大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War website by Julia Shuvalova on behalf of Mr Norman Edwards, and has been added to the site with his permission. The author is fully aware of the terms and conditions of the site.

One of the biggest dangers facing pilots in India and Burma - certainly from 1943 onwards - was not the Japanese air force. It was the monsoon.

This was dramatically and tragically demonstrated when 615 Spitfire Squadron, which had distinguished itself against the Japs while based at Patel in the Imphal Valley, was returning to India to a rest, exchanging with 155 at Baigachi, near Calcutta.

It was August 1944, at the hight of the monsoon period.

Led by Squadron Leader Dave McCormack, DFC and Bar, all 16 Spitfires took off from the valley in reasonable weather but, just after passing the point of no return, they met huge black and brown and turbulent storm clouds extending from ground level thousands of feet upwards.

An attempt to climb above had failed. In the blackness of the cloud the Spitfires were tossed about like toys. Instruments were toppled, blind flying was impossible.

Eight of the 16 aircraft were lost. Four pilots including the CO were killed. Three more suffered leg injuries after baling out. One pilot escaped after crash-landing in a paddy field.

It was the biggest single loss of aircraft and pilots in the shortest space of time in Burma.

The pilots of the 155 Squadron were also soon to prove to have personal experience of the angry skies.

I was one of a flight of six Spitfires returning to Patel after escorting supply-dropping Dakotas. We were flying at 12,000 feet through a lane of cumulus when it turned into a cul-de-sac.

Unable to turn back in time we entered a bluish-grey cloud and immediately met blinding rain and violent air currents.

My number 1, Flying Officer "Jock" Dalrymple seemed to turn upside down. To my port I saw Flight Sergeant John McCormick heading vertically downwards.

After that, I was too busy trying to sort myself out to see whatever else was happening. I was losing speed but pushing the stick forward only increased the rate of loss. Think I must have been inverted. I knew that there were mountains, rising up to 8,000 feet, just below.

Fortunately, I came to a break in the clouds, got a glimpse of the ground and was able to regain control.

Jock and Mac both baled out, landing in mountainous jungle. They managed to walk back, but took three and four days respectively to cover the 20 miles involved.

The Mark VIII Spitfires turned the tide of the air war in Burma. On the last day of 1943 Mark VIIIs destroyed 13 Japanese bombers and fighters. The Spits could out-perform their Oscar fighters and catch with ease their fast and high flying Dinah reconnaissance aircraft.

Tail-Piece: Dive-bombing using 20-lb practice bombs was one of the arts taught at 151 OTU Peshawar to Indian pupils, the target being a range marked out with a centre bull and widening rings near the Khyber Pass.

Hurtling downwards in a Harvard towards the target I, as newly appointed instructor, was horrified to see a group of Afghans standing on the bull.

'Don't press the release', I shouted to the pupil and headed back to Peshawar, where the CFI said the Afghans collected the bomb fragments and melted them down for their muskets.

'Where were they standing?' asked the CFI.

'Smack on the bull', said I.

'Well, they're no fools!' commented the CFI.

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