- Contributed by听
- Alan Newman
- People in story:听
- My name Leslie Charles Weal 1474957 LAC other members of my guard
- Location of story:听
- North Creake RAF Station Norfolk 171 Squadron Bomber Command
- Background to story:听
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:听
- A4462634
- Contributed on:听
- 15 July 2005
This story was submitted to the people's war site by a pupil at Esher high school on behalf Leslie Charles Weal and has been added to the site with his permission. Leslie Charles Weal fully understands the site's terms and conditions.
I was called up for RAF service in May 1941 at the age of 20. I was an apprentice Motor Engineer when I went into the service, I was trained as F.II.E (Aero Engine Filter).
I served about 5 years in Bomber Command on Blenheim, Wellington, Halifax, Stirling, Bombers. During April 1945 we realised the war in Europe was not to last for many more days and we looked forward to celebrating our victory.
The air crews were fatigued after long flights under fire and some air crews let it be known that at the end of the war they would burn the aircraft. The C.O. took these threats seriously and ordered myself and my mates to guard the squadron of 24 A/C so when we would have been enjoying ourselves having been down in the town. We would ourselves armed with loaded rifles and ordered to challenge anyone approaching the A/C and if necessary fire on them - we felt mean enough to carry this out.
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo