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Chapter VII. The Tour of Operations. 166 Squadron.

166 Squadron, Kirmington, Lines.
When we arrived at Kirmington we were allocated a hut on a dispersed site in
Brocklesby Wood, about as far as could be from the airfield, primitive living
arrangements, but not too far from the Sergeants Mess.

By now we were no longer confined to camp and "liberty buses" were run from camp to Grimsby and Scunthorpe. Most of us used to go to 'Sunny Scunny' where there was a cinema two well known pubs, The Bluebell and The Oswald, the latter became known as 1 Group Headquarters. This establishment had a large function room with a rather large lady thumping a piano with a row of pint pots lined up on top. Then there was the cinema which was OK but on a least one occasion when watching a film, a notice appeared on the screen instructing all 1 Group aircrew to return to base immediately. Perhaps surprisingly, everyone obeyed.

No. 11 19.10.44. Target STUTTGART. Night operation.

Allocated aircraft AS-Z Bomb load 11000 Ibs mixed HE.
600 Aircraft attacked Stuttgart in favourable weather conditions. Moderate flak
opposition but no searchlights. A very good attack. 6 Lancasters lost.

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No.12 23.10.44. Target ESSEN Night operation.

Allocated aircraft AS-B. Bomb Load 1 x 40001b Cookie balance of load incendiaries.
1008 aircraft set out to bomb this target. It was our first visit to 'Happy Valley' as the Ruhr Valley as known. Unfavourable weather conditions were encountered from 02degrees east to the target. Pathfinder Force arrived late and Air Position
(Wanganui) Marking was scattered, but bombs were dropped on the markers.
Not the best of attacks.
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No, 13 25.10.44 Target ESSEN. Daylight attack.

Allocated aircraft AS-F Bomb Load 12000 Ibs HE.

This was the first daylight raid on Greater Germany by RAF Bomber Command.
Opposition was moderate. There were 15 Squadrons of Spitfires.and 8 Squadrons of Mustangs as escort Not that we saw them, they were way up above the bomber
stream . No enemy fighter opposition.. 'F' Fox was base reserve and started 10
minutes after other aircraft had set course. We took part on second arming point and catching up 20 minutes on round trip landed No.3 back at base.

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No.14 28.10.44 Target COLOGNE

Allocated aircraft AS-D Bomb Load 1 x 4000 Ib Cookie plus incendiaries.

Daylight operation. 733 aircraft despatched to devastate residential areas in NW of
the City There was heavy flak opposition and our aircraft suffered some minor
damage A piece of shrapnel came through the perspex dome in front of me whilst
I was crouched over the bombsight It hit me on the shoulder on my parachute
harness but did me no harm.
This was a very good operation as ordered.
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No. 15 29.10.44. Target Gunsites at DOMBURG. Walcheren Island, Holland.

Allocated aircraft AS-M Bomb Load 15000 Ibs HE. Daylight attack.. 6 aircraft from 166 squadron together with 19 others attacked 4 aiming points. All were accurately bombed. There was no opposition.
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No. 16 30.10.44. Target COLOGNE, Night operation.

Allocated aircraft AS-K Bomb Load. Ix40001b Cookie plus 9000 Ibs HE.
No.l Group was assigned to attack aiming point which was not successfully attacked
on 28th. October. Over the target there was clear visibility, moderate flak opposition.
This was considered to have been a very good attack.
It was on this operation, whilst we were on the bombing run an aircraft exploded
ahead of us. At least I believe it was an aircraft although the Germans used a device which we called a "scarecrow". This was a pyrotechnic device which exploded to simulate an exploding aircraft. Presumably meant to put the frighteners on us!

On the 31,. 10.44 we were again briefed to attack Cologne but having climbed to operating height a crew check by the Skipper revealed that Paddy our rear gunner was unconscious in his turret. Gus, wireless op went back and pulled him from the turret and onto the rest bed in the centre of the aircraft. He fitted him up with a portable oxygen bottle and skip made the decision to abort and return to base where an ambulance was waiting to whisk paddy off to sick bay. Apparently the problem had been a trapped oxygen pipe in the turret. We had been airborne for 2hrs 15 mins.

To depart for the moment from the tour of operations, it was about this time when I developed at rash on my face which turned to a weeping eczema which meant that I could not shave and I had to report sick. The Doc took a look and said, "OK You're grounded". I replied "You can't do that Doc, my crew will have to take a spare bomb-aimer and I shall have to complete my tour with other crews". After pleading my case Doc agreed to allow me to continue flying provided each time before flying I reported to Sick Quarters and had a dressing put on my face so that I could wear my oxygen mask. The Doc was treating me with various creams which had little or no effect until one day the WAAF medical orderly who applied the treatment said to the Doc "Why don't we try a starch poultice". The Doc suggested that was an old wives remedy. However as nothing else had worked he agreed to let the Waaf give it a try. I know not where this young lady learned her skills because I gathered she was a hairdresser hi ciwie street, in Leicester, my home town. She applied the said poultice and the next day I reported back to sick quarters where she removed the poultice and whatever was clinging to it. I went back to our hut and very carefully shaved. The starch poultice had done the trick. I thought frostbite had probably caused the problem in the first place but I was to learn some months later the real cause which I shall reveal later in the story .

'This story was submitted to the People's War site by Rod Aldwinckle of the CSV Action Desk on behalf of John Derek Bailey and has been added to the site with his / permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions

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