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These stories are dedicated by Harold Jacobson to his friends
Etienne Vanckere and Anny Vanckere

Story title: Air support for 21st army group from ‘D’ day to the heart of Germany
Location: 2ndd Tactical Air Force (RAF) Wevelgem, Belgium 1944-46.

The only major maintenance unit in the 2nd T.A.F. with aircraft engine Test benches, two for Roils Royce Merlin engines and two for American engines, Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp and Wright Cyclone engines.

One test bench for the little Lycoming and a Tempest Fuselage for the Sabre engines.
The 18 men divided into one Corporal and two fitters per shift.

3 continuous shifts on the Merlin benches and shift as required for the American engines. Seven days a week.
On the Merlin benches we worked under floodlights at night if there was an air raid an R.A.F. policeman was to cycle over the airfield and tell us to put the lights out. Ha, ha, ha. At about 8am every morning an Army Bowser would call and drop 5 gallon of water for drinking only. This was to last the 18 men 24 hours.

In May 1944 the R.A.F. Bomber command dropped bombs on the town of Courrai (Kortrijk ) and killed 600 people, the town was flat they should have hit the railway sidings, a lot fell on the town we lost 10 Lancaster’s on this raid. To help matters we gave a Christmas party to 2000 children on Christmas day 1944. This party was on and it was off due to the Germans breaking through in the Ardennes.

The Luftwaffe with bombers to bomb England and a group of Adolph Gallands unit, top class fighting units of JG26, used our airfield. Top Guns of the Luftwaffe. I believe my wife Min and myself are the only couple to be invited to there re-union in Germany. The Rt. Hon. John Major Prime Minister approved my speech at the time.

Did you know that one of our Typhoons machine-gunned some of our prisoners escaping from their camp, 39 killed? No apology from the R.A.F. A Flt. Lt. Who escaped lived in Gloucester.

On the test benches no engine could be issued unless it had our test certificate, there had been many problems men working at the front changing engines only to find they had faults. In the early days I recalled to my unit in Jurby I.O.M. No 5 bombing and gunnery school.10th May 1940 we had to search for gun racks and bomb racks for our Blenheims to send 10 Blenheims to the south coast to cover Dunkirk.

We never found the racks so the Blenheims never left. I also served in the Middle East Air Force from Jan 1941 until Jan 1944, then back to the UK under canvas until the invasion.

P.S It is my opinion that if you did not belong to Bomber command or fighter command they did not want to know you as both our Air Commanders Tedder and Coningham did not agree to the bombing and said that you will not win a war unless you have ground troops with a strong air force ahead this was proved in Egypt, our first victory which allowed our church bells to ring. The two Commanders brought back Tedder 2nd in command and Coningham to form 2nd T.A.F. I know more about Arnhem being in Belgium that’s another story. You never hear of the 2nd T.A.F. or Far East Air force,

My 511 forwards repair unit was re-grouped to form 151 repair unit, 2nd tactical air force R.A.F being an Honary member of the Flander aviation, they have been good enough to write my experiences of the Hamson crash of 7 squadron into the Snaefell mountain snow covers. On 1:01:1940 it was this crash that caused my lung problems later in life. It is possible for you to look at some of the support attitudes that went on during the War times days. My memories leave you an insight to the teams working under terrible conditions to keep our Air Force operational.

I am 83 years of age and 90% disabled.

WEVELGEM — BELGIUM

ROYAL AIR FORCE

The Epitaph to 151 Repair Unit (Aircraft)

2nd Tactical Air Force. Belgium 1944/46.

The Merlins, Alisons and Griffons Roar
The Sabres Rattle,
The Wasp’s Stings,
The Cyclones Blow,
And
The little Lycomings purr away.
These engines left our good unit for those on high,
Flying above and around us,
In their going out and their coming back safely, the aircrew thanks go to 151.
The story of 151 enshrines the past,
As leaf by leaf, so day by day, year by year, reunion after reunion the stories of our lives unfold, Our eyes grow dim, our hair turns grey, could we, but have read when 151 began that the story of our works would stand,
Though all our days and all our nights until the enemies where put to flight.
H.E Jacobson

When you are flying, everything is alright or it is not alright,
If it is alright there is no need to worry,
If it is not alright, one of two things will happen. Either you will crash or you will not
Crash. If you do crash, one of two things will happen.
Either you will be injured or you will not be injured.
If you are not injured there is no need to worry.
If you are injured one of two things is certain. Either you will recover or you will not recover.
If you recover there is no need to worry
If you do not recover, you cannot worry.

From ‘Spitfire Parade (1941)’.

V.E DAY MAY 8TH 1945

The following is a personal message to relatives and friends of all members of 2nd T.A.F from Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham. Air Officer, Commanding-in- Chief, 2nd T.A.F.

It is your courage and stead-
Fastness that have sustained
To you our relations and
Friends go our first thoughts
Of gratitude for the victory
In Europe.
It is your courage and stead
Fastness that have sustained
Us.

1. THE SECOND TACTICAL AIR FORCE WAS FORMED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ON 1ST JUNE 1943.
2. IT TOOK PART IN THE AIR OPERATIONS
3. OVER EUROPE WHICH PRECEDED THE INVASION OF THE CONTINENT.
4. IT COMMENCED TO LAND ON ‘D’DAY THE 6TH JUNE 1944 AND FOUGHT WITH 21 ARMY GROUP OVER FRANCE, BELGIUM AND HOLLAND AND INTO THE HEART OF GERMANY IN THE CAMPAIGN WHICH LIBERATED EUROPE FROM NAZI DOM.

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