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After evacuation from Dunkirk on 29th May 1940, our regiment was posted to Wiltshire and Dorset, and in the Autumn of 1940 we took an active part in the air battles which took place over Southern Britain.

During 1939 and 1940 we used sound locators to detect enemy bombers and we were lucky to be 鈥榦n target鈥� straight away. However in late 1940-1941, RADAR was being developed and the situation changed completely as this new equipment became available on site. Enemy aircraft were located almost immediately and on a clear night, even at 15,0000-20,000 ft., looked like an elongated silver cross in our beam as we held it there despite the pilots efforts to turn away. At this height our AA Guns couldn鈥檛 reach the target but our night fighters from airfields on Salisbury Plain were soon attacking and we cheered and shouted in excitement as we saw a bomber falling usually in flames.

Today in my late eighties it seems dreadful to think of most of the crew probably dead or seriously burned but we were young men then in our twenties and it was a natural reaction to cheer. We knew that the bombers were heading north to attack Bristol, Birmingham and Coventry. For all we knew those that did get through would be dropping bombs on our own homes and families.

There were long nights on duty during the Winter 鈥淭ake Post2 was usually about 5 in the evening with 鈥渟tand down鈥� about 7 next morning and you had to be alert all the time.

Sometimes we had a happier duty to perform. Towards dawn we would receive a message over the R/T (radio transmitter) that one of our bombers returning from a raid over Germany was damaged and needed help in landing. We were given a bearing and swept our searchlight at a low angle towards the airfield. Often we heard or saw the plane limping slowly back. It was great to come off duty and told over the R.T that the plane and crew had landed safely!

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Anastasia Travers a volunteer with WM CSV Action desk on behalf of Harry Reeves and has been added to the site with his permission. Harry Reeves fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

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