大象传媒

A Poem by Doug Littlejohn, as a tribute to his old friend, Group Captain Hugh Verity, D.S.O. and Bar, D.F.C., Officier de la Legion d'Honneur, Croix de Guerre avec Palme.

April 6, 1918 - November 14, 2001

THE LAST RENDEZVOUS

The night is clear, the moon is high,
A Tangmere "Lizzie" is in the sky,
It's on a secret heading and it's bang on track,
This is a "one way" mission, it won't be back.

The landing ground's "Heaven" where touchdowns are grand,
It's the place where all pilots will finally land.
This Lizzie's been expected for many a night,
She's long overdue but will soon be in sight.

The "lads" from the squadron are ready and waiting,
Tonight there'll be laughter and much celebrating.
These brave "pick up" pilots number only a few,
But each one will be there at the last rendezvous.

Some background about Group Captain Hugh Verity:

During World War Two, 161 Special Duties Squadron of the Royal Air Force, was based at Tempsford and Tangmere Airfields and carried out Top Secret flights to enemy occupied Europe, equipped with Whitley and Halifax bombers which were used for parachuting agents and supplies with Hudsons and Lysanders (known as "Lizzies") for landing and taking off from isolated fields, transporting agents, resistance leaders and evading allied airmen.

The Lysander was capable of very short landing and take-off runs, which made it an ideal aircraft for this role. A large external fuel tank was fixed under the fuselage, which greatly increased the range, allowing the return journey to be made without the need for refuelling during the brief ground stops. A stepladder, permanently fixed to the side of the aircraft, ensured rapid turnarounds, decreasing the risk of detection by the occupying forces in the area.

In 1943, the Lysanders of 161 Squadron were commanded by Squadron Leader Hugh Verity, who flew many of the operations in his Lysander V9673 MA - "J" for Jiminy Cricket.

THIS ENTRY WAS ADDED TO THE SITE BY JOHN YOUNG OF 大象传媒 SOUTH EAST TODAY ON BEHALF OF DOUG LITTLEJOHN. MR LITTLEJOHN UNDERSTANDS THE SITE'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

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