大象传媒

HMS Furious 1943. Ex Battle Cruiser converted to aircraft carrier for war service 39-45.

Cruising towards Norway from Scapa Flow, the war time fleet anchorage in the north of Scotland (Orkney Isles). On the way to bomb HMS Tirpitz German Battle Curiser holed up in Alton Fyord after being damaged in action with British battle ships.

My job as ordinary seaman was aircraft handler and gun crew. We sheltered in what were known as the nets around the flight deck and from where the smoke from the ship's funnels came, so we all ended up as black as you know what by the end of our watch. You could just make out the whites of our eyes.

Occasion I remember most: One of our aircraft damaged, tried to land after being told by air central to ditch in the sea. Pilot did not do that, very conscientious pilots. Anyway, aircraft crashed a gun platform, nearly wiping out gun crew we thought. Broadcast over the loud hailer from skipper 'Get that rubbish over the side.' All went beserk as we thought he was referring to the bodies of our mates. In fact he was referring to the wreckage of the plane. If it had been the former I thnk we would probably have mutinied. So all ended happily, no lost lives. Mates lived on.

Lots more but time running out, must go.

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