大象传媒

I joined 31 Squadron RAF as an engine fitter about the middle of 1941 at Lahore in the Punjab. My introduction was precise, and to the point. The C.O, Wing Commander "Bill" Burberry said, "come with me Sumption" so, Sumption duly went along, and the "Boss" took me to a DC2 Dakota standing on the tarmac , and said, "This is your aircraft Sumption, where this goes, you go, you will have to act as a despatcher, get yourself a log book, and you will be paid an extra one and fourpence a day flying pay, You will not get a parachute, as we have none on the Sqdn, Good Luck Sumption" !
After a six month detachment in the Middle East(Pilot Flt Lt, Howell) the Sqdn. returned to Lahore for a refit, and, as the Japanese had just invaded Burma from Thailand, we, including my faithful Dakota ended up at Chittagong(P/0Williams) where we were in constant action dropping supplies to civiliand refugees, and British soldiers fleeing the advancing Japanese.
When the retreat was stabilised in the region of Imphal, Maj. Gen, Wingate sent the Chindits in to operate behind the enemy lines, and they were to be supplid by air,with 31 Sqdn. doing the necessary.
The normal procedure for a supply drop was as follows: Each Chindit column would have attached to it a RAF Wireless Operator, When the column Commander had decided on a venue for a drop; usually just a ckearing in the jungle, the wireless operator would radio our base with the column's requirements(Food, Arms, Ammunition, Medical Suppies etc) The loads were normally of a mixed variety. The free fall items, such as sacks of rice etc, would be pushed out flying in at tree top height, Medical supplies etc, needed a parachute drop, so we would go in at 600 feet to clear the load. Time over the dropping zone was about twenty minutes, or so, taking about seven runs over the target area. On several occasions, the operation had to be aborted due to interferance by enemy aircraft.
On one occasion returning from a supply drop, my aircraft was chased by a couple of Japanese Zero's and we only got away by diving into cloud, and then dropping down to ground level to rid ourselves of the enemy. About this time, I was engaged on a night operation to rescue some eleeven British soldiers left stranded on the Island of Akyab.in the Indian Ocean. The Japs were expected to take the Island in a matter of days! Unfortunately, my pilot got the runway mixed up in the dark, and put us down in the middle of a bomb crater! The aircraft was a write off, and we, the rescuers were now in need of rescuing!. During the following day, the Japanese bombers came over and gave us a real pasting.and as I was heading for the slit trench alonside the runway, I was very much aware of the fact that a Zero was chasing me flying at almost ground level;,and the bullets were kicking up the dust just a foot or so to my right. I made the slit trench in double quick time. Eventually, two days, and several air raids later, another 31 SQdn. Dakota flew in at night, did a quick about turn, and got us all back safely to Chittagong.
I have a log book recording rather more than 300 operatioal flying hours during the Burma Campaign including many hair raising experiances. Not bad for an engine fitter.
P.S. I never did get that extra one and fourpence !!!

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