大象传媒

Pilot, F/O Bradley
Navigator, John Edmunds
Flight Engineer, F/Sgt Richards
Wireless Operator, F/Sgt Jock Veitch
Front Gunner, F/Sgt Roberts
Rear Gunner, F/Sgt Les Vedmore
Bomb Aimer, F/Sgt Bob Corbett

In 1944, WW2 we transferred to 4 engine Liberator bombers based at Abu suier from Palastine where I'd been based for the past 6 months. These were long range planes manned by 8 members of the RAF, of which I was one. Although we were based in Egypt, our targets were Italy. A mission round trip would last 11 - 12 hours. In fact, I'd had 3 successful missions previous to the events of this day.

Other than raids, if there were any signs of bad weather, we would also go up in the liberators to carry out weather checks. On this particular day our crew was detailed to carry out the weather check before going off on a raid. The previous evening, the flight engineer had asked me if he could go into my rear turret just for the weather check in the morning. I agreed because it was the duty of the person in the rear turret to watch for signals from the control tower when taxing on the runways. Whilst they were in the air a thick mist came over the aerodrome from the sea and made visibility virtually impossible.

Being a very keen pilot, he decided to attempt to land through the mist with disastrous consequences. The Liberator bomber had a fuel tank in the nose of the aircraft and as the aircraft hit the runway, it exploded, resulting in the immediate death of all the crew.

I should have been on that plane, so I consider myself very lucky to still be alive to tell this tale and remember comrades today.

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