONG THE SO CALLED RUNWAY AND FINALLY STAGGERD [sic] INTO THE AIR.
[underlined] 23 – 9 – 44 DORTMUND-EMS CANAL [/underlined]
NIGHT TRIP AGAIN – DARNED IF I LIKE ‘EM TARGET – AQUEDUCT CARRYING CANAL ACROSS A RIVER, LOAD TALLBOY. HAD FIRST SHAKING WHEN TWO KITES COLLIDED OFF THE COAST; THEN ANTI-RADAR LIGHTS WERE LEFT UNCOVEREDAND [sic] FLASHES ALL ROUND THE TRIP. QUEER THINGS, RED GREEN AND YELLOW FLARES, ENORMOUS FLAK BURSTS, KITES GOING DOWN WITHOUT COMBAT, - NO TRACER USED BY FIGHTERS, I GUESS. SPOT FIRE JUST UNDER CLOUD, HAD SEVERAL TRIES TO BOMB, BUT IT BECAME COVERED JUST BEFORE RELEASE SO WE BROUGHT THE BOMB BACK FELT VERY TIRED AND SHAKEN ON RETURN, CURSE THE DARKNESS.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] I DON’T REALY [sic] RECOLLECT BEING UNDULY DISTURBED ABOUT OPERATIONS, BUT IT SEEMS THERE IS JUST A HINT OF BOTHER WITH MY DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENTS. USUALLY UNSYMPATHETICALLY REFERRED TO AS THE TWITCH, IT WAS QUITE OFTEN EVIDENT IN THE DEMEANOUR OF THOSE IN THEIR THIRD OR FOURTH TOUR.
[underlined] 29 – 10 – 44 KEMS BARRAGE (ON THE RHINE) [/underlined]
TOOK OFF 13-10 PLAN SEVEN KITES TO BOMB AT 7-6,000 FEET, SIX AT [underlined] 600 [/underlined] FEET, WE WERE ONE OF THE SIX, OF COURSE AFTER THE DRAW, MUSTANGS AS ESCORT AND ANTI-FLAK. WE BOMBED FIVE MINUTES AFTER HIGH FORCE, RAN IN TWO ABREAST DROPPING TALLBOY WITH DELAYED ACTION. NOT A LOT OF FLAK, BUT MACHINE GUNS VERY ACCURATE WHICH HIT TWO KITES AFTER BOMBING, THEY HIT THE DECK – HARD, SO ONLY FOUR OUT OF THE SIX MADE IT. MY PERSPEX WAS SHATTERED TWO SPLINTERS IN MY SHOULDER, (NOTHING MUCH) BLAZED AWAY AT FLAK POSTS, VERY HAPPY; AL’S BOMB ZIPPED OVER BARRAGE TOP, GATES FINALLY GAVE AWAY, GOOD JOB.
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[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] THIS WAS A PRE-EMPT EFFORT TO FORESTALL THE GERMANS FROM RELEASING THE PENT UP WATERS OF THE RHINE WHEN ALLIED GROUND FORCES WERE ABOUT TO CROSS. THE EFFECT OF A CONSIDERABLE HEAD OF WATER UPON TEMPORARY BRIDGES MAY BE IMAGINED. DURING A SWISS HOLIDAY IN THE MIDDLE 80’S WE TOOK A VERY FRAGILE BOAT TRIP TO A ROCKY ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RHINE FALLS AT SCHAFFHAUSES, WHERE THE VIBRATION GRAPHICALLY DEMONSTRATED THE WEIGHT OF THE WATER FLOWING BY. THE TWO AIRCRAFT THAT WAS SHOT DOWN PILOTED BY (S/L WYNESS AND F/O HOWARD) IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT WYNESS AND HIS CREW MANAGED TO GETOUT [sic] OF THEIR AIRCRAFT AND INTO THE DINGHY TO SAIL DOWN THE RHINE TO GAIN THE SANCTUARY OF THE SWISS BANK BUT WERE SHOT BY THE GERMANS. PILOT JOHN SANDERS WAS AWARDED BAR TO HIS D.F.C.
[underlined] 29 – 10 – 44 TIRPITZ – TROMSO [/underlined]
TOOK OFF FROM LOSSIE MOUTH AT 2 A.M. AND LANDED BACK AT 2-55P.M. – DID I FEEL DONE. CROSSED NORWEGIAN COAST AT DAWN AND FLEW NORTH OVER SWEDEN, LOOKED VERY BLEAK AND COLD HAD TO ORBIT AT RENDEZVOUS, BOTH SQUADRONS WENT ON TO THE TARGET, BECAME VERY HAZY EVEN AT 15,000 FEET WITH 7-6/10’S CLOUD BELOW, SHIP HARD TO FIND, AL FINALLY BOMBED ON FOURTH RUN. BAGS OF FLAK, BUT VERY INACCURATE, ONE KITE HIT BADLY, LANDED IN SWEDEN. TERRIBLE STOOGE HOME, SAW NO LAND FOR FOUR HOURS, - HAD 16 HOURS SLEEP AT LOSSIE.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] THE VESSEL WAS MOVED SOUTHWARDS TO TROMSO AFTER THE SEPTEMBER ATTACK, POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGED [sic] RECEIVED THIS PUT IT IN THE RANGE FROM LOSSIEMOUTH, AGAIN WITH LONG-RANGE FUEL TANKS. THE CLOUD PREVENTED ACCURATE BOMB-AIMING AND THE ‘TIRPITZ’ SURVIVED ONCE MORE, - BUT NEMESIS DREW NIGH; A SOME WHAT COMIC ASPECT OF THE LONG SEA CROSSING BACK WAS THE REASSURANCE GIVEN AT BRIEFING THAT ROYAL NAVY DESROYERS [sic] WOULD BE ON OUR RETURN ROUTE SHOULD ANY NEED TO PUT DOWN IN THE WATER ARISE. ------
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------ BY 1944 THE R.N. HAD QUITE PROPERLY DEVELOPED ITCHY GUN FINGERS WHERE AIRCRAFT WERE CONCERNED, PARTICULARLY IF THEY GAVE NO REGOGNITION [sic] SIGNALS. THUS WE WERE RATHER ALARMED TO FIND OURSELVES BEARING DOWN ON THIS MENACING LOOMING SHIP WITH AL IN THE NOSE FRANTICALLY DIGGING AROUND FOR THE COLOURS-OF-THE-DAY CARTRIDGES TO PUT IN HIS VERY PISTOL. I’M NOT SURE IF WE WERE ACTUALLY FIRED UPON, BUT CERTAINLY THE COLOURS WENT UP A TRIFLE LATE. ONE CAN IMAGINE THE IRATE OFFICER-OF-THE-WATCH DOWN THERE FUMING ‘THAT SHOWER’ UP THERE.
[underlined] NOVEMBER 1944 [/underlined]
MY LOG BOOK FOR THIS MONTH SHOWS ONLY A TRIP TO LOSSIEMOUTH FOR ANOTHER GO AT THE ‘TIRPITZ’, BUT THE WEATHER FORECAST WAS SUCH THAT WE RETURNED TO WOODHALL THE NEXT DAY.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, AN UN-DATED NOTE IS ADDED THAT MUST HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN JANUARY 1945:- “BROKE MY FINGER WHILST TRYING TO FIX AN ESCAPE HATCH DURING NIGHT PRACTICE BOMBING – CLOT!! WENT U/S UNTILL AFTER CHRISTMAS. ROY AND AL MEANWHILE FINISHED THEIR SECOND TOUR, DIDN’T SEE AL AGAIN. LUCKILY MANAGED TO GET BACK WITH SANDY AND REMAINDER OF THE CREW.
NIGHT BOMBING PRACTICE AT WAINFLEET WAS NOT A FAVOURITE PASTIME, SO I DOUBT ANYONE REGRETTED THE EARLY RETURN ARISING FROM MY MISHAP. I CHERISH THE MEMORY OF OUR CAPTAIN SPEEDILY CALLING FOR AN AMBULANCE TO MEET US ON LANDING, AND HIS INSISTENCE ON HALF CARRYING ME DOWN THE AIRCRAFT LADDER TO THE GROUND. BEING A VERY FORTUNATE CREW, THIS WAS ABOUT THE WORST THING THAT HAPPENED TO US IN ALL THE TIME WE FLEW TOGETHER ON OPERATIONS.
THUS I DID NOT JOIN THE FINAL ATTACK ON THE “TIRPITZ” ON 29TH OF NOVEMBER, WHEN THE VESSEL CAPSIZED FOLLOWING DIRECT HITS WITH TALLBOY 12,000 POUND BOMBS; INSTEAD ROY MACHIN HAD A VIEW OF THE AFFAIR FROM THE TAIL RATHER THAN HIS ACCUSTOMED POSITION IN THE TOP TURRET. ONE OF THE MINOR MYSTERIES IS WHY NO ENEMY FIGHTERS APPEARED DURING THE LAST TWO RAIDS, WHEN IN NORWAY.
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[underlined] 3 – 2 – 45 PORTESHAVEN (HOLLAND) [/underlined]
TOOK OFF 14-00, TARGET MIDGET U-BOAT PENS. WEATHER CLEAR, HEIGHT 14,000 FEET. OVERCOAST [sic] SAW WALCHEREN ISLAND, NEARLY ALL FLOODED, TERRIBLE DEVASTATION. LONG RUN UP TO TARGET AND JUST BEFORE BOMB WENT FLAK WAS VERY ACCURATE THO’ NOT PARTICULARLY HEAVY. WE BOMBED SECOND AND I SAW THE REST OF THE EFFORT, WHICH EXCEPT FOR THREE WIDE THE REST WAS DEAD ON. P.R.L. COVER DETERMINED THAT THE WHOLE STRUCTURE HAD COLLAPSED. IT HAD FIFTEEN HOLES.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] P.R.L. WAS THE PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE UNIT, OFTEN FLYING MOSQUITOES, SOMETIMES SPITFIRES, USUALLY ALONE – DODGY IN DAYLIGHT.
[underlined] 6 – 2 – 45 BIELEFELD VIADUCT (GERMANY) [/underlined]
ON THIS THE LONGEST TRIP INTO THE REICH, WE DEFINITELY EXPECTED BANDITS, SO GAGGLE WAS TIGHTENED AND ALTOGETHER WE HAD TEN SQUADRONS OF SPITFIRES AND MUSTANGS AS COVER, - VERY NICE FOR SEVENTEEN KITES; SOME HEAVY FLAK AT AACHEN AND COOLENZ, OTHERWISE NONE. 10/10 CLOUD COVER MOST OF THE ROUTE, SAW NO BOMBING. VERY SURPRISED AT NO LUFTWAFFE – AND RELIEVED. SKY WAS FULL OF OUR COVER, AND YANKS WERE VERY ACTIVE WITH HEAVY STUFF.
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] BY 1944 THE AMERICAN AIRFORCE (U.S.A.A.F.) WERE WELL USED TO FORMATION FLYING NECESSITATED BY THEIR BOMBING TECHNIQUES, AND THE MUTUAL COVER AGAINST THE LUFTWAFFE. APART FROM INITIAL DISASTROUS DAYLIGHT SORTIES IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR, BOMBER COMMAND IN EUROPE LARGELY RESORTED TO NIGHT RAIDS UNTILL D-DAY IN 1944. THEN THE (GAGGLE) WAS THOUGHT UP AS A LOOSE FORMATION TO GIVE SOME PROTECTION AGAINST FIGHTERS WHILST STILL RETAINING EACH BOMB-AIMERS DESCRIPTION AS TO THE MOMENT OF RELEASE. HOWEVER, I FEEL THE WORTHY INTENTION WAS DIMINISHED BY THE RESULT IN THE AIR, AS AFTER YEARS OF INDIVIDUAL FLYING IN THE DARK THE DISCIPLINE-AND WILL-NEEDED TO KEEP IN CLOSE FORMATION WAS JUST NOT THERE AND WE TENDED TO JUST TRUNDLE ALONG FAIRLY NEAR TO ONE ANOTHER; ------
[page break]
36
------ AS IT HAPPENED IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE ON THE DAYLIGHT TRIPS I FLEW ON. THERE IS NOT MUCH DOUBT IN MY MIND, HOWEVER, THAT AN ATTACK ON US BY THE LUFTWAFFE WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES BEFORE OUR ESCORT COULD HAVE GOT AMONGST THEM. BOTH GERMANS AND AMERICANS FOUND THAT EFFECTIVE DEFENCE OF BOMBERS BY FIGHTERS IS MOST DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE AGAINST DETERMINED ATTACKS, SOME WILL ALWAYS SUCCEED.
[underlined] 6 – 2 – 45 IJMUIDEN (HOLLAND) [/underlined]
TOOK OFF 06-00 UNDER DULL HIGH CLOUD THAT PERSISTED WAY TO THE TARGET, SAW BAGS OF LIBERATORS FORMING UP ON THE WAY OUT. SPITFIRE ESCORT MET US OFF THE COAST. BOMBING RUN SEEMED PLAIN STUPID; INSTEAD OF RUNNING IN FROM THE SEA WE CIRCLED IN LAND, NEAR AMSTERDAM, AND HAD A LONG RUN UP TO TARGET IN HEAVY FLAK AREA. JACK LED GAGGLE AND DID THEY PASTE US, FOR JUST OVER TWO MINUTES WERE CONTINUALLY PREDICTED, - NEVER FELT AND HEARD SO MUCH. U-BOAT PENS WERE HIT,
[underlined] NOTES [/underlined] NOW WE ARE CRITICISING ROUTEING[sic] – EVERYONE IS AN EXPERT AFTER TWO TOURS, THIS WAS THE LAST OPERATIONAL TRIP FOR ME. DURING RAIDS INVOLVING MANY AIRCRAFT FLAK WAS GENERALLY INDISCRIMINATE, BUT WHEN ONLY TWENTY OR THIRTY WERE OVERHEAD IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THE DEFENCES TO FOCUS ON ONE BY RADAR AND (PREDICT) ITS COURSE AND FIRE ACCORDINGLY. FLAK BATTERIES WERE OFTEN IN FOURS, AND OCCASIONALLY ONE COULD SEE SUCCESSIVE BURSTS FOLLOWING BEHIND, EVEN WHEN TURNING. I NOTICED THIS PARTICULARLY DURING THE OCTOBER (TIRPITZ) RAID AS WELL AS THIS ONE. NOT A LOT COULD USEFULLY BE DONE – EXCEPT HOPE – IF ON THE BOMB RUN; EVENTUALLY, OF COURSE, WE FLEW OUT OF RANGE, OR THEY SELECTED ANOTHER LUCKY LOT FOR ATTENTION.
[page break]
37
[underlined] POSTSCRIPT [/underlined]
TO FORESTALL ANY BRIGHT SPARK WHO MAY HAVE COUNTED ONLY FORTY OPERATIONS IN THE DIARY, THERE WERE FIVE OTHER TRIPS MENTIONED BUT NOT DESCRIBED AS EACH TIME THE TARGET WAS NOT BOMBED DUE, TO CLOUD AT THE CRUCIAL POINT, FOUR WERE ‘V’ BOMB SITES IN NORTHERN FRANCE, THE OTHER LA PALLICE AGAINST U-BOAT PENS TO MY SURPRISE, AND NO DOUBT PLEASURE, THESE WERE INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL FOR TWO TOURS OF OPERATIONS, THAT IS FORTY FIVE TRIPS. THE ‘V’ WEAPONS WERE FIRSTLY SELF PROPELLED FLYING BOMBS DIRECTED AT LONDON, AND SECONDLY ROCKET PROPELLED MISSILES LAUNCHED FROM HOLLAND THAT FELL UPON THE CITY WITHOUT WARNING. FORTUNATELY THIS ALL STARTED AROUND THE SUMMER OF 1944, SO THE LAUNCH SITES WERE PROGRESSIVELY OVER RUN AS THE ALLIED LAND ARMIES MOVED EASTWARDS FROM NORMANDY LATER IN THE YEAR.
ONE MUST OBSERVE THAT AS A CREW WE WERE QUITE FORTUNATE, FOR I CANNOT RECALL ANYONE BEING HURT, NEITHER WERE THERE MANY DISAGREEMENTS. THE ONLY ONE OF THE LATTER THAT COMES TO MIND WAS AN ALTERCATION THAT AROSE WHILST WAITING AROUND OUTSIDE THE AIRCRAFT AS TO THE MERITS OF THE FLIGHT SANDWICHES ISSUED FROM THE OFFICERS PALACE AT THE PETWOOD HOTEL (OFFICERS MESS) COMPARED TO THOSE FROM THE SERGEANTS MESS; IMPORTANT MATTERS SUCH AS THIS COULD HAVE AFFECTED THE WHOLE COURSE OF THE WAR.
TO COMMENT ON LUCK, THERE IS A STORY OF THE BOMB-AIMER’S PARACHUTE HARNESS. WE WERE SETTLING DOWN AT DISPERSAL AWAITING TAXI CLEARANCE WHEN AN AGONISED CRY CAME FROM AL IN THE NOSE – I’VE FORGOT MY PARACHUTE HARNESS, JACK; MUCH HEAVY BREATHING FROM OUR ESTEEMED PILOT BRFORE [sic] HE GROUND OUT “YOU’D BETTER HURRY AND GET IT THEN” OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT. WITH INTEREST I WATCHED AL LEAP OUT, GRAB ONE OF THE GROUND CREW’S BIKES AND VANISH IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKER ROOM, HEAD DOWN, PEDALLING FURIOUSLY. ------
[page break]
38
------ MEANWHILE, IN THE COCKPIT THE CAPTAIN AND ENGINEER WERE DECIDING TO SWITCH OFF THE ENGINES AS THEY WOULD OVERHEAT QUITE QUICKLY WHILST IDLING DUE TO THE LACK OF AIR PASSING THROUGH THE RADIATORS FROM THE PROPELLERS. WHEN AL REAPPEARED FULLY KITTED AND BREATHLESS, THE ENGINES WERE RE-STARTED. ONE, HOWEVER, STUTTERD [sic] BANGED AND BELCHED BLUE SMOKE, RAN VERY ROUGHLY FOR A FEW SECONDS AND FINALLY STOPPED WITH A SHUDDER THAT SHOOK THE WHOLE AIRCRAFT. SO WE ALL CLAMBERED OUT AND JOINED THE GROUND CREW CLUSTED [sic] UNDER THE OFFENDING ENGINE, ONE STILL HOPEFULLY CLUTCHING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, SOME STAGING WAS PUSHED INTO PLACE AND A FITTER REMOVED THE COWLING AND LOOKED INTO THE WORKS. “T’ARIN’T ARF A MESS” HE INFORMED THE THRONG, “RECKIN IT’S THE CYLINDER HEAD, THERE’S BITS AND PIECES EVERYWHERE”. THUS, IT SEEMS, OUR LUCK HELD AGAIN WHO KNOWS, BUT FOR THE DELAY, WHETHER THAT ENGINE MIGHT HAVE FAILED ON TAKR-OFF [sic], AND WE HAD A 12,000 LB BOMB ON ABOARD.
SO THERE IT IS. ON COMPLETION OF THE TOURS I WAS SOON POSTED AWAY TO BECOME THE SHIFT NCO I/C THE PARACHUTE STORE AT WOOLFOX LODGE, AND WHERE THAT WAS I NOW HAVE NO IDEA. HOWEVER, WHILST THERE I HAD MY LAST FLIGHT IN A LANCASTER ON THE 20TH OF JUNE 1945, STANDING BEHIND THE PILOT ON A SIGHT SEEING TRIP OVER GERMANY IN DAYLIGHT. NO FIGHTERS, NO FLAX [sic] JUST GHASTLY DEVASTATION IN THE RHUR DOWN AS FAR AS COLOGNE AND EASTWARDS TO DORTMUND. WHICH REMINDS THAT ONLY A FEW WEEKS AGO WE WERE IN THE STATION AREA OF DORTMUND, WHERE EVEN THE TAXIS ARE MERCEDES BENZ REFLECTING THE GENERAL WEALTH. BARMY, AIN’T IT.
IN DECEMBER 1945 I MANAGED TO GET ON AN AIRFIELD CONTROL COURSE AT WATCHFIELD, NEAR SHRIVENHAM. HERE WE OCCASIONALLY FLEW IN ANSON AIRCRAFT, THE SAME AS AT GUNNERY SCHOOL SEEMINGLY SO MANY YEARS AGO. NOTHING HAD CHANGED, THE UNDERCARRIAGE STILL HAD TO BE WOUND UP AND DOWN BY HAND. HAVING SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE COURSE IN THE NEW YEAR, I WAS POSTED TO WELFORD, NEAR NEWBURY.
[page break]
39
WE WERE MARRIED AT THIS TIME SO I WAS ABLE TO COMMUTE FOR A WHILE VIA THE LAMBOURN VALLY [sic] RAILWAY AND PUSHBIKE. THE JOB AT WELFORD WAS LARGELY IN THE RUNWAY CARAVAN WHERE ONE IMPORTANTLY FLASHED LIGHJTS [sic] AND FIRED FLARES WHILST HOPEFULLY CONTROLLING AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS. ACCORDING TO THE SHIFT ONE WAS ON RATIONS WERE SENT OUT TO BE COOKED ON AN OLD PRIMUS STOVE, AND WHEN THE WEATHER WAS KIND IT WAS ALL SORT OF IDYLLIC, MUNCHING ON A BACON SANDWICH WITH A POT OF STRONG TEA HANDY, OBSERVING THE WILD LIFE ALL AROUND BEFORE THE FIRST AIRCRAFT TO LAND OR TAKE OFF DISTURBED THEM. INEVITABLY THIS COULD NOT LAST, AS WELFORD WAS BEING LESS AND LESS USED, AND SO I WAS SENT AWAY AGAIN, FIRST TO DISHFORTH IN YORKSHIRE AND FINALLY TO TERN HILL IN SHROPSHIRE. HERE I RECALL ENDLESS HOURS IN THE CONTROL TOWER LOGGING TRAINING HARVARD AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS. ONE HAD TO BE SURE THE NUMBERS THAT WENT OUT BALANCED THOSE THAT LANDED, OTHERWISE A GREAT FLAP AROSE, FOR WENLOCK EDGE AND THE WREKIN SEEMED TO ATTRACT THE UNWISE ATTENTION OF THE TYRO PILOTS.
EVENTUALLY THE R.A.F. AND I PARTED IN AUGUST 1946, WITH ME SENT TO OLYMPIA TO FIND A CIVVY SUIT. MY PARENTS HAD A FLAT AT POLPERRO AT THIS TIME, SO SYLVIA AND I WERE ABLE TO SOAK UP THE SUN IN THIS UNSPOILED VILLAGE BEFORE RETURNING TO NEWBURY AND WORK.
[underlined] WAS IT ALL WORTH IT; --- [/underlined] WELL, IT HAD TO BE, DIDN’T IT, AS I COME OUT UNSCATHED. AN ADVENTURE TO BE SURE, WITH GRAND AQUAINTANCES [sic] MET ON THE WAY. WITH OUR COMBINED GRATUITY WE BOUGHT SOME LAND ON WHICH OUR FIRST HOME WAS BUILT – BUT THAT’S ANOTHER STORY ----
RALPH BRIARS
BOURNMOUTH
1989
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Rear view - Ralph Briars memoir
Description
An account of the resource
Starts with tribute to crew and has colour photograph of a 617 Squadron Lancaster over Lincoln. Writes of his joining the RAF, selection as an air gunner and his basic training. Goes on with description of gunnery training, before going to OTU at RAF Cottesmore where he crewed (describes crew) up while training on Wellington. Carries on with description of heavy conversion unit flying Halifax and Lancaster. Provides description of turrets in both types. Provides a long description of a night sorties and discusses the level of training in the RAF for aircrew as well as problem of collisions. He is finally posted to become operational on 49 Squadron at RAF Fiskerton. He then provides a very detailed diary of the 14 operations he carried out on 49 Squadron followed by the 25 he carried out after the crew were posted to 617 Squadron. These sorties included the Saumur tunnel, V1 and V2 sites, the Tirpitz, Dortmund Ems canal and the Bielefeld viaduct. He concludes with some more anecdotes and his activities after he finished operational flying including getting married.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
R Briars
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1989
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Thirty-nine page printed document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Text. Diary
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SBriarsRA1299161v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--London
England--Yorkshire
Scotland--Inverness-shire
Scotland--Inverness
England--Rutland
England--Leicestershire
England--Nottinghamshire
England--Nottingham
Poland
Poland--Szczecin
Germany
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Magdeburg
Germany--Leipzig
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Schweinfurt
Germany--Augsburg
Germany--Nuremberg
France
France--Paris
Italy
Italy--Milan
France--Normandy
France--Saumur
France--Le Havre
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
France--Saint-Omer (Pas-de-Calais)
France--Brest
France--Lorient
France--Creil
France--La Rochelle
Norway
Norway--Alta
Norway--Tromsø
Germany--Dortmund-Ems Canal
Netherlands
Netherlands--IJmuiden
Germany--Bielefeld
France--Tarbes
England--Hampshire
England--Bournemouth
France--Reims
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-01-06
1944-01-14
1944-01-20
1944-01-21
1944-01-27
1944-01-29
1944-02-15
1944-02-19
1944-02-20
1944-02-24
1944-02-25
1944-03-10
1944-03-15
1944-03-30
1944-04-18
1944-04-20
1944-04-22
1944-04-24
1944-06-06
1944-06-08
1944-06-14
1944-06-15
1944-06-19
1944-07-04
1944-07-17
1944-07-25
1944-07-31
1944-08-05
1944-08-06
1944-08-09
1944-08-11
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
1944-08-14
1944-09-11
1944-09-23
1944-10-29
1945-02-03
1945-03-02
1945-02-06
1944-03-31
1944-06-16
1944-07-05
1944-04-19
1944-06-09
1944-06-05
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Christian
Steve Baldwin
1661 HCU
49 Squadron
617 Squadron
air gunner
Air Gunnery School
aircrew
Anson
anti-aircraft fire
bombing
bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944)
bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944)
bombing of the Juvisy, Noisy-le-Sec and Le Bourget railways (18/19 April 1944)
bombing of the Le Havre E-boat pens (14/15 June 1944)
Bombing of the Saumur tunnel (8/9 June 1944)
bombing of the Watten V-2 site (19 June 1944)
control caravan
control tower
Cook’s tour
crewing up
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Medal
Halifax
Heavy Conversion Unit
Lancaster
Lancaster Mk 2
Me 109
mid-air collision
Mosquito
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Normandy deception operations (5/6 June 1944)
Operational Training Unit
RAF Cottesmore
RAF Dalcross
RAF Fiskerton
RAF Husbands Bosworth
RAF Linton on Ouse
RAF Market Harborough
RAF Winthorpe
RAF Woodhall Spa
Scarecrow
searchlight
service vehicle
Tallboy
Tirpitz
training
V-weapon
Wellington
Window
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1996/32048/EHoganPJHoganDH440812.1.jpg
93fa7bec24a0c3418b8aa3787a9aab31
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Hogan, P J
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-12-05
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Hogan, PJ
Description
An account of the resource
Ninety-six items and a sub-collection with twenty two items..
The collection concerns Flight Sergeant Pat Hogan (436464 Royal Australian Air Force) and contains letters home to his family, his flying log book, accounts of his aircraft being shot down and him baling out, official documents, certificates and photographs.
He flew operations as a navigator with 466 Squadron.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Elizabeth Anne Lusby and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Mr [indecipherable] HOGAN
67 CHAPEL ST,
[Indecipherable]
AUSTRALIA
Sender’s Address A 436464 F/Sgt HOGAN [indecipherable] RAAF [indecipherable] LONDON W.C.2. 12-8-44.
Dear Dad, I know it’s a while since I wrote but you’ll have to forgive me. In the first place I’ve done little here but fly mostly & long hours in the air make one very weary, [indecipherable] if one even pretends to be a navigator, consequently any spare hours are usually spent on the cot instead of whizzing round about. We had our first casualty in the crew the other day when the mid-upper was mucking about with fire-arms & stopped a slug in the [indecipherable]. Hence we are now waiting on a new gunner. Dave did not die & may pull through with a bit of luck but, of course, will never fly again.
I haven’t received any mail for over a week & everybody else seems to be much in the same boat. Perhaps Auspo decided to partake of the August holidays which seems to be all the rage lately. Good luck to them anyhow. I guess a bit of a let up would be a relief to anyone in London these days.
How is everybody at home? Still in the pink I hope. This will have to suffice for the present – even if I could think of something to write I doubt whether my pen could make the grade anyhow. Love to all at home. Pat.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Pat Hogan to his father
Description
An account of the resource
Apologises for not writing recently but he had done little but fly. Tells story about crewmember. Mentions not receiving mail for a week and other gossip.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
P J Hogan
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-08-12
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EHoganPJHoganDH440812
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Australian Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--London
Australia
Victoria--Bendigo
Victoria
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-08-12
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Bloomfield
Anne-Marie Watson
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1764/30677/SJenkinsonPR1826262v10014.2.jpg
b5d5b87ccbbe83f3f483bae6b310b1cd
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1764/30677/SJenkinsonPR1826262v10025.2.jpg
60bacd0bbf2a5d0aead9705221f533b6
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Jenkinson, Peter and Leslie. Peter Jenkinson
Description
An account of the resource
Fifty-three items concerning Peter Jenkinson who served as a flight engineer on 166 and 153 Squadron Lancaster and was killed with his crew on 28 January 1945. Collection contains official and family correspondence, photographs, biographies, newspaper articles, official documents, roll of honour and records of operations.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-08-24
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Jenkinson, LP-PR
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[underlined] CONFIDENTIAL. [/underlined]
[underlined] RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HONOURS AND AWARDS. NON - IMMEDIATE. [/underlined]
Christian Names : Peter Raeburn Surname : JENKINSON. Rank : Sergeant. Official No. : 1826262 Command or Group : No.1 Group. Unit : No.153 Squadron.
Total hours flown on operations. 157 Number of sorties . 27 Total hours flown on operations since receipt of previous award. N/A. Number of sorties since receipt of previous award . N/A. Recognition for which recommended . D.F.M. Appointment held . Flight Engineer.
[underlined] Particulars of Meritorious Service. [/underlined]
Sergeant Jenkinson has now completed [deleted] 26 [/deleted] [inserted] 27 [/inserted] successful sorties on heavily defended targets in Germany and in Occupied Territory.
He is a skilful Flight Engineer and throughout his tour has shown complete disregard of personal safety and his cheerful courage and fine offensive spirit have materially helped to maintain the high standard of morale existing in this Squadron.
For his outstanding ability and strong sense of duty he is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
[signature T W Rippingdale] Squadron Leader, Commanding, [underlined] No.153 Squadron, R.A.F. [/underlined]
Date : 15th January, 1945.
[underlined] REMARKS BY STATION COMMANDER. [/underlined]
Under a calm and quiet manner Sergeant Jenkinson has a fine offensive spirit in action which inspires confidence in his crew and all those who fly with him.
His unconquerable spirit of determination to achieve his objective has contributed ina [sic] large measure to the success of the sorties he has undertaken and fully merits the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
[signature] Wing Commander, Commanding, [underlined] R.A.F. Base Station, Scampton. [/underlined]
Date : 16th January, 1945.
[underlined] REMARKS BY BASE COMMANDER. [/underlined]
Sergeant Jenkinson is an outstanding Flight Engineer, whose skill, cheerful courage and sense of duty has been an example to his crew and to other Flight Engineers in his Squadron. I concur in strongly recommending that he well merits the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
[page break]
[underlined] REMARKS BY AIR OFFICER COMMANDING. [/underlined]
Strongly recommended for the Non-Immediate Award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
[signature E A B Rice] Air Vice Marshall, Air Officer Commanding, [underlined] No.1 Group, R.A.F. [/underlined]
Date : 27.1.45
[underlined] Brief Details of Sorties Carried Out. [/underlined]
[underlined] Date. [/underlined] [underlined] Target. [/underlined] [underlined] Details. [/underlined]
[list] 12th August 1944. BORDEAUX target bombed successfully. 14th August 1944. FONTAINE target bombed successfully. 15th August 1944. LECULOT target bombed successfully. 16th August 1944. STETTIN target bombed successfully. 29th August. STETTIN target bombed successfully. 31st August 1944. AGENVILLE target bombed successfully. 3rd September 1944. GELSE-RYEN target bombed successfully. 7th September 1944. LE HARVE target bombed successfully. 10th September 1944. LE HARVE target bombed successfully. 12th September 1944. FRANKFURT target bombed successfully. 16th September 1944. STEENWYK target bombed successfully. 23rd September 1944. NEUSS target bombed successfully. 11th October 1944. FORT FREDERIK HENDRIK target bombed successfully. 14th October 1944. DUISBURG target bombed successfully. 23rd October 1944. ESSEN target bombed successfully. 25th October 1944. ESSEN target bombed successfully. 30th October 1944. COLOGNE target bombed successfully. 31st October 1944. COLOGNE target bombed successfully. 2nd November 1944. DUSSELDORF target bombed successfully. 4th November 1944. BOCHUM target bombed successfully. 9th November 1944. WANNE EICKEL target bombed successfully. 6th December 1944. LEUNA target bombed successfully. 15th December 1944. LUDWIGSHAVEN target bombed successfully. 17th December 1944. ULM target bombed successfully. 22nd December 1944. COBLENZ target bombed successfully. 14th January 1945. LEUNA target bombed successfully. 22nd January 1945. DUISBERG target bombed successfully.
Total Sorties [boxed] 27 [/boxed]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Recommendation for Honours and Awards (DFM) for Peter Jenkinson
Description
An account of the resource
Gives particulars for meritorious service. Completed 27 successful sorties, skilful flight engineer, disregard for personal safety, cheerful courage and offensive spirit. Includes details of 27 operations carried out.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
OC 153 Squadron and OC RAF Scampton
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1945-01-15
1945-01-27
1945-01-16
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two page typewritten document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SJenkinsonPR1826262v10014, SJenkinsonPR1826262v10025
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Atlantic Ocean--English Channel
France
France--Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
Belgium
Belgium--Louvain
Poland
Poland--Szczecin
Netherlands
Netherlands--Breda
France--Le Havre
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Netherlands--Steenwijk
Germany--Neuss
Netherlands--Vlissingen
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Essen
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Bochum
Germany--Leuna
Germany--Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Germany--Ulm
Germany--Koblenz
Germany
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-01-15
1945-01-16
1945-01-27
1944-08-12
1944-08-14
1944-08-15
1944-08-16
1944-08-29
1944-08-31
1944-09-03
1944-09-07
1944-09-10
1944-09-12
1944-09-16
1944-09-23
1944-10-11
1944-10-14
1944-10-23
1944-10-25
1944-10-30
1944-10-31
1944-11-02
1944-11-04
1944-11-09
1944-12-06
1944-12-15
1944-12-17
1944-12-22
1945-01-14
1945-01-22
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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
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Robin Christian
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
153 Squadron
aircrew
bombing
Distinguished Flying Medal
flight engineer
RAF Scampton
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1763/30640/SJenkinsonLP1316403v10059.2.jpg
8dc19995a3493064f580e947b048de24
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Jenkinson, Peter and Leslie. Philip Jenkinson
Description
An account of the resource
56 items concerning Leslie Philip Jenkinson who served as a mid-upper gunner on 10 Squadron Halifax and was shot down on 6 September 1943 and taken prisoner. Collection contains documents, research, memoirs, maps, correspondence and photographs.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-08-24
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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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.
Identifier
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Jenkinson, LP-PR
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
PHILIP JENKINSON - AIR GUNNER
RAF No. 1316403 - GERMAN P.o.W. No. 507
My journeys in Germany 7th September 1943 to 27th April 1945
Shot down night of - 6-7 September 1943
Captured Immenstadt after walking
railroad via Kempton - 15 September 1943
Immenstadt to Dulagluft via Munich
Augsburg and Mannheim - 21 September 1943
Dulagluft to Stalagluft 6 Heydekrug
via Berlin, Stettin, Danzig, Konigburg,
and Tilsit - 2 October 1943
Stalagluft 6 to Munich to view bomb
damage, via Tilsit, Konigburg, Elgin,
Danzig, Stettin, Berlin, Leipzig, Halle,
Ragensburg, Munich - 22 October 1943
Returned to Heydekrug, from Munich
via Regensburg, Nurnenburg, Leipzig,
Berlin, Sterrin, Danzig, Elgin, Konigburg,
Tilsit - 29 October 1943
Stalagluft 6 Heydekrug to Stalag 357
Thorn, Poland, transported in cattle
trucks - 16 July 1944
Stalag 357 to Stalag 355 Fallingbostel
transported in cattle trucks - 12 August 1944
Marched out of Fallingbostel - 11 April 1945
and after a few days liberated by
British Army and then returned to
P.o.W. camp - 17 April 1945
Then taken to an Army camp and
returned to England by air in a
Dakota - 36 P.o.W.’s standing up,
holding the sides - 27th April 1945
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Philip Jenkinson's journey in Germany after being shot down
Description
An account of the resource
Gives itinerary of journey from being shot down, captured, and various prisoner of war camps (Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft 6, Stalag 357 and 355) and eventual repatriation.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
L P Jenkinson
Format
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One page printed document
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Identifier
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SJenkinsonLP1316403v10059
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany--Immenstadt im Allgäu
Germany--Munich
Germany--Augsburg
Germany--Mannheim
Lithuania
Lithuania--Šilutė
Poland
Poland--Toruń
Germany--Fallingbostel (Landkreis)
Germany
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-09-06
1943-09-07
1943-09-25
1943-09-21
1943-10-02
1943-10-22
1943-10-29
1944-07-16
1944-08-12
1945-04-11
1945-04-17
1945-04-27
Contributor
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Steve Christian
Rights
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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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
air gunner
aircrew
bale out
C-47
Dulag Luft
evading
prisoner of war
shot down
Stalag Luft 6
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1984/39595/SCockramJC419379v10011.1.pdf
fd0012246b8790e266da7ced0cd87dd1
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cockram, J C
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-11-14
Rights
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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.
Identifier
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Cockram, JC
Description
An account of the resource
42 items. The collection concerns Sergeant J C Cockram (Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, two photographs and navigational charts. He flew operations as a navigator with 466 Squadron.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Shirley Anne Cockram and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Navigation log and plotting map for operation to Brunswick
Description
An account of the resource
This is the crews 11th operation, three navigation log sheets and part of a plotting map.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
JC Cockram
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Braunschweig
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Australian Air Force
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Map. Navigation chart and navigation log
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two navigation log sheets, part of a plotting map
Identifier
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SCockramJC419379v10011
Rights
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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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
466 Squadron
aircrew
bombing
Halifax
Halifax Mk 3
navigator
RAF Driffield
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/194/27289/EAdamsHGAdamsBHB440812.1.pdf
bd38553c1022fbfd819acf58156f8b4b
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Adams, Herbert
Herbert Adams
H Adams
Herbert G Adams
Description
An account of the resource
88 items. Collection concerns Herbert George Adams DFC, Legion d'Honour (b. 1924, 424509 Royal Australian Air Force). He flew operations as a navigator with 467 Squadron. Collection contains an oral history interview, photographs of people and places, several memoirs about his training and bombing operations, letters to his family, his flying logbook and notes on navigation.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Herbert Adams and catalogued by Nigel Huckins and Trevor Hardcastle.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-02-15
Rights
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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.
Identifier
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Adams, HG
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
347661
TO:- MRS B. ADAMS,
“SPRINGFIELD,”
MENDOORAN. N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA.
[date stamp]
Sender’s Address Aus 424504 F/S Adams H.G. AUSPO Kodak House, Kingsway. London.
Sat 12/8/44.
[underlined] No 24 [/underlined]
Dear Mum,
Well here we are. Just a short note to keep you going while I’m on leave. We finished our flying here the night before last just on time. We didn’t do too badly I think & we were unlucky we finished as late as we did, because we got about 10 hours more than usual with the aircraft going unserviceable as soon as we’d been flying in them for a while & we’d have to land & start all over again some other time. Anyway we got just a week’s leave. [deleted] I [/deleted] I’m going to Scotland first & will probably join the others in London in 3 or 4 days time. Most of the others are going there first except Ray & Don who are going to Rugby & Birmingham (Don calls it ‘Brum) respectively.
Had a letter from you to-day & 2 from Betty. Nice of old Cyril Hose to remember me. I remember him quite well as he was one of the Big Boys when I first went there. Congratulations to Jack & his wife. Glad you had a drop of rain to freshen things up for the week-end.
Cheerio for now Mum – excuse the scribble.
Love to all at home. Bert XXXX.
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Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Herbert Adams to his mother
Description
An account of the resource
Writes that they had finished their flying at his location and had now got a weeks leave where he would be gong to Scotland then London. Catches up with mail and news from home.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
H G Adams
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-08-12
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EAdamsHGAdamsBHB440812
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Australia
New South Wales
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-08-12
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/194/27238/BPattisonLEPattisonLEv2.2.pdf
aeeefce175b85bf44c34653c3689d720
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Adams, Herbert
Herbert Adams
H Adams
Herbert G Adams
Description
An account of the resource
88 items. Collection concerns Herbert George Adams DFC, Legion d'Honour (b. 1924, 424509 Royal Australian Air Force). He flew operations as a navigator with 467 Squadron. Collection contains an oral history interview, photographs of people and places, several memoirs about his training and bombing operations, letters to his family, his flying logbook and notes on navigation.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Herbert Adams and catalogued by Nigel Huckins and Trevor Hardcastle.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-02-15
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Adams, HG
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[map of North Wales and the Midlands showing where Herbert Adams was stationed at Llandwrog]
A piece of the map-reading (topographical) map of Midland & Wales. The arrows show the A.F.U’s at Llandwrog & Mona where I & Sid trained. The other 2 arrows are to the castles at Caernarvon & Conway.
[page break]
[extract detailing the methods of use of the Douglas protractor with diagram]
This is one of the simple instruments used a lot in navigation chart work, along with a pair of dividers, a parallel rule & a pencil.
All our chart work was done on Mercator projection maps with a scale of 1:1000000 …. All the meridians were parallel, and latitudes at right-angles but further apart as latitude increased.
[page break]
[map of parts of the Midlands and Wales]
This piece of the Midlands & Wales map-reading map is to a scale of 1:500000 on a modified polyconic projection which results in shapes about as good as possible considering that the earth is spherical. The meridians converge about 5 cm in a map of their size for England’s latitude.
After we finished the A.F.U. course we left, & on 27th March, moved to Lichfield, No 27 OTU (Operational Training Unit) where we were to “crew-up”, and fly in Wellington bombers (designed by Barnes Wallis of Dambusters fame. Lichfield is not for NNE of Birmingham. The town has a nice cathedral
[page break]
At Llandwrog, and all later airfields, we used the Dalton computer for doing flight plans (given track, speed & wind-velocity – it works out course & ground speed.) and for all changes of direction &/or speed. It was a huge improvement on the C.S.C. we used at Cootamundra.
We had the loose-leaf pad disconnected.
[diagram of Dalton Navigational Computer Mk. IIID]
[page break]
[diagram of underside of Navigational Computer Mk. IIIH]
This reverse face of the Dalton computer is really a circular slide rule for quick calulations [sic] of time distance & speed.
The slots allowed setting of altitude and temperature for converting Indicated Air Speed (I.A.S.), to True airspeed; this was used on each leg of a flight plan.
[black and white photograph of a Wellington aircraft in the air]
We were at Lichfield from 27th Mar. to 21st June. We didn’t have our first flight in the Wellington until 20th Apr. the first few days involved “crewing-up” then a lot of ground work; pilots using simulators.
[page break]
[black and white photograph of a Wellington on the ground with airmen in front of it]
VICKERS-ARMSTRONG WELLINGTON
With a range of 3,200 miles and a heavy bomb-carrying capacity, the Wellington has figured prominently in attacks on enemy war concentrations. An all-metal structure, with fabric covering, its distinctive feature is the tail rudder. Wings (span 86 ft. 1 in.) and tailplane taper sharply. Guns are mounted in nose and tail, and a third turret, which is retractable, is situated under the fuselage.
Two 1,000 h.p. Bristol Pegasus XVIII air-cooled engines give a speed of 265 m.p.h. There is a crew of five.
The Wellingtons we flew were Mark X which had more powerful Bristol Hercules engines of about 1600 H.P. each. We crewed-up with 2 gunners who took turns in the rear turret … later on, the Sterlings & Lancasters had a mid-upper turret.
It is certified that I have received instruction in and fully understand the following Crew Drills:-
1. Parachute Drill. 2. Dinghy Drill.
3. Crash Landing Drills.
Date 12/4/44 Signature [signature]
CERTIFIED that I have received instruction on the Wellington III fuel and oil system and that I thoroughly understand the operation of this system and manipulation of the control.
[signature] Officer o/c Synthetic Fuselage. Signed [signature]
This was part of our “ground-work”; if the Wellington flew for more than 4 hours it was the job of the navigator to pump oil to the engines, using a hand-hydraulic pump inside the fuselage.
[page break]
[four drawings of Vickers Wellington aircraft]
[black and white photograph of six airmen standing in front of a hut]
Our crew at Lichfield L. to R. Eric Taylor W.O.P.
Bert Adams. Nav
Ken Nicholls, Rear Gunner.
Ray Giles, Mid-Upper Gunner.
Peter Gray-Buchanan. Pilot.
Sid Payne, Bomb-Aimer.
There was no official direction for crewing up. A couple of days were allowed (& nights in the sergeants mess) for us to “sort our selves [sic] out.” Sid Payne and I made a pair & we went looking for a pilot. I was able to boost Sid’s qualifications by telling that he’d begun as a pilot, passed EFTS on Tiger Moths, but was ‘scrubbed’ near the end of his SFTS on Wirraways … this plus his Observor [sic] training in Australia was the same as mine. Sid had worked, after leaving school, at the main office of the Dept of Road Transport, Bridge St., Sydney.
We joined up with a Pilot-W.O.P. combination from Queensland, looking for a likely nav-bombaimer pair. Both pairs seemed happy with each other. We began looking for gunners.
[page break]
It turned out that the two gunners who’d topped their AFU course had paired up and had a good look at the groups needing gunners. I guess we were lucky that they picked us.
Ken hailed from Sydney. I’m not sure if he’d already married Tina Mitchell from Mudgee or if they wed after the war. Tina’s mother was the live-in caretaker of the A.U.A. rooms in Market St. Ray came from a farmland district in W.A., he was 25 & married; the other 5 of us were all 20. Peter was a very quiet lad from a wealthy family in Brisbane – he’d spent some time as a jackaroo in Western Queensland. Eric was more extrovert and came from Mackay.
For navigation we were introduced to two invaluable aids. The first was the Air Position Indicator, or H.P.I. Up until now we had drawn manual air-plots on the chart, needing to change it for every alteration of course or speed & requiring the pilot to steer his course accurately & keep the speed constant (which may not be convenient over Germany). The A.P.I. had an input of airspeed, corrected for altitude & temperature to give True Air Speed; also it had an input of direction from a big Distant Reading Compass mounted near the tail of the plane (less magnetism from the engines there) which combined magnetic direction & gyro stability (2 seconds from each alternately I think); the resulting [inserted] magnetic [/inserted] direction was sent (by wire) to a V.S.C. above the Nav’s table where he set the Variation for that local area & any compass deviation for that direction thus feeding True directions to the A.P.I. and to the bombsight and to the pilots display.
[page break]
The A.P.I. had 2 knobs and scales. The nav. could set known latitude & longitude, (of his airfield normally), then as the plane flew, regardless of directions & speed changes, the API scales kept track of it all & gave latitude & longitude to the nearest 1 minute ([symbol] nearest 1 nautical mile) [underlined] relative to the air [/underlined] … so we had an automatic air plot.
Therefore if we flew for say 20 min. and got a FIX (known ground LAT + LONG), the difference between the FIX and the API reading would be the wind effect for that 20 min. Plotting both on the chart, measuring with protractor & dividers, allowed the nav. to get the wind velocity.
But getting accurate fixes (up ‘till now) mostly relied on map reading (not possible on dark nights or above cloud.).
Now enter the 2nd aid, called GEE. A box on the nav. table with an oscillograph screen & 2 knobs allowed the nav. to pick up pulsed radio signals from ground stations. The master station triggered 3 other stations (I think about 50 miles apart) and the GEE-box measured the differences in time for the pulses to reach the plane. The nav. only had to pick the better pair, twiddle the knobs to align the blips with that from the master station, flip a switch & read off 2 numbers from a scale, and note the time. We learnt to do that in 1/2 a minute or less. We had special GEE charts, just like our Mercator plotting charts, but overprinted with many curved lines, in 3 colours for the 3 stations, and numbers printed on the curves often enough for us to find where the 2 numbers met. That was our FIX, and it could then be transferred to the plotting chart with dividers.
[page break]
The curves on the charts gradually became to cut at shallower angles at long distances, but all over Britain, and as far as the front line in Germany, the GEE box gave fixed with an accuracy of 1/2 mile or less. This was enormously helpful, even though the Germans jammed the G.EE frequency so that we couldn’t read the blips much beyond the front line. Much of the first week or two at Lichfield was spent learning to use the API and GEE.
[extract detailing the purpose of the Astro Compass Mk. II with photograph]
We carried this in case of emergency, but didn’t have to use it. (I still have one in the shed, souvenired after VE day.)
[page break]
[underlined] AIR NAVIGATION [/underlined]
When we began learning air navigation, we had to rely on our pilot to fly straight and level on the compass course given without any alteration to airspeed. Thus we could keep an airplot, corrected for every change of course, speed or height. Pilots flew at an indicated air speed (IAS), which had to do with stalling-speed safety, but the true air-speed changed considerably with increased height (& a bit with temperature). For example, an IAS of 165 mph at 14000’, -8o C, gave a TAS of 206 mph to use on a manual air-plot. Also, the pilot flew on a magnetic compass course, which the navigator needed to correct to a true course allowing for magnetic variation (it was 11o W at Lincoln) and deviation due to metal in the aircraft (engines, bomb-load) and which varied with the direction flown … hence the need to “swing-the-compass” on the ground to record a deviation chart for use in the air.
A simple manual air-plot could look like this:-
[diagram]
By the time our training (in England) graduated to operational type aircraft (Wellingtons, Sterlings, Lancasters) we had the benefit of an Air Position Indicator (API) … a clever little black box with windows showing latitude & longitude to the nearest minute. These aircraft had a master compass (distant-reading) down towards the tail so that deviation would be minimal, and it fed magnetic direction to a Variation Setting Control (VSC) above the navigator’s table. The navigator set the VSC to the local variation & then repeater compasses for the pilot, bombsight & navigator all read [underlined] true [/underlined] directions.
[page break]
Also, the API had an input of I.A.S. altitude and temperature & (somehow) converted that to T.A.S. (true air speed). The API now had the 2 inputs which enabled it to produce an automatic air-plot, regardless of any changes of direction, speed, height or temperature! For shortish trips, we would set the A.P.I. to read the latitude & longitude of our airfield. On longer trips, or when expecting strong winds, the wind vector could become too long as to be cumbesome [sic] (longer than our parallel ruler). Early in our operations we would reset the API to the lat. & long. of a “good” fix … but after some errors in resetting (& perhaps a “bad” fix) we, later, offset the API to about 1/2 the expected wind vector so that it shrank for the first half of the trip, the [sic] grew again coming home … a much safer and more elegant solution to that problem.
With the API giving us air-position all the time, we now had the ability to find accurate wind-velocities whenever we could get a good fix. The most usual fix was from the GEE-box … a gadget about a 1’ cube size, which picked up radio pulses from ground stations spread across England & linked so that the master station triggered pulses from the other 2 stations. We could twiddle the 2 knobs to line up 2 lots of blips simultaneously, note the time & Air Position, then flick a switch which showed 2 lots of 3-figure “numbers” to draw in freehand arcs on special GEE-charts – and where the arcs crossed was a fix, quite accurate over & near England, less so as we got further away. And the Germans jammed the frequency so that we’d lose GEE about where the front-line existed. This generally meant we had about 2 hours of good wind-finding to allow us to amend the forecast winds sensibly and enable us to proceed to our target on dead-reckoning without seeing the ground for a visual fix.
[page break]
Our first 9 flights in Wellingtons were called Circuits & Landings. The first 6 were with an instructor pilot, then 3 with Peter going SOLO. I practiced GEE fixes (except that GEE-box didn’t work on 4 of them.) We did 4 daylight cross-country navigation trips (4 or 5 hours each) usually combining some bombing & gunnery practice, and 3 pure bombing flights, dropping 12 bombs singly each time. Then 4 dual flights with a pilot instructor at night and 4 more SOLO, circuits & landings. I practiced GEE fixes, and Eric did so on two of those flights. We did 4 night cross-country nav. flights with some gunnery & bombing practice, a gunnery trip with an instructor pilot and 5 gunners aboard, another solely bombing flight at 20000’, with Sid getting an average error of 165 yds. We also did a BULLSEYE flight where we and lots of other Wellingtons flew out over the North Sea as if to attack Wilhemshaven, while a large Bomber Command force flew in towards another target. We were a diversion hoping to divide their night-fighter reaction. We turned back before getting really close to land, saw no fighters nor searchlights, but had the privilege of counting that as one operational sortie.
In total at Lichfield we flew a bit over 77 hours, 1/2 of them at night. We left there for a week’s leave on 14th June. Our first stop was at Birmingham where we changed trains for London. We went first to the Boomerang Club in Australia House where we got the address of a Servicemans Club west of Kensington where we stayed for 17/6 a night, which was OK as we’d been told that London was expensive; we also got 4 lots
[page break]
of free Theatre tickets for stage shows, which we used, & they were worth about 16/- each. We did a couple of tours over some of the old historical places … the Tower, Abbey, St Pauls & the Art Gallery. Our 2 gunners were tee-totallers (a good thing we reckoned, as we knew a lot of gunners who drank a lot & often) so we put in a fair bit of time at cinemas and a visit to the Windmill theatre where music dancing & vaudeville acts seemed to be secondary to their showing of almost-nude girls who posed around the set without moving .. the sets were changed, the girls too, frequently. Most had elaborate headwear, feathers etc. We didn’t get about as a crew all the time. Sid, I think, went to a ballet or two … he often burst into song in bits of Italian while waving arms like a conductor. He did have a nice voice. Peter had some people to visit known to his older brother who’d already done a tour (probably 2 tours by now) as a rear-gunner on Lancasters. I went out to Taplow and revisited Margaret Vyner and her mother … a nice talk with lunch.
Our crew was pleased with the results on our course at Lichfield; I was rated above average & recommended for a commission, perhaps in 3 months. We heard a rumour that we’d next go to a conversion course on Halifaxes, then probably to an RAAF squadron on Lancasters, in 5 Group.
For our final night in London we decided we’d all visit the Savoy Hotel, the poshest nightspot. We had very little money left, so just bought a drink each, listened to the orchestra & prepared to leave.
[page break]
We were all Flight-Sergeants (we got automatic promotion after 6 months) & I guess stood out among the high-ranking officers (many American) and well-heeled Britons. One of them came over & introduced himself & invited us to join his table. We thanked him but said we’d no money, we just wanted to say we’d been to the Savoy. But he said they’d foot the bill, so we joined him & his wife & 2 daughters and an American Colonel. The man was the managing director of Lysaghts at Wollengong. He seemed pleased to hear where we were from and a bit about our training. There was a dance floor and a famous band, Carol Gibbons the leader. The girls wanted to dance. We all said we couldn’t dance, but I said I could waltz OK. Carol was called over & asked to play a waltz. I got up with one of the girls & the music was a jazz-waltz, which I couldn’t manage. (I should have asked for old-time, like the Blue Danube.) We stumbled around for a while, I very embarrassed, and retreated early to the table. Apart from that it was a great night-out, nice food, a few drinks and interesting conversations.
On return we were posted to 5 Group Air Crew Category School, on 21st June, at Scampton, just north of Lincoln. We were there for 10 days, but did no flying there. I can’t remember what we did do but I guess it was some sort of training.
We moved to 1660 H.C.U. (Heavy Conversion Unit) at Swinderby on 2nd July, where the planes were Sterlings … huge planes 100’ long; with tail undercarriage – no danger of losing you [sic] head walking under a propellor, as you can see from this photograph overleaf.
[page break]
[black and white photograph of a Sterling aircraft on the ground with a few airmen around it]
The Short Sterling. Our pilot Peter, hand on wheel, Ken, Sid & Eric at the end of the tailplane, Don Coutts our new Engineer with 2 of the ground crew closer to the plane & me, with Nav. bag & Ray Giles, our mid-upper gunner at the door.
Don, the engineer, had been a policeman in Coventry & Birmingham. He was “old”, about 42 I think. He was born in Scotland; his parents now lived in Ireland.
I read that the Sterling was originally designed to have a greater wingspan, perhaps 120’, but none of the regular hangers could take such width, so they clipped the wing design back without changing the rest of the design. They didn’t have 2-stage superchargers like the Lancasters, and although their big radial engines were more powerful than Merlins they didn’t perform well above about 15000’. So as more & more Halifaxes & Lancasters were built the Sterlings were used as trainers and as glider tugs, particularly in the big Market Garden debacle around Arnhem and in the Normandy invasion.
[page break]
This is about the sextant we carried in the nav. bag on all flights but never used on Operations. It came in a solid carrying box … I still have one that I “souveneered” [sic] after VE day. As well as charts, maps etc we had to carry the current Air Almanac & 1 or more books of A.N. Tables, each book only covered 4o of latitude, in a green canvas carry bag.
[extract detailing the methods of use of the Bubble Sextant with photograph]
[page break]
We did a bit over 48 hours of flying at Swinderby spread over a month. 10 of the 27 flights were with instructor-pilots doing day & night circuits & landings including 2 & 3 engined landings. 3-engined overshoots, corkscrews & banking searches, feathering propellors, fighter affiliation using cine-camera “guns”. Most of the other flights were bombings & gunnery, 3 cross-country nav. trips, and practice at all the other things mentioned above.
One “hairy” landing stands out. We’d had some wet weather & the grass verges beside the runways were boggy. Another pilot, trying to land in a cross-wind touched down with one wheel off the runway – the undercarraige [sic] collapsed & the plane plowed to a stop in the mud. We helped dig the bomb-aimer from the nose (he should not have been there for landing) where he was jammed up into the front turret by mud. The next day we were trying to do a 3-engined landing. The “rule” was, once you got below 1000’ on 3-engines you must land, … I guess the rule applied to emergency situations where the other engine couldn’t be restarted & may be some damage to the plane. Anyway, there was a cross-wind & when we were about to touch down, Peter said “we’re going around”, slammed the throttles forward & told the Engineer to get the 4th engine restarted. My job, on landings, was to call out the airspeed to save the pilot having to look down at the airspeed indicator. The stalling speed with flaps down was about 80 mph, and I’m calling 65, 65, 65 … while Peter juggled the controls to keep us just above the mud.
[page break]
He managed it and once the 4th engine started, the speed built up and we just cleared the hedges beyond the runway’s end. Peter was “dressed down” for ignoring the rule, but I reckon he saved them a Sterling … and us some bruises or worse.
We were moved from Swinderby to Syerston, a bit further S.W. of Lincoln on 12th of Aug. and got a week’s leave at once. I went to Edinburgh; Ray & Don were going to Rugby & Birmingham respectively & the others to London. I had intended joining them after 3 or 4 days, but since it wasn’t long since I’d been there, and they were getting a fair number of VI flying bombs I didn’t bother. While in the bath there someone stole my wallet including my identity card, army discharge papers, my pen & some other papers. Then on the way back to Lincoln, I stopped for a meal at Newcastle & someone stole my gas-mask bag which also held my pay-book, log book, & the few clothes etc. I took for a week. I was in big trouble (reprimanded) for losing the identity car, and inconvenienced for 2 months of no pay, until a duplicate pay-book was arranged. Months later the police at Newcastle sent the log-book back.
A couple of pages on, I’ve underlined the airfields we trained at on the map, with Lincoln near the top, & have shown Waddington & Wigsley underlined too.
At Syerston we converted to Lancasters … it was called 5 L.F.S. (Lancaster Finishing School). We did 9 flights totalling 18 hours, 5 of them with an instructor pilot, doing circuits & landings, 3-engined overshoots & landings, corkscrews & banking searches.
We moved from there to No 467 Squadron (RAAF) at Waddington on 7th of September.
[page break]
I’d forgotten, but while were [sic] still at Syerston we went in to Nottingham to the indoor swimming pool, and practiced dinghy drill … all the crew working together had to learn the technique of turning it upright from being upside down as they may be that way after being automatically ejected & inflated in case the plane crashes in the sea. We managed it OK although it was a shock putting on cold wet Mae Wests before diving into the cold water; I can imagine it might be much tougher at night in a rough sea. We had time for lunch & a wander in the town. Peter has bought a second-hand Ford 10 sedan for $25, which he & Don have “restored” to good running condition. Civilians get no coupons for petrol. Doctors etc. get a ration. Airmen on Operations get about 5 gallons a quarter, with some more if going on leave to a place not serviced by train. I had an auto-cycle … like a pushbike with a tiny 2-stroke engine, and was able to scrounge a little petrol from some of the drivers of the transports which took us out (& back) to the planes … a bottle full now & then. It need [sic] a bit of pedalling going up steep grades. I was given a licence to ride it, drive a car/truck/tractor merely by showing my expired Aussie licence … no test, just pay the small fee.
After settling in to our nice brick, centrally-heated room, 6 of our crew down one side, 6 of another crew on the other side, 8 rooms altogether like that, in our block, with toilets & ablutions in the centre of the [symbol] (same upstairs) all the new crews, 8 of us, assembled in the C.O.s office next day for a welcome talk. The C.O. was Wing Commander Bill Brill, originally from Ganmain.
[page break]
[map of Lincolnshire detailing RAF bases]
He and another young man from Ganmain, Arthur Doubleday, had enlisted early in the war. Both had done 2 tours with Bomber Command. Bill had earned D.S.O., D.F.C and Bar, & I think Arthur had the same decorations … he was then C.O. of 463 squadron also at Waddington, though he soon moved on.
[page break]
One of the things Bill told us Flight-Sergeants was that if we applied for a commission after about 20 Operations he’d recommend anyone who hadn’t done something stupid. What he didn’t say was that he didn’t want to waste time interviewing those who hadn’t got that far because a lot of them wouldn’t. As it turned out, when we finished our tour in Jan ’45, only 3 of the 8 crews remained.
After he finished his welcome talk, he dismissed the other 7 crews, and asked us to go up with him for a dual check, airtest. The reason he favoured us was that Peter’s older brother had been his rear gunner in his first tour. (Years later I met Arthur Doubleday at Wagga where he addressed Air Force Association members. I had an invitation and I mentioned Bill & Peter’s brother. He said “Old Buck eh, I had him as my rear gunner in my second tour.” Small world eh?)
He seemed satisfied with the way Peter handled the Lancaster, until he asked him to do a corkscrew. Then he took over the wheel (the Lanc’s [sic] had dual controls although only 1 pilot in the crew) and showed how he’d do it. He said the Lanc. was tough, you wouldn’t hurt it by being harsh with the controls even with a big bomb load. So it was “down port”, with a vengeance, really steep diving turn, “down starboard” still steep but faster, up port, up starboard as usual – quite harsh on the controls. He had Peter copy him.
When we’d landed he told us that there was an easy daylight Operation on Le Havre coming up on the 10th & he’d put us on for our 1st Op. despite Peter not having first done a “second-dickie” operation with another crew.
[page break]
The next day we did 2 flights, the first a fighter affiliation with cine-camera “guns”, the second a 5 hr 4 min cross-country navigation exercise with 6 bombs at the end, with Sid getting an ‘A’ assessment.
We did our first Operation the next day on Le Havre. I have already done some commentary, along with my original logs & charts for our tour of Ops, so I’ll leave that & just mention that Peter did his “second-dickie” the next night, 11th Sept. on Damstadt; and I’ll digress a bit about the lead up to D-Day and the months that followed, particularly from the viewpoint of Bomber Command.
Up until that time a tour of operations was 30 trips, and 20 more for a second tour. Because Bomber Command (I’ll use B.C. from now on) did so many short trips leading up to D-Day, and for some time after, they raised the quota for a tour to 36 trips, which was the case when we bombed Le Havre. From June to August, B.C. maintained a running battle against VI “buzz-bomb” launch sites & supply depots; these were short trips and once they eased off in August, the quota was lowered to 33 Ops. in mid-September. By the end of ’44, many of B.C.’s ops were longish, so the quota was back to 30 again, in time for us to end our tour on 16 Jan ’45.
When we started Ops, the maximum all-up-weight for take-off was 63000 lb. It was found that Lancasters handled that so well so that it was raised to 65000 lb approaching winter. Then, they replaced the existing Merlin engines with a later Mark, & raised the max. weight to 67000 lb in November. And 617 squadron (Special Ops) later carried the 20000 lb “grand slam” bomb with take-off weight 72000 lb.
[page break]
Here are some Extracts from “The Hardest Victory – RAF Bomber Command in WWII by Dennis Richards. (Hodder & Stoughton, 1994.).
The Transportation Plan, preparatory to OVERLORD … the invasion in Normandy. As part of the plan to convince the Germans that the landings would be in the Pas de Calais, far more bridges & railway workshops & marshalling yards were attacked North of the Seine than South of it. In this phase, B.C. dealt with 37 of the railway targets, American 8th Air Force heavies 26, and AEAF (fighters, fighter-bombers, light & medium bombers & reconnaissance planes, a mixture of RAF & USAAF squadrons) 20. B.C. dropped nearly 45000 tons on these centres, twice the tonnage of the other 2 combined. Harris in “Bomber Command” wrote:- “B.C.’s night bombing proved to the rather more accurate, much heavier in weight & more concentrated than the American daylight attacks, a fact which was afterwards clearly recognised by SHAEF when the time came (later) for the bombing of German troop concentrations within a mile or so of Allied troops.”
In this Transportation phase, B.C. made 69 attacks, flew 9000 sorties & lost 198 planes (1.8 percent loss rate). They caused enormous damage. At the end about 2/3 of the 37 centres were completely out of action for a month or longer, with the remainder only needing some further “attention” from fighter-bombers.
Unhappily, the toll of friendly civilian lives was sometimes more than the “prescribed” limit of 100-150 per raid. (Coutrai 252, Lille 456, Ghent 482), but the overall total was much less than the 10000 people they hoped would not be reached.
The attacks on rail centres by all 3 air forces
[page break]
proved catastrophic for the German armies. Only about 12 percent of rolling stock was fit for use. A division from Poland took 3 days to get to West Germany, then 4 weeks to the Normandy battlefront!
During the struggle in Normandy, B.C. operated in strength close to battlefields. On the night of 14/5 June, 337 planes attacked troops & vehicles at Aunay and Eurecy (near Caen). On 30th June, B.C. did its first daylight raid … 266 Lanc’s [sic] & Hali’s [sic] & a few Mosquitos, with Spitfire escort bombed a road junction at Villers-Bocage from 4000’ and thwarted a Panzer attack. Of B.C.’s 5 other attacks in close support, the biggest was on 18th July … operation GOODWOOD … a maximum effort involving 1056 heavies of B.C. and 863 American bombers to help the push SE of Caen towards Falaise … but bad weather and unsubdued anti-tank guns stopped the push at 6 miles at best. However, it impressed the Germans. Von Kluge, who’d just replaced Rommel, wrote to Hitler on 21st Jul.:- “There is no way by which, in the face of the enemy air forces’ complete command of the air, we can discover a form of strategy which will counterbalance the annihilating effects [underlined] unless we withdraw from the battlefield. [/underlined] Whole armoured formations allotted to counter-attack were caught beneath bomb carpets of the greatest intensity so that they could be rescued from the torn-up ground only by prolonged effort. The psychological effect of such a mass of bombs coming down with all the power of elemental nature on the fighting forces, especially the infantry, is a factor which has to be taken into very serious consideration. It is immaterial whether such a carpet catches good troops or bad. They are more or less annihilated, & above all their equipment is shattered.” (He suicided a month later when Hitler wouldn’t allow a withdrawal.)
[page break]
On 7/8 Aug. (night), 1019 heavies of BC. raided 5 points ahead of Allied troops … helping the Canadian 1st Army to open the way to Falaise.
The Allies had 14000 aircraft against Germany’s 1000 in those weeks. By 3rd Sept the British 2nd Army was in Brussels, but had by-passed the ports which were needed to boost supplies to the troops. Le Havre & Dieppe were left surrounded, but the attack inland aimed at Antwerp (the biggest port) swung inland leaving Boulogne, Calais & Dunkirk and a bit of territory East of the coast still strongly held by Germans, including the Schelt [sic] estuary, leading to Antwerp, which was heavily mined and defended by heavy guns both on its south bank and on Walcheren Island to the North.
B.C.’s resumption of attacks on oil targets were delayed by the V1 threat. Hitler had hoped to begin mass attacks by VI’s on London as a “New Year Present” in Jan ’44, but damage to “ski” sites & raids on the Fiesler works at Kassel, plus their own trouble getting the bomb to function reasonably, caused set-backs. Allied bombing of railways held up deliveries of launchers & bomb components. It wasn’t until 12/13 June that the first VI attacks occurred, & then only 7 of 55 sites managed to launch a total of 10, of which only 3 reached England. But on the 2 nights of 15/6 & 16/7 June, 144 crossed the Kentish coast and 73 reached London.
In operation CROSSBOW, B.C. & 8th US Air Force and AEAF attacked VI sites from Mid-June to mid-August, using 40 percent of B.C.’s strength. Targets were the modified launch sites, supply depots, and “large sites” preparing to launch the big VII rockets.
[page break]
B.C. attacked these day & night; they flew 16000 sorties, & dropped 59000 tons of bombs on VI & VII targets only losing 131 planes, a loss rate of less than 1 percent.
By mid-August, there was less need, because of better defences (A.A. & fighters began using proximity fuses on shells, that with balloons resulted in less than 20 percent reaching their target, and finally the Canadian & British armies over-ran the launching sites.
On every day but one from 5th to 11th September B.C. sent 300 or more heavies to bomb the German-held territory at Le Havre. The total for the week was 2500 sorties dropping 9750 tons. The ground attack there on 11th, after the last air-raid, captured the port, and a lot of Germans with only 50 fatalities. However, the garrison had destroyed the port facilities; it was not able to be used by ships until mid-October. (Our first ‘Op’ was on the 10th, as part of 992 heavies that day.)
A week later, on 17 Sept, BC. did a big raid on Boulogne … 762 heavies, opening the way for an attack by the Canadian Army. The garrison surrendered on Sept 22nd. A quote from a diary of a captured German officer:- “Sometimes one could despair of everything if one is at the mercy of the RAF without any protection. It seems as if all fighting is useless & all sacrifices in vain.”
The Canadian Army captured these 2 ports, plus Dieppe (without a fight), plus the big cross-channel batteries at Cap Gris Nez, losing only 1500 men, but capturing 29945 prisoners. However it took over a month to repair the port at Boulogne, and all of them, including Cherbourg were unable to unload the big crates of heavy equipment from USA … the cranes were beyond repair, so the big crates had to be unloaded in England then ferried across the Channel.
[page break]
This slowing of supplies plus Eisenhower’s reluctance to stop the American armies in the south, especially Patton’s 3rd Army, slowed the Canadian advance on the Schelt [sic] Estuary due to lack of supplies; and probably influenced Montgomery to plan Market Garden without enough support from the British Army, who hadn’t enough supplies. (Bad luck and bad weather & bad radios also contributed to the actual failure of Market Garden.).
[black and white photograph of two men. One laying in bed and one sitting up]
Ken Nicholls & Bert in our room, sergeants quarters at Waddington, late 1944.
[black and white photograph of two men loading bombs into the bomb-bay of an aircraft]
Loading 1000 bombs into D-Dog’s bomb-bay.
[black and white photograph of six airmen standing in front of an aircraft]
Morrie & Rupe (ground crew)
Ken Nicholls, Ken (“ “ mechanic)
Don Coutts, Ray Giles near tail of D-Dog.
Dublin Core
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Title
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H Adams memoir - training and operations
Description
An account of the resource
Shows maps of North Wales and the Midlands as well as an explanation of the Douglas protractor as well as diagrams of the Dalton computer and photographs of Wellington. Describes training at RAF Lichfield from end of March to 21 June 1944. Shows photograph of his crew which he describes as well as crewing up process. Describes navigation techniques in great detail using air position indicator, GEE and astro and crew navigation procedure. Describes first trip in Wellington as well as subsequent training flights. Goes on to describe post course leave including visits to the theatre and historical places in London as well as other activities. Goes on to describe training at RAF Swinderby on Heavy Conversion Unit flying Stirling. Describes flights including one hairy landing. Then moved to Syerston where they did Lancaster Finishing School before moving to RAF Waddington 467 Squadron. Describes arrival on squadron and first operation to Le Havre. Writes that because of short trips during Normandy campaign tours were now extended to 36 trips as well as describing bomber command's targeting strategy. Then provides some extracts from "The Hardest Victory - RAF Bomber Command in WWII by Dennis Richards". Followed by photographs of people and aircraft.
Creator
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H G Adams
Format
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Twenty-eight page handwritten document
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Memoir
Map
Photograph
Technical aid
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
Conforms To
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Pending review
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Wales
England--Staffordshire
England--Lincolnshire
England--Nottinghamshire
England--London
France
France--Le Havre
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-03-27
1944-06-21
1944-08-12
1944-06-14
1944-06-15
1944-06-30
1944-07-18
1944-08-07
1944-08-08
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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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
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Tricia Marshall
Identifier
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BPattisonLEPattisonLEv2
1660 HCU
27 OTU
467 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
bombing
crewing up
Gee
Heavy Conversion Unit
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
navigator
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Operational Training Unit
perception of bombing war
RAF Lichfield
RAF Llandwrog
RAF Mona
RAF Swinderby
RAF Syerston
RAF Waddington
Stirling
tactical support for Normandy troops
training
V-1
V-weapon
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2451/45542/LTaylorPR1580457v1.1.pdf
ba9dceeb07a487fbda73057dc7a6e3de
Dublin Core
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Title
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Taylor, Peter Ross
Description
An account of the resource
Two items. The collection concerns Sergeant Peter Ross Taylor (1922 - 1979, 1580457 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book and a photograph. He flew operations as a navigator with 38 Squadron in the Middle East.
The collection was loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Ross Taylor and catalogued by Digital Archive staff.
Date
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2021-08-03
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Taylor, PR
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
P R Taylor’s observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Description
An account of the resource
P R Taylor’s Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, from 26 April 1943 to 25 October 1945, detailing training and operations as a Navigator (occasionally Bomb Aimer) in the Mediterranean area. Based at: Oudtshoorn (No. 45 Air School), George (No. 61 Air School), RAF Ein Shemer (No. 78 Operational Training Unit), Berka 3, Kalamaki, Grottaglie, Foggia and Luqa (all with No. 38 Squadron). Aircraft flown: Anson, Oxford, Wellington XIII, Wellington XIV, Warwick. Records 30 sorties, including bombing, anti-submarine patrols, armed/offensive reconnaissance, anti-shipping strikes, mine laying, flare illumination, convoy escorts, leaflet dropping and supply drops. Named targets/areas include: Portolargo (Leros Island), Karlovasi Harbour (Samos), Chalcis, Iraklion aerodrome (Crete), Aegean Sea, and Kalamaki. His pilot on operations with 38 Squadron was F/O Webster. On 17 February 1945 he notes “President Roosevelt aboard Cruiser Quincey”.
Creator
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Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
1944-07-17
1944-07-20
1944-08-02
1944-08-03
1944-08-04
1944-08-05
1944-08-07
1944-08-09
1944-08-10
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
1944-08-24
1944-08-27
1944-08-30
1944-09-01
1944-09-02
1944-09-03
1944-09-05
1944-09-08
1944-09-09
1944-09-12
1944-09-15
1944-09-16
1944-09-17
1944-10-07
1944-10-08
1944-10-13
1944-10-14
1944-10-17
1944-12-19
1944-12-27
1944-12-31
1945-02-17
1945-03-04
1945-03-05
1945-03-20
1945-03-23
1945-03-24
1945-04-03
1945-04-06
1945-04-07
1945-04-12
1945-04-13
1945-04-17
1945-04-18
1945-04-24
1945-04-29
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Croatia
Croatia--Kamenjak
Greece
Greece--Crete
Greece--Ērakleion
Greece--Chalkida
Greece--Rhodes (Island)
Greece--Samos
Greece--Zakynthos
Israel
Israel--ʻEn Shemer
Italy
Italy--Foggia
Italy--Grottaglie
Italy--Trieste
Italy--Venice
Libya
Libya--Banghāzī
Malta
Malta--Valletta
Mediterranean Sea
South Africa
South Africa--George
Greece--Leros (Municipality)
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Leitch
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LTaylorPR1580457v1
38 Squadron
aircrew
Anson
bomb aimer
bombing
mine laying
navigator
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945)
training
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2357/45506/LFoskettW1323050v3.1.pdf
d1ef52c16c9b4c8c1e4d50dc43555102
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Foskett, William
Description
An account of the resource
104 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant William Foskett (b. 1921, 13230505 Royal Air Force) and contains his log books, correspondence, documents, and photographs.
He flew operations as an air gunner and navigator with 214 Squadron. After the war, he was stationed in Italy, France, Germany and North Africa.
The collection was loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Peter Foskett and catalogued by Barry Hunter with the assistance of Roberto Bassi of the Aeroclub Friulano Campoformido.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2021-04-07
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Foskett, W
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Bill Foskett’s Royal Canadian Air Force Flying Log Book for Aircrew other than Pilot (Log Book 3)
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LFoskettW1323050v3
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Description
An account of the resource
Bill Foskett’s Flying Log Book as Bomb Aimer from 6th November 1942 until 3rd July 1945. Retrained in Canada as bomb aimer and air gunner at 31 Bombing and Gunnery School (Picton) and 31 Advanced Navigation School (Port Albert). Posted to 2 Advanced Flying Unit in England in May 1943 then 15 Operational Training Unit, Stirling Conversion Unit and 1657 Conversion Unit. Posted to 214 Squadron for operations commencing November 1943.
Served at Picton and Port Albert in Ontario, RAF Millom, RAF Harwell, RAF Sculthorpe.
Aircraft flown were Anson, Bolingbroke, Battle, Wellington, Stirling, B17.
Bill flew a total of 36 operations with 214 Squadron, only one of which was a day operation. The targets included Frisian Islands, Karlsruhe, Gennevilliers, Kiel, Brunswick, Saumur, Aulnoye, Gelsenkirchen, Goes, Stuttgart, Russelsheim, off Denmark, off Emden, Darmstadt, Wissembourg, Heereveen, Traben-Trarbach, Fischbach, Bischwiller, Bochum, Cologne & Mannheim, Essen, Saarbruken, Koblenz & Gladbeck, Mönchengladbach, Krefeld, Dortmund Ems Canal, Giessen.
His pilot for his first operation was Flight Sergeant Gilbert and his second, Squadron Leader Jeffries. For the rest of his operations his pilot was Flying Officer Corke.
During operations he fulfilled the role of bomb aimer, air gunner and second navigator at various times. As well as bombing carried out a number of Window, Mandrel and Big Ben Special Duties operations.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-11-19
1943-11-25
1943-11-26
1944-04-24
1944-04-25
1944-05-09
1944-05-10
1944-05-21
1944-05-22
1944-05-23
1944-05-31
1944-06-01
1944-06-17
1944-06-21
1944-06-22
1944-07-23
1944-07-24
1944-07-25
1944-07-26
1944-07-28
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
1944-08-16
1944-08-17
1944-08-18
1944-09-06
1944-09-11
1944-09-12
1944-09-13
1944-09-14
1944-09-16
1944-09-18
1944-09-23
1944-09-24
1944-09-26
1944-09-29
1944-09-30
1944-10-05
1944-10-06
1944-10-09
1944-10-23
1944-11-02
1944-11-10
1944-12-02
1944-12-04
1944-12-05
1944-12-06
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Canada
Ontario
Ontario--Picton
Ontario--Port Albert
Great Britain
England--Berkshire
England--Cumbria
England--Norfolk
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Atlantic Ocean--North Sea
Germany
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Germany--Bochum
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Darmstadt
Germany--Dortmund-Ems Canal
Germany--Essen
Germany--Fischbach
Germany--Gelsenkirchen
Germany--Giessen (Hesse)
Germany--Gladbeck
Germany--Karlsruhe
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Koblenz
Germany--Krefeld
Germany--Mannheim
Germany--Mönchengladbach
Germany--Rüsselsheim
Germany--Saarbrücken
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Traben-Trarbach
France
France--Aulnoye-Aymeries
France--Bischwiller
France--Gennevilliers
France--Saumur
France--Wissembourg
Netherlands
Netherlands--Goes
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Nick Cornwell-Smith
15 OTU
1657 HCU
214 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
air gunner
Air Observers School
aircrew
Anson
B-17
Battle
Bolingbroke
bomb aimer
bombing
Bombing and Gunnery School
Heavy Conversion Unit
navigator
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
RAF Harwell
RAF Millom
RAF Sculthorpe
Stirling
training
Wellington
Window
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2324/45256/LBanksJF1578295v1.2.pdf
8a9519e5298c51d95489441454014056
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Camlin, Alan Edwin
Description
An account of the resource
7 items. The collection concerns Alan Edwin Camlin DFM (196717 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, correspondence, documents, and objects. He flew operations as an air gunner with 7 Squadron.
The collection also contains John Francis Bank's log book and other papers. He flew operations as a bomb aimer with 192 Squadron.
The collection was donated to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Janet Camlin and catalogued by Lynn Corrigan.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-09-20
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Camlin, AE
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
John Francis Bank's observer's and air gunner's flying log book
Description
An account of the resource
The observer's and air gunner's flying log book for Flight Lieutenant John Francis Banks, born I July 1922, (1578295 Royal Air Force) from 28 March 1943 to 9 April 1946. Detailing his training and operations flown. Served at 41 Air School South Africa, Advanced Flying Unit RAF Wigtown, 84 Operational Training Unit RAF Desborough, 192 Squadron RAF Foulsham, 221 Group and 47 Squadron South East Asia Air Force. Aircraft flown were Oxford, Anson, Wellington, Tiger Moth, Dakota, Expeditor and Mosquito. He carried out 40 operations, 32 night time and 8 day time as bomb aimer. All operations were flown in Wellington aircraft with Flying Officer Clarkson as pilot. The operations were to the coasts of Belgium, Denmark, France Germany and Netherlands, the Bay of Biscay and Western Approaches, Channel Islands, Brest, Calais, Cherbourg and the Frisian Islands.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-04-21
1944-03-22
1944-04-27
1944-04-28
1944-04-29
1944-04-30
1944-05-10
1944-05-11
1944-05-27
1944-05-28
1944-05-31
1944-06-01
1944-06-02
1944-06-02
1944-06-03
1944-06-04
1944-06-05
1944-06-09
1944-06-10
1944-06-11
1944-06-12
1944-06-13
1944-06-14
1944-06-15
1944-06-16
1944-06-17
1944-06-18
1944-06-19
1944-06-23
1944-06-24
1944-07-07
1944-07-08
1944-07-10
1944-07-11
1944-07-14
1944-07-15
1944-07-16
1944-07-17
1944-07-18
1944-07-19
1944-07-20
1944-07-21
1944-07-23
1944-07-24
1944-07-26
1944-07-27
1944-07-28
1944-07-29
1944-08-06
1944-08-08
1944-08-10
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
1944-08-25
1944-08-26
1944-08-27
1944-08-29
1944-08-30
1944-09-01
1944-09-05
1944-09-06
1944-09-09
1944-09-11
1944-09-13
1944-09-14
1944-09-15
1944-09-16
1944-09-17
1944-09-21
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Atlantic Ocean--English Channel
Atlantic Ocean--North Sea
Bangladesh
Bangladesh--Comilla
Belgium
Burma
Burma--Moʻ pī
Burma--Magwe
Burma--Meiktila
Burma--Rangoon
Burma--Toungoo
Europe--Frisian Islands
France
France--Brest
France--Calais
France--Cherbourg
Germany
Germany--Helgoland
Great Britain
England--Leicestershire
England--Norfolk
England--Northamptonshire
Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway
Great Britain Miscellaneous Island Dependencies--Channel Islands
Malaysia
Malaysia--Butterworth (Pulau Pinang)
Netherlands
Singapore
South Africa
South Africa--East London
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LBanksJF1578295v1
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Lynn Corrigan
192 Squadron
47 Squadron
84 OTU
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
Anson
bomb aimer
C-47
Mosquito
navigator
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
RAF Desborough
RAF Foulsham
RAF Wigtown
Tiger Moth
training
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1792/45129/LWilsonH1342819v1.2.pdf
52ffc531f0d4bd6890a709034f5ca53f
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Wilson, Harold
H Wilson
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-01-09
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Wilson, H
Description
An account of the resource
24 items. The collection concerns Flight Sergeant Harold Wilson DFM (Royal Air Force) who flew two tours completing 45 operations as a bomb aimer on 9 and 97 squadrons. Collection contains an identity document, a letter, his flying log book, a memoir and photographs (including some while he was a member of a missing research and enquiry unit in Germany after the war).
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Barbara Armstrong and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Harold Wilson's flying log book
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending review
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LWilsonH1342819v1
Description
An account of the resource
Harold Wilson’s Flying Log Book from 28/11/42 to 2/4/54, detailing training, operations and instructional duties as an Air Bomber (and later Navigator). Also contains various memorabilia including a photograph, reunion invitation and newspaper clipping about the award of the DFM. Based at: Port Elizabeth (42 Air School), Jurby (No. 5 Air Observer School), RAF Cottesmore, RAF Saltby, RAF Market Harborough (all No. 14 Operational Training Unit), RAF Wigsley (No. 1654 Conversion Unit), RAF Bardney (No. 9 Squadron), RAF Warboys (PFF Navigation Training Unit), RAF Coningsby (No. 97 Squadron), RAF Manby (Empire Air Armament School), RAF Swinderby (No. 1660 Heavy Conversion Unit and 201 Advanced Flying School), RAF Middleton St George (No. 2 Air Navigation School), RAF Scampton (No. 230 Operational Training Unit), RAF North Luffenham (No. 240 Operational Training Unit), RAF Oakington (No. 30 Squadron), RAF Perth (No. 11 Reserve Flying School). Aircraft flown: Anson, Oxford, Blenheim, Wellington, Halifax, Lancaster, Dakota.
Records a total of 45 operations (42 night, 3 day) with 9 and 97 Squadron. Targets in Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands are: Berlin, Leipzig, Frankfurt, Stettin, Brunswick, Magdeburg, Stuttgart, Schweinfurt, Augsburg, Marignane, Munich, Clermont Ferrand, Toulouse, Louailles, Annecy, Amiens, Maisy, St. Pierre du Mont, Argentan, Rennes, Poitiers, Greil (Saint-Leu-d'Esserent), Culmont Chalindrey, Nevers, Courtrai, Donges, Givors, Brest, Deelen Airfield, Bordeaux, Darmstadt and Konigsberg.
His pilot on all operations was F/O Lasham.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One colour photocopy
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Leitch
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Belgium
France
Germany
Great Britain
Netherlands
South Africa
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Belgium--Kortrijk
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Durham (County)
England--Huntingdonshire
England--Leicestershire
England--Lincolnshire
England--Nottinghamshire
England--Rutland
France--Amiens
France--Annecy
France--Argentan
France--Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
France--Brest
France--Calvados
France--Clermont-Ferrand
France--Donges
France--Givors
France--Haute-Marne
France--Marignane
France--Nevers
France--Oise
France--Poitiers
France--Rennes
France--Sablé-sur-Sarthe
France--Toulouse
Germany--Augsburg
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Darmstadt
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Russia (Federation)--Kaliningrad (Kaliningradskai︠a︡ oblastʹ)
Germany--Leipzig
Germany--Magdeburg
Germany--Munich
Germany--Schweinfurt
Poland--Szczecin
Germany--Stuttgart
Great Britain Miscellaneous Island Dependencies--Isle of Man
Netherlands--Gelderland
Scotland--Perth
South Africa--Port Elizabeth
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
1943-12-02
1943-12-03
1943-12-16
1943-12-17
1943-12-20
1943-12-23
1944-01-05
1944-01-14
1944-01-21
1944-01-22
1944-01-27
1944-01-28
1944-02-15
1944-02-16
1944-02-19
1944-02-20
1944-02-24
1944-02-25
1944-02-26
1944-03-01
1944-03-02
1944-03-09
1944-03-10
1944-03-15
1944-03-16
1944-04-22
1944-04-23
1944-04-24
1944-04-25
1944-04-26
1944-04-27
1944-04-29
1944-04-30
1944-05-01
1944-05-02
1944-05-06
1944-05-07
1944-05-09
1944-05-10
1944-05-19
1944-05-20
1944-05-31
1944-06-01
1944-06-06
1944-06-07
1944-06-08
1944-06-09
1944-06-12
1944-06-13
1944-07-04
1944-07-05
1944-07-12
1944-07-13
1944-07-15
1944-07-16
1944-07-20
1944-07-21
1944-07-24
1944-07-25
1944-07-26
1944-08-11
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
1944-08-14
1944-08-15
1944-08-16
1944-08-17
1944-08-18
1944-08-25
1944-08-26
1944-08-27
1945
1946
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
14 OTU
1654 HCU
1660 HCU
9 Squadron
97 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
Anson
Blenheim
bomb aimer
bombing of Luftwaffe night-fighter airfields (15 August 1944)
bombing of the Creil/St Leu d’Esserent V-1 storage areas (4/5 July 1944)
bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944)
C-47
Cook’s tour
Distinguished Service Medal
Halifax
Halifax Mk 2
Heavy Conversion Unit
Initial Training Wing
Lancaster
Lancaster Mk 1
Lancaster Mk 3
memorial
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
Pathfinders
RAF Bardney
RAF Bourn
RAF Coningsby
RAF Cottesmore
RAF Jurby
RAF Manby
RAF Market Harborough
RAF Middleton St George
RAF North Luffenham
RAF Oakington
RAF Saltby
RAF Scampton
RAF Swinderby
RAF Warboys
RAF Wigsley
training
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2513/43535/LDavyFR1108748v2.2.pdf
5676b500bdc68f33ff059b8472e06acc
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Davy, Frederick R
Davy, F R
Description
An account of the resource
21 items. The collection concerns Frederick R Davy (b. 1912, 1108747 Royal Air Force) and contains his log books, documents and photographs. He flew operations as a pilot with 625 Squadron.
The collection was loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Frederick Popoff catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-05-30
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Davy, FR
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Frederick Davy's pilot's flying log book. Two
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LDavyFR1108748v2
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Description
An account of the resource
Frederick Davy’s Pilot’s Flying Log Book from 1 April 1943 to 28 March 1945 detailing his further pilot’s training at 15 AFU, 81 OTU, 28 OTU, 1656 HCU, 1 LFS and operational posting to 625 Squadron. Posted to Bomber Command Instructors’ School in December 1944. Served at RAF Tatenhill, RAF Grove, RAF Ramsbury, RAF Castle Coombe, RAF Tilstock, RAF Wymeswold, RAF Castle Donnington, RAF Lindholme, RAF Kelstern, RAF Hemswell, RAF Finningley. Aircraft flown were Oxford, Wellington, Anson, Whitley V, Horsa, DC3 Dakota, Halifax, Lancaster. Conducted 3 leaflet drops with 28 OTU to Rouen and Orleans. Then 16 day and 17 night bombing operations with 625 Squadron to Boulogne, Domleger, Rheims, Ligescourt, Vaires - Paris, Siracourt, Vierzon, Orleans, Foret du Croc, Tours, Sannerville, Gelsenkirchen, Wizernes, Kiel, Ardouval, Stuttgart, Foret de Nieppe, Œuf-en-Ternois, Douai, Brunswick, Volkel, Stettin, Raimbert, Gilze Rijen, Le Havre, Frankfurt.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-03-24
1944-03-25
1944-03-26
1944-03-27
1944-03-29
1944-03-30
1944-06-15
1944-06-16
1944-06-22
1944-06-23
1944-06-25
1944-06-27
1944-06-29
1944-06-30
1944-07-01
1944-07-04
1944-07-05
1944-07-06
1944-07-12
1944-07-13
1944-07-18
1944-07-19
1944-07-20
1944-07-23
1944-07-24
1944-07-25
1944-07-28
1944-07-29
1944-07-31
1944-08-01
1944-08-10
1944-08-11
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
1944-08-15
1944-08-16
1944-08-17
1944-08-26
1944-08-27
1944-08-29
1944-08-30
1944-08-31
1944-09-03
1944-09-05
1944-09-06
1944-09-08
1944-09-12
1944-09-13
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England
England--Leicestershire
England--Lincolnshire
England--Oxfordshire
England--Shropshire
England--Staffordshire
England--Wiltshire
England--Yorkshire
France
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
France--Douai
France--Le Havre
France--Nieppe Forest
France--Normandy
France--Orléans
France--Paris
France--Pas-de-Calais
France--Reims
France--Saint-Omer (Pas-de-Calais)
France--Forêt du Croc
France--Siracourt
France--Somme
France--Tours
France--Vierzon
Germany
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Gelsenkirchen
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Stuttgart
Netherlands
Netherlands--Tilburg
Netherlands--Uden
Poland
Poland--Szczecin
France--Œuf-en-Ternois
France--Domléger-Longvillers
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Nick Cornwell-Smith
1656 HCU
28 OTU
625 Squadron
81 OTU
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
Anson
bombing of Luftwaffe night-fighter airfields (15 August 1944)
bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Flying Training School
Halifax
Halifax Mk 2
Halifax Mk 3
Heavy Conversion Unit
Initial Training Wing
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
Lancaster Mk 1
Lancaster Mk 3
Magister
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
pilot
RAF Castle Donington
RAF Cranwell
RAF Finningley
RAF Hemswell
RAF Hullavington
RAF Kelstern
RAF Kirmington
RAF Leconfield
RAF Lindholme
RAF Tilstock
RAF Torquay
RAF Uxbridge
RAF Wymeswold
tactical support for Normandy troops
Tiger Moth
training
V-1
V-2
V-weapon
Wellington
Whitley
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2160/41026/LSweeneyAE573980v1.2.pdf
ed313baa3dff5563a54732513ab64e74
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Sweeney, Alfred Edward
Description
An account of the resource
One item.
The collection concerns Flying Officer Alfred Edward (Todd) Sweeney (Royal Air Force) and contains his log book. He flew a tour of operations as a pilot with 115 Squadron from RAF Witchford.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Malcolm Sweeney and catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-02-20
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Sweeney, AE
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Alfred Sweeney’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book
Description
An account of the resource
Alfred Sweeney’s RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Book from 17 May 1942 to 30 July 1962 detailing training, operations and post-war duties as a pilot and instructor, including VIP duties. (Several logbooks bound into one volume).
He was stationed at RAF Stoke Orchard (No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School), RCAF Station Neepawa (No. 35 Elementary Flying Training School), RCAF Station Carberry (No. 33 Service Flying Training School), RAF Carlisle (No. 15 Elementary Flying Training School), RAF Church Lawford (No. 18 (P) Advanced Flying Unit), RAF Desborough (No. 84 Operational Training Unit), RAF Wratting Common (No. 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit), RAF Feltwell (No. 3 Lancaster Finishing School), RAF Witchford (115 Squadron), RAF Langar (1669 HCU), RAF North Luffenham (1653 HCU), RAF Waterbeach (514 Squadron), RAF Syerston (1333 Transport Support Conversion Unit), RAF Almaza, RAF Aqir, RAF Kabrit (78 Squadron), RAF Palam (AHQ(I) Communications Squadron), RAF Fassburg, RAF Lubeck, RAF Bassingbourn and RAF Waterbeach (24(C) Squadron), RAF Marham (115 Squadron and Bomber Command Jet Conversion Flight), Bassingbourn (No. 231 OCU), RAF Boscombe Down (Handling Squadron), RAF Lyneham (216 Squadron) and RAF Watton (51 Squadron).
Aircraft in which flown: DH82C, Anson, DH82A, Oxford, Wellington X, Stirling I, Stirling III, Lancaster I, Lancaster II, Lancaster III, Dakota III, Horsa, Dakota IV, Halifax VII, York, Harvard, Lancastrian, Valetta, Washington, Meteor, Canberra, Varsity, Firefly, Pembroke, Valiant, Sea Venom, Vampire, Jet Provost, Sea Devon, Hunter, Pioneer, Whirlwind, Chipmunk, Comet, Beverley, Seamew, Venom, Javelin, Gannet, Swift, Vulcan, Hastings, Victor, Skeeter, Prentice, Auster, Devon, Heron, Bristol Freighter, Dragonfly, Shackleton, Viscount, Sea Prince, Sycamore, Sea Balliol, Lincoln, Sea Hawk.
Records 30 completed operations (22 night, 8 day) on the following targets in France and Germany: Amaye-Sur-Seulles, Beauvoir, Bec D’Ambes, Biennais, Bordeaux Bassens, Brunswick, Cap Gris Nez, Chambly, Cologne, Coulonvillers, Domleger, Dortmund, Dreux, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Foret de Lucheux, L’Hey, Le Havre, Le Mans, Lens, Lisieux, Montdidier, Nantes, Ouistreham, Vaires (Paris), Valenciennes, Watten and Wissant.
Also includes photographs of various aircraft, various documents, technical notes, medal awards paperwork and VIP passenger lists (including Pandit Neru, Sir Claude Auchinleck).
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Air Force. Transport Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Leitch
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LSweeneyAE573980v1
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Canada
Egypt
France
Germany
Great Britain
India
Israel
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Atlantic Ocean--English Channel
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Cumbria
England--Gloucestershire
England--Norfolk
England--Northamptonshire
England--Nottinghamshire
England--Rutland
England--Warwickshire
England--Wiltshire
Middle East--Palestine
France--Domléger-Longvillers
France--Beauvoir-sur-Mer
France--Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
France--Calvados
France--Dreux
France--Gironde Estuary
France--Le Havre
France--Le Mans
France--Lens
France--Montdidier (Hauts-de-France)
France--Nantes
France--Normandy
France--Oise
France--Opale Coast
France--Pas-de-Calais
France--Somme
France--Vaires-sur-Marne
France--Valenciennes
France--Watten
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Dortmund
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Düsseldorf
Manitoba--Carberry
Manitoba--Neepawa
France--Coulonvillers
France--Cap Gris Nez
Egypt--Kibrit
North Africa
France--Ouistreham
Manitoba
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
1943
1944-04-20
1944-04-21
1944-04-22
1944-04-23
1944-05-01
1944-05-02
1944-05-07
1944-05-08
1944-05-09
1944-05-10
1944-05-19
1944-05-20
1944-05-21
1944-05-22
1944-05-23
1944-06-02
1944-06-03
1944-06-05
1944-06-06
1944-06-07
1944-06-10
1944-06-11
1944-06-12
1944-06-14
1944-06-15
1944-06-16
1944-06-17
1944-06-18
1944-06-21
1944-06-23
1944-06-24
1944-06-27
1944-06-28
1944-07-02
1944-07-05
1944-07-06
1944-07-07
1944-07-08
1944-07-12
1944-07-30
1944-08-01
1944-08-04
1944-08-05
1944-08-08
1944-08-09
1944-08-11
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
115 Squadron
1651 HCU
1653 HCU
1669 HCU
216 Squadron
51 Squadron
514 Squadron
84 OTU
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
Anson
B-29
bombing
bombing of the Le Havre E-boat pens (14/15 June 1944)
bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944)
C-47
Cook’s tour
Flying Training School
Halifax
Halifax Mk 7
Harvard
Heavy Conversion Unit
Horsa
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
Lancaster Mk 1
Lancaster Mk 2
Lancaster Mk 3
Lancastrian
Lincoln
Meteor
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Operation Dodge (1945)
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
pilot
RAF Aqir
RAF Bassingbourn
RAF Boscombe Down
RAF Carlisle
RAF Church Lawford
RAF Desborough
RAF Feltwell
RAF Langar
RAF Lyneham
RAF Marham
RAF North Luffenham
RAF Syerston
RAF Waterbeach
RAF Watton
RAF Witchford
RAF Wratting Common
Shackleton
Stirling
tactical support for Normandy troops
Tiger Moth
training
Wellington
York
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1984/39608/LCockramJC419379v1.1.pdf
b1027c4208eaae9af5e8bd7e1e3b8890
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cockram, J C
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-11-14
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Cockram, JC
Description
An account of the resource
42 items. The collection concerns Sergeant J C Cockram (Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, two photographs and navigational charts. He flew operations as a navigator with 466 Squadron.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Shirley Anne Cockram and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
J.C. Cockram’s RCAF Observer’s and Air Gunner’s flying log book
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Bangladesh
Canada
Egypt
France
Germany
Great Britain
India
Netherlands
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Atlantic Ocean--English Channel
France--Pas-de-Calais
Alberta--Edmonton
Bangladesh--Comilla
Egypt--Bilbays
Egypt--Cairo
England--Derbyshire
England--Yorkshire
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
France--Caen
France--Etaples
France--Le Havre
France--Seine-Maritime
France--Vaires-sur-Marne
France--Watten
Germany--Bochum
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Gelsenkirchen
Germany--Homberg (Kassel)
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Kleve (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Germany--Oberhausen (Düsseldorf)
Germany--Wanne-Eickel
Germany--Wilhelmshaven
India--Bilāspur (Chhattīsgarh : District)
Netherlands--Eindhoven
Netherlands--Soesterberg
Netherlands--Waddenzee
Scotland--Wigtownshire
France--Les Catelliers
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
France--Nieppe Forest
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Air Force. Transport Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LCockramJC419379v1
Description
An account of the resource
J.C. Cockram’s RCAF Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, from 1st May 1943 to 8th July 1945, recording training, operations and Transport Command duties as a Navigator. Stationed at: RCAF Edmonton (No.2 Air Observer School), RAF West Freugh (4 Observer Advanced Flying Unit ), RAF Church Broughton (27 OTU), RAF Driffield (466 Squadron and 462 Squadron), RAF Leconfield (96 squadron), Bilbeis (1330 Conversion Unit), Cairo West, RAF Station Bilaspur and RAF Comilla (96 Squadron). Aircraft in which flown: Anson, Wellington, Halifax, Dakota. Records a total of 34 operations completed (12 night, 22) day) on the following targets in France, Germany and Netherlands: Ardouval, Bochum, Bois de la Haie, Boulogne, Brunswick, Caen, Cologne, Coqueraux, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Eindhoven, Etaples, Foret de Nieppe, Gelsenkirchen, Homberg, Kiel, Kleve, La Pourchinte, Le Havre, Les Catelliers, Nordstern (Gelsenkirchen), Soesterberg, Sterkrade, Vaires (Paris), Wanne Eickel, Watten, Weskapelle and Wilhelmshaven. His pilot on operations was Pilot Officer Hickey. <br /><br />This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Leitch
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
1944-07-17
1944-07-18
1944-07-20
1944-07-21
1944-07-23
1944-07-24
1944-07-25
1944-07-26
1944-07-28
1944-08-06
1944-08-07
1944-08-08
1944-08-09
1944-08-11
1944-08-12
1944-08-13
1944-08-15
1944-08-16
1944-08-17
1944-08-18
1944-08-19
1944-08-25
1944-08-27
1944-08-31
1944-09-03
1944-09-09
1944-09-10
1944-09-11
1944-09-12
1944-09-13
1944-09-15
1944-09-16
1944-09-17
1944-10-06
1944-10-07
1944-10-09
1944-10-14
1944-10-15
1944-10-29
1944-10-30
1944-11-02
1944-11-04
1945
1652 HCU
27 OTU
462 Squadron
466 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
Air Observers School
aircrew
Anson
bombing
C-47
Flying Training School
Halifax
Halifax Mk 2
Halifax Mk 3
Halifax Mk 5
Heavy Conversion Unit
navigator
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Operational Training Unit
RAF Church Broughton
RAF Driffield
RAF Leconfield
RAF Marston Moor
RAF West Freugh
tactical support for Normandy troops
Tiger Moth
training
Wellington