大象传媒

I was born one week after was announced so my memories are limited. I can recall various things as can most people, from that time, rationing, queuing, seeing people in uniform and I remember having the windows blacked out. I recall lying in my bed hearing the sirens and then planes going over and trying to push the bedclothes in my ears because I was frightened.

Many years later and after a divorce I re-married 鈥� Alvin Tipple (aka as Jack to some of his fellow RAF personnel) who some 18 years older than myself. We had six very happy years together before his passing and during that time I saw, even after all the years the effect the war had had on him eg he would very often jump sharply if he was caught unawares this was the result of a bomb going through the aircraft at the side of him. He was a navigator in the RAF Bomber Command, 149 and 187 squadrons, flying in many operations in the 鈥渇orgotten aircraft鈥� ie Stirlings (鈥楺鈥� queenie call sign I believe). He did 56 trips in total and always maintained he must have had a 鈥榗harmed life鈥�.

He spoke of some of the events (which must have been uppermost in his mind) 鈥� one instance was when they had been on a trip to drop supplies, a crew member had taken his hat off during the flight and put it under the static line on the box. On return when de-briefing the officer asked which 鈥榮illy person鈥� had lost his hat. The French Resistance had signaled through before they had landed and ultimately returned the hat!

Whist watching a television series about spies during the war he recounted in more detail (the only occasion) about a trip he was on when they had dropped supplies to the French Resistance and as they circled to return they saw a German convoy approaching the area where they had dropped so they took the necessary action!

He was also on the Peenemunde raid which I believe had an impact on him. (to quote Leonard Cheshire鈥檚 words to me 鈥渢hat was a nasty one鈥�).

Later in civilian life he encountered a gentleman (John) who was of Polish origin but now lived and worked in the UK. On being introduced to my husband he referred to a scar on his saying 鈥測ou did that鈥�. Apparently he was 鈥榝orced labour鈥� in the underground rocket factory at Peenemunde and was injured on the night of the raid, which of course, my husband took part.

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