- Contributed by听
- audlemhistory
- People in story:听
- John Roberts
- Location of story:听
- R A F
- Background to story:听
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:听
- A5815235
- Contributed on:听
- 19 September 2005
WARTIME MEMORIES JOHN ROBERTS SERVED 5 YEARS BOMBER COMMAND
It was a massive effort to assemble the 1000 planes for the first Bombing raid. Practically every bomber in the country was used including those at training units. The majority of the planes were Wellingtons.
I was a Radio Technician and in total secrecy we had to adapt and install a transmitter and trailing aerial in one of the Wellingtons that would tell you when you were travelling at 250mph and 50 feet above sea level and then indicate that you should release your bombs.
We thought this was so a damaged plane could off load its bombs before hitting the ground, but were puzzled as to how it would maintain speed. All was soon to be revealed!
The next day the Wellington left and 24 hours later there was a telephone call from the pilot, Guy Gibson who said 鈥 You bloody well nearly killed me by putting me in the drink!鈥 A few weeks later the Dambusters Raid took place, led by one Guy Gibson, and it became clear what our low flying system had been trying to achieve!
The Mosquito Squadron I was attached to had a further connection to the infamous raid in that our leader was an Australian who had been second in command to Guy Gibson. I remember him as an inspirational man who the despite the stress of the Dambusters raid refused a break and took charge of our Squadron.
There were lighter moments and I recall that when our airfield was being heavily bombed and looking around for cover I saw that some of the ground crew had dived for safety under the full petrol storage tanks!
The things people will do in an emergency for self-preservation!
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