大象传媒

This story has been submitted to the People's War site by Eve Luxford for Kent Libraries & Archives and Canterbury City Council Museums on behalf of Peter George and has been added to the site with his permission. the author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Following flight training with the United States Navy in 1944 I joined my first British Squadron in Maine to form an operational unit. During the course of the training we were called upon to search for German submarines lurking off the American coast in the Atlantic. On one flight I had occasion with my co-pilots to investigate a possible sighting which entailed low flying. Unfortunately I flew too low catching my propeller in the water leaving me to put the aeroplane in the water. I was lucky as the plane floated long enough to allow me to get out and into my dinghy.
Luckily my comrades were able to contact a fishing vessel which rescued me, and took me to their island with no doctor but with a nurse who dealt with my injured leg by putting on a foul smelling dressing. According to the naval doctor this local remedy was instrumental in saving the infected leg so I could return to duty 3 weeks later.

Some months later, back in the U.K. the Squadron was detailed to carry out its first deck landings on an aircraft carrier. I was instructed to lead the way and be first to land. One of the features of the carrier is that there are wires across the deck to catch the planes. On the aircraft there is a hook which in theory should catch a wire so causing the plane to stop. I entered the landing pattern and put my wheels, flaps and hook down. For some unknown reason the hook did not come down and on my final approach when the Batting Officer was in control he should have noticed I had no hook. He gave me the cut but with no hook. I bounced over the barrier, landed on the front of the carrier deck and with more luck than anything. I was able to get the plane back in the air. It was a mechanical fault but the Batting Officer was court- martialled and I was commended. The fact that I was scared witless was not considered relevant. I later in the day successfully completed my 4 deck landings.

In June 1945, HMS Vengeance, which was my ship,entered Australian waters prior to joining the British Pacific Fleet.For various reasons, the aircraft were flown off to NAS Jervis Bay. Unfortunately my aircraft was u/s but when the ship anchored in the Bay the Captain said I would be accelerated off the ship. This was not usual, in fact I believe I was the first to do this. The Captain, to ease my fears, said he would give me an extra boost in my rear end. He was right as when the the booster fired I was suddenly 5,000 feet above the Bay and still climbing. The rest of the Squadron watching from the shore said I had gone up like a rocket which in effect I was.

In November 1945, after the return of Hong Kong, the Squadron was ashore at Kai Tak airfield when General Chiang Kai Shek who was engaged in a civil war with the Communists, appeared on the Hong Kong border with 100,000 troops, demanding sea transport to Shanghai which would put him behind the Communists. The authorities said no and the Squadron was detailed to fly fully armed missions over the Chinese troops. Happily there was no need for any fireworks but it was a bit off as the war was over. Our final operations followed on against the pirates of Bias Bay in support of the Royal Marine Commandos which was more fun.

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