RAF Bomber Stories: Dramatic First-Hand Accounts of British and Commonwealth Airmen in WW 2

191 Pages·1998·50.4 MB·English

by  Martin Bowman

RAF

BOMBER
STORIES

Dramatic first-hand accounts of British and
Commonwealth airmen in World War 2
RAF

BOMBER
STORIES

Dramatic first-hand accounts of British and
Commonwealth airmen in World War 2

Martin W. Bowman

a

Patrick Stephens Limited
© Manin W. Bowansan 1998

All sights reserved Nn of this ablation my be poco so in a
fete! yt Wand, i any Fo of bs mean sleeoni, mechanical,
Fnutocopying ecg 1 olbervie, wiltou pre eins in ring fem
Peck Sepens Line,

ist published in Fetnuacy 1998

rsh Librery Catalopuing in Pustcaion Dats
‘Nealgue ror fortis book is
valle fora the Brits Lionary

ISBN 1 852605677

Librcy of Congress ela et, P= T6854

Patick Stet inte sa imi af Hayes Pablshing,
Sparkiond Nr Yeosi, Somers, BA22 1

Te 01905 $0635 Fax: [phone]

In tks 4 1960 633 a HH 1965-0

Fai: saesdthaynes mannals.cnak

‘Walser hays cam

Hayes Neth Anurie, Je.
Si Taurens: ives Neh Park,
Califor 91520 USA

Designed & rypeset hy GM, Ras, Nemhempronsie
‘ted aa bol ia Panos hy Eaginsre Palins, ago, Panos -n°T3809
Contents

Acknoe
Inve

sgements

‘The Grey Monk
‘The lat Hight of “H for Hany
Whiley wanderings
Laeky 13

DDarkie, Duthie’

Blenkieima bos

Sin”

Tjmuiden operation

Tr jst couldn't have happened
Press eu egadless
“Hellzapoppin”
Chick's em

Invasion day

DuDay ina String

Nearly a nasty accident (1)
Ino hale with $7 Squzcron
Diury ofa Pubinder

‘Nearly a nasty accident 2)
‘The Hleimbach Dam raid
Friday the 13th

“Auvcall of Bomber Coonan lastnight rade! Dresden
[Nearly a nasty accident (3)
Operation Phinder

Appendix | Bomther Command Battle Order, SJune 1944
Appendix 2~ Harts’ leer to Bomber Commas, 12 May 194

Gnesary
Indes

0s
09
un
20
BL
138
130
13
137
109

17
id
180

18s,
159
Acknowledgements

LAM MOST GRATEFUL ta the fallowing pl, a whom gens ennenited
tithe stereo phos, sorelines ath or his books

‘Stew. Aung, Mike Hailey, Cal Barta, De Theo ten; Len Bradtield RAF
‘Reta: Ms Susanah Burr, Nigel Buswell Noo! Chffes: C,H. “Caiek* Candler RAF
Tek Offsee Chino Brock, Foe, RAP Rovner Cammaita Aesneston: he Ite
Ibasl Craske RAF: Tom Cushing: Tdeard A Davidson DIM RAF Retde Squadron
Tete Robs Davies APC RAF Ret, Dx Colin Dring. Hanan Town” Fasnilng RAF
Rete, Cain FD, Feisoa DEC! ill avrnch RAF Ret: Poter Ghby RAP Ret:
Ala Hague, Casey, Novfol & Suffolk Aviation Maseunn, Wing Counender Bein
RW, burke’ Hallows ORE DFC; Kolaal A. Hasiouskyy DEM RAF Ret, who
Sieh allowed me to quote fon he ook no Bare i 5? Samad, the Ite 3
5. Hawrson RAAF Revd, ill Hongh RAP Rea Mike Lenin. Geof Liles: Wing
Commander Gan F MeMaton DFM RAP Ret: Lary Mlling RCAF Ret Ie
Patker RAF Retd, Squadion Leaée: Charles Pats:son DSO DFC: Dr Keith Pccval
[Barker RAF Ret Bll Rad WC: Alber E. Robinson: Squadron Leader Malek Seo
DEC RAF Ret: Steve Snelling Eater Dunly Pres: George Tamer DHC™ RAT Ret
[Ken Westope RAP Ret Tors Wingham DIC RAP Ret: Ray ‘Bob: White RAP Ret
Jenkin Wills: MB RAF Ret, Jee TAP Metlian Bombers Assan Ms Ps
‘Wood dhe le J. Rup Wad DEC CD RCA
Introduction

OF ALL UML STARK, col, statics eat emanate fromm WW2, thee 1 one set of
figures which even ass aneighs ell oles when une talks about RAP Bomber
Command, No mules ut historians ed commentators have to sa aoa fe etice
tne the prosvatem othe day ag. bombing olensie, ne escape facts that
fo les than 99.00 sirerew in Bomber Commane were kad so action ping
esens dieo he gab vr hile poses a

praia 125,00 alte evel ithe aon ne, VU gaa OCUs of te
Cinna nd nearly pe cnt ten became cies ion, sot 900
Ione te shot dow and made FoWs sa spa ne, ao ot aoe jets sl
Assolafeoflgs and salggs lt Ais Held tcitrs. Over 8,000 unae were waded
her ate un operational sis. Biber Command Ay aliost 290 00 snes,
the greatest poruemags of thom by Aveo Lancastrs, Hendley Page Halifax abd
‘Wellinglons, Feu o serie were the highet casuals,

Toy te envapwulate every dra episode of RAF Bomber Command’ ong and
istingtised history im one volume Hs tetetone impossbi, but the unique tion
tha ovis wade-rntinand sigilcais. each experience rete by ish snd
Conmonweiti aionen themselves, ‘Theit endearing bravery and fortinde and
Sonneries tsp ota eich, stows tough in ese stining, daring,
Sten reverent, buries sonetinwscadonic, but memorable stores, Al refs
Th cos, canara, fea eal bravey ofthe Largely ordinary ten, mast of worn
‘wee puckod Tom ‘ivny set a ust nto a fica ter slit wih wae
nae een ote dangorous¥y the ell edsance of wlio. Death ould aoe
ome fons en annnyraous assis, itr nthe hlck af nig cm btn
Br out the sun, o imply fom che Pak gumnse onthe pron. Ava, ial dis Wasnt
ough, the olen tnimercifu weather was no respotoro! ali.

“There wus no esceping tie allembracing shock wave tha Fipped through ‘he
bomber squadroas site Heayy mauling over enemy temtary. Noting could be more
prs hon the wien ples token the depleted mee ll, the ep locke
Bethe depaned, cr the dg fining by the barracks forts missing master Ene rma had
to desl wih tniy in his ow mnitable way. Some hi thelr Feslings beter than

Sites aly forthe pa to resurlace months or even yess er Sone) fal
Survive hepsi! presses st la mpl thet Tours ew sabe oe
esta tome thar_had eaten sway at ther pce sing, the inessant aod

interriaabie onslaught da afl: Gaye aller ish There ws le respite, Te
Salovaus men of Bor Comand wes in Ue Light Bigacs, the snp gp,
ss, theavongon ae undefeated. Always they mete expendale

‘Marin W. Bowman, Norwich. 1997
1; The Grey Monk
Albert E. Robinson, Observer, 115 Squadron

BOMBING BY NIGHT present formidable harier tn the young eves of the
‘Wallingroa bomber daring the criss years of HIMOW41. So much xo hat if Roping
blindly trons the curtain of Garknes that had descended over Pun: Was tbe
‘overcome, i became erystal clear thn he nil wages an awl Toe Big CD
‘leper on the enews tereles, Teil andere nasty cull only es and il
‘Station that net aur a hgh eval te fr the pioneer ees. Unfranaely i
‘vas with ltl result for 30 pret an ello, pot pour of ealvuleted isk, pesca
Sells, and citeumstaices at Eoured

the mone succes rows The “X-factor,
soualiy fief 1 define, fa ge ts
tenable them eo take advantage of ore

than fll share of Tuck, tld the hgh
shove average
Whatster the mistue, a ewe

determination © succeed i pie ote
iumeroas setacke wae 2 somo
flnominaron, thd it unitod the eens
fost without exception. With sich
‘esol, the exes attempted to face up
to their task Iwate not mide any eae
by viene offers who soaks at path
aboot the necessity fo
Bombing It wuld nor be #00
suggest that some of thess aeings
‘ou of touch with reality. Truthful crews
Sonsidere it aveasonable cfr thee
self was found, let alone specie
suming point

"There sfere many reesons fo tis, hae
‘ne principal culprit was nia navigation,
This war based almost caticly on the
age-old thoory of dead reckoning” Thore
‘was no problem ofall the Tinks fp he
‘hain were kaos, but ino, could ten
fut to be a hieormise afar, espocilly
‘vith ile or no ratio wsistance to lp
w RAF BOMBER STORIES

with the elsultions. The hese rexuitement for success was to establsthe vind
Syed and diesion, but in onde aston thee i an, uevany at vcs times
diving ths ight to define the poston of the area in elation to the ground — oan
fae a kot othe nevigator Unde srable contin thie wee no hes
fossbie, The fight could be hlnwn wel off couse sometiaes miley aay 1 there
Sere adver winds, and wth i went lle chanes finding oat the tae positon ol
the aera Ths in hm usually eed up 20 wasod ee, wt horas being bout
back or fetisoned inthe sea.

Tnexpeienced cres could end upon the slopes ofa mountsin or inthe grey wastes
of the sea Tae Norts Sea it pumeular sas a big enemy w Bomber Cozi
having peas, memicing in ile wsstss (9 any crise ener singling 10
imainuin height ever is darkened wldemess. The saemy eos the Ayped or
Teal a Engl offers its hope i copped bomb hd ore ea
ertany so if contct had been lost with any istening pst as resul of damaged
ao

‘bomber sinerat then ws a lonely and desolate figure, strageling against the ods
sat wsth he ching thowast dotnet how expertly the seal wax set Aon
the cea arte or ean ~ the homer wn ink son mies Tere Wes he
tober dingy, of conse, Th sukd be abst when exhale
{est rad just cl slog with the wind si ile, amxsly nd thot Mops
lurlred end unless providence ook hand Go Kons how log this ual ia
Desaps eter mitt eve taken te igh a al

‘Thavs how Kent, Such possibilities could only be sesepted by erews with a
pllecophicl shay he shot, Tee th ht of eer Pings, Bu een 80
{now ems nore epsimistic and they set their sights a competing the mebdatr.
thai snaber of 20 apc sfc sing tase of fo estat some talon
“quaton fn comparison tn she names ines, ver few managed to hier ths
te avenge cul have bos a Tow an five missions Befve the els Reape elle hs

‘Given the comions, de chine

of survival on any one operation, wheter i was

hoe ea ‘i i emart ha Yo
{IE GREY MONK. u

the isto kh ere not goed. Te betting ds would aed Tow hy any eiaceming
‘yokmater All seew were volunteers toe man tn saving thi the needed Yo he
neh rie sas event going over th top inthe Ti=-l4 ir However, ome
‘wero pl the cock Back tote Boeing mcr 1940 land pee rng the hee
Of cigarette sake that un string lu, oe ol ee goose Hk
tore like ging al my sents chi. We were Lovers, tgs excvet
Ba nereah this lok there was 2 quiet eantilence ae agp teint, Sach
$n oullok was esteatia. The cffeed to ponctats Gran eerily wih ths
‘Suited since athe exe” diosa nthe seas S401 equine @ despa
rotten and special uty

‘We were laky to Aave the Wellington Iwas pal the bss ofthe banch wha
compared io the ier bombers, A goo! ld arborea lel an forgiving
‘ic crews were tothe bomber, but ie Tact remins that it was gutted unable to rect,
Ich eight ur the tra ers sm neal he and whe sary
hil bomb toad hills ad speed of es than fall that ol am ener eer
Freeci enrties oon cea nfs wit ce and fash roe onal a aio
sets fvdghtistnt lee horn shuld eta suas he touched whoa 2 glove
Enninss wore often suspset hey inva supe and spite ant the das
the insiument panel were constanly atched wih ansious eyes. hoping Hat the
‘Wadings woul fot sive seasons Tur eoncer,

Should ote engine Ll as they often dit Rusa heart-stopping moment wih the
comin knotledge the Wellington Be ale monn eight
"Siskimiole pero ls flying range woul thes he determined by reversal fers
Stet he Sate of He aca eng athe ine, angle an spec of eared
Silloth plot 0 nurse the sitet ang. Thee wore always apprehensive [est the
cect ckTbad ud eanse the temainnp eagle 1 overheat ~ab he Teast of the
Dialers was the possibly eat ee could al

allthis sounds gloomy. then add fo good mcasue ths fase set trom tke-o co
eur te Wellington would be fying ix oltion. Ia many respects de ud would be
‘om of inivial eff and selling bythe eos. Often he out t the eet
"Would be vai by crew preference. Tay normally took ino acvout the koowa Tak,
{dess, t lenes sul alert tclics on eogiapicl posi 30 eve le MSE
refllytsovght out glans sul go stray a eng he song uf he serpent a
Imexiwcred mownane Strict rac slence did ot hep, bu is was eel because oF
the encry's ropily increasing adar doen. To bre this sence as Lo sate
awh, equivalent to sending a telegram tothe Luftwaffe nosing them of tnt

‘But al ese shorcomings were shrugged of) sith an unTugeing ops
Mouiphorcally speaking we sere alin the same boat, and in any ease ayeting bad
Inapsened fo te cher fll ~era lest ssid the mas defence mechani The
more misstons tl were tla, eee became o Believe ns could 80 race
asta of ind dbo by the crews as Flak hapoy. Tas cx usely be espe
I oversonfience, a mistake lor which man ely pai deity joing the it
unmet, Those wera uel js ook i al Heels sane, never
hess agin jase sennjrore rabbit Th ol nde hs catego Pecan ardor
ro tach a5 the asa is rao

‘Replacement cfews 12 fl the gaps. proud of their newiy won wings. keen and
saviubisti, cane to the squadfon like an endless bel at some factory cormslen. The
“ewroom becume a pluform on ich the pusengers were eve-chunging. Tiere ws
barely ime To get to haw thew mies. Sully. thre month, the Ish sem ces
‘no had been so cige lo prove ther wort wuld move aor up the Be, often within
R [RAP BOMBER STORIES

days as erews were called upon w Hy operations that were near imposible. Some were
Jaks, some noe. Puta oars fete war the sar anpeeahity wx a ame das
steandor font x hat. Noll were fees faces eter The Grist Reaper ae not choosy
fd some ware veterans of many operations They afveys came back, sd thee demise
Senta eecold shook throug every level fn the squaon. Te eno of ther sing
fave everyone fos for hous

‘Wit Bomber Command Realy commited, in ciple any reograde step was ou
rte question, ad Contant competed aio fr these losses wen plang
Tes nota vers happy thought forthe squadron commander o lose so mas of their
valuable, well-tainel! crews, but i i not possible to make ap omelete without
breaking eggs. a ait accoml! thet just bow sts in with a Welungton Somber
sguadroa. Even so, Command intenii is effets, There would be no respite, no le
Sp. apa tie bale if Bruun was w koep inet postion a the sole Basu ib ie
‘ugg uguinst Nui Germany: must connie to be fought

‘Grice liens) down Irom high command co the squedrons, wad ia. smoke
oom the crete were Dried in detail Ii Wes a tough target. an untested groan
‘woul echo Uuough de trefing oom, On the oer hand, at easier one would pred
{mil eer endif the squacron commander even os mach as hinted that fete nes Ue
Salles chance of eancellton, sie wos met by moch stamping of feet son
fsa ove of applause, Tike CO woul sen ad Lan ele woul cues Is
Tce. He al heard it al befor. He bt flown many operations uné he understocd the
‘res wlohe To hit Us shove of mmo, usally epresed na olen, way es
eserbed petaps a Back humour, was gue normal. Whatever it Was, covered up
{Gite 2 Tol Ths was jst as well, sce Inthe few hous flowing the boeing te
‘njutant would be reaching for his telegram pad to write out the condolences 0 loved
Ges wang al home The sighe of the telegram boy always cased chilling
‘temonition and a eth ate ear

There was much o do before an up. There were maps and carts o prepare, urge
approach wo ansile, known Figer se orn mn i ek lle he oF
totter things to do, It was a buss penod bot prepaition wos vital uch has to be
‘saenng! in microscope dtl sed the eller the Gesp OU, he mre key the
Suess of the operaien and in all probability the chances of survival te. Even SO,
with al the workan concenmalion regres, somebow st alwass seemed by
Completed witha gad ho to spare foe take-oft time

"That hour always wok is toll Imespetive of experience ot how macy epertons
hg been vompete thet hour teem the wang tie. Tc posse with desl
slowness. jumbled-ap mas of eens mle anther ipingleabers watches the
lock ack over an umged ion, Ler it eave ttn Une to cide the poste Ut
lay stead ano above all olleed so much time to thnk. Tey ere a cheer,
resworeetil, happy-zo-licky burch, mostly in tei eens. and iz slmast hourly tench
‘heath, bit onthe stave eset they hal an eppaert fish eeepc ie
Tole The mess hel aesphere of is own. People ake in hushed whispers ar ont
Titer note dha ueual ant tere was un wey tension. Some woe Tellers a Tove
tie, dies thumbed Gough muzuanes ip a rests wa. Summe were Luge. sate
epost bers on st doops ther owe thos. Ys une in thei ile
the unset of danger, sick thoughts souls evaporate completes Ite operation would
be al it salered snd it called Jor at auhetutive gasp of the nde, Te ze

Tor the ctews that crme back, ie om te squadron was almost a world an ts own,
stn ony muhe wu of Boing ete, Ite loser eas were eve