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This contribution to WW2 People鈥檚 War was received by the Action Desk at 大象传媒 Radio Norfolk. The story has been written and submitted to the website by Rosalie Davis Gibb (Volunteer Story Gatherer) with the full permission and on behalf of Patricia Coleman.

鈥極n the 3rd September 1944, W/O Potts took off 1555 hrs for operation against Venlo aerodrome in Holland. Due to flak damage over target one engine was put out of action and 2 damaged. On return, 2 engines were lost and east coast crossed at low altitude in poor visibility. When about 50 miles from Strubby airfield, operating on one engine and rapidly losing height and with crews jettisoning equipment to lighten the load, requested emergency landing. In line with Strubby runway but unable to make it so at 1925 hrs the aircraft made a crash landing about 2 miles from it at Withern鈥�.

Flying a Halifax, my husband, Ken Potts, was on the last operation of his first tour with 51 Squadron. Ken left his crew at a house to dry out and borrowed a bike from a nearby farmer to cycle to the village phone box to tell Strubby where they were. The farmer gave him a large whisky, which he wasn鈥檛 used to, and I can still see his laughing face as he told me he fell off the bike 鈥� twice! The only thing he ever told me about his operational career. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, but he didn鈥檛 tell me at the time and the first I knew of it was a letter from Buckingham Palace. King George VI presented me with the medal some time in the summer of 1945. Alas, by this time, Ken was dead. He had volunteered for Path Finder Force and joined 35 Squadron flying a Lancaster from Graveley, Huntingdonshire, with a new crew. They were shot down by flak over Germany on Friday 5th January 1945. They were all killed.

I was living in Streatham, South London. Ken had telephoned to say he would probably come home for the weekend. 2 days later he phoned to say he wouldn鈥檛 be off duty so for me to go to him. I packed and prepared to go the next day, Saturday 6th January.

I was reading Friday evening when I heard him call my name. I thought he was home after all, had forgotten his key and was calling from the garden as he had done before. I went to the front door but there was no sign of him. I can鈥檛 remember what I felt at the time except 鈥榟ow strange鈥� and left for Gravely on Saturday morning. I booked in at the hotel and at 4 o鈥檆lock phoned the Officers鈥� Mess. He would often be found there at that time. The WAAF who answered my query as to whether he was in the Mess said 鈥淚 can鈥檛 give you any info about this Officer鈥�. I said 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want info, is he there?鈥� She repeated herself. I then thought something was wrong so asked the Adjutant who told me Ken was missing from a raid on Hanover the previous night. I went back to London and found a telegram on the front door mat saying he was missing.

After all these years, I鈥檓 so pleased to have made contact with the farmer鈥檚 granddaughter, who still lives in the same farmhouse.

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