´óÏó´«Ã½

When the 1939 — 1945 war started I was too young at 17 for military call up but, following an advert for volunteers to train as Air Crew in the RAF, I was accepted for training as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner at Yatesbury in Wiltshire.

On completion of my initial training, I was posted to an Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Harwell where I was to be included as part of a complete crew to fly in the Wellington bomber (Wimpy).

Our crew was eventually sent to the Middle East and was appointed to 38 Squadron, Bomber Command where we followed the route of the 8th Army from El-Daba through to Bengazi and into North Africa.

Our operations against the enemy included attacks on three destroyers, mine laying in Tobruk Harbour and an attack on a convoy, North West of Derna. Other operations included mine laying in Tripoli and Candia Harbour (Crete). Further operations included air cover and protection for a British convoy proceeding from Tripoli to Alexandria.

The largest operation of the war in the Middle East involved the Army, Navy and the Air Force. Tobruk was the target. This combined operation included sea-borne troops landing at Tobruk.

I was well overdue on my operational tour, having completed 32 active operations (normal screening was about 25 sorties) with a total of 269 operational hours.

When I was eventually screened, I was posted to South Africa where I became an instructor to Wireless Operator/Air Gunner pupils under the Empire Training Scheme.

My Flying Log book is still in my treasured possession with every detail of my training and active operations duly stamped and certified by the Officer Commanding 38 Squadron.

*THIS STORY WAS SUBMITTED TO THE PEOPLES' WAR WEBSITE BY A VOLUNTEER FROM ´óÏó´«Ã½ ESSEX ON BEHALF OF STANLEY ALBERT HILL AND HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE SITE WITH HIS PERMISSION. HE UNDERSTANDS THE SITE'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.