大象传媒

Jack Powley was a wireless operator during WWII, flying in Halifax, Wellington (on this op) and Lancasters. He served from 23 January 1941 until 29 August 1949 completing 40 successful operations. He joined the Path Finder Force (635 and 156 Sqd PFF) in 1944. He also served as a W/T Instructor.

This story comes from his 8th completed mission of 40. He tells the rest in his own words from his flight log.

Airborne at 2125 and so we go once again for what is know as "Happy Valley."

Surrounded by the same belt of searchlights as Essen and so we must expect a warm reception.

Weather reports are once again not very reliable. We fly above cloud all the way across the sea, having been told at briefing that we should expect to find the cloud broken over the target. However, as we approach the target area we find we are still in 10/10 cloud and can't see a dammned thing - not even the flack bursting.

We see a glow on the clouds below us and knowing we are near the target we figure the glow must be from fires on the deck. We decide to make our run in and all at once we are boxed in by heavy flak. Willie (Sgt Williamson) takes violent evasive action but it gets hotter. Then all at once we sure stopped something. The old kite shakes from end to end and we begin to lose height. We get rid of our bombs but still we lose height and Willie is fighting like hell to control her. At this time he shouts, "OK fellows grab your shutes!"

We were hit at 2320 at a height of about 14,000 feet and lost height rapidly to 10,000. The kite starts to behave a bit better and Willie seems to have her more or less under control but she won't climb at all. But as long as the damned thing will fly that's all we worry about. If anyone can get us back to England than Willie can - so we hope for the best.

There is no reply from Bertie (Sgt Bertrand) our rear gunner so Watty (Sgt Watkins - Navigator) goes back to see what is wrong. He almost walks out of the end because the turret had disappeared completely.

Poor Bertie, he didn't even know what hit us.

We tried to follow the route out as ordered, that is across Belgium and Northern France. Watty hadn't much to navigate on apart from a few 'loop bearings' I was able to get him. Searchlights try to pick us up and there wasn't much we could do about it not being able to take evasive action. As Willie said at the time. "They don't give a guy a bloody chance."

For over two hours we flew over enemy territory in this state and gradually losing height most of the way.

We crossed the French coast at about 0120 (although we didn't see it) at 2000 feet. Here the searchlights coned us and Willie put her nose down and made for the drink. The question was now, would she pull out? At 900 feet Willie pulls her up and the searchlights have lost us.

We didn't see the English coast when we crossed it. We shot off a couple of distress cartridges and eventually searchlights directed us to some place. Gas was getting pretty low and we had to get down. Before coming in to land we took up crash positions because the hydralic system was u/s.

Willie put the old bus down as though she were an injured baby and boy, was she injured!

To Willie I say, "A bloody good show." Not forgetting Watty for his D.R. navigation. Some of his equipment was blown up together with our serial connections. Not forgetting Park (Sgt Parker) either for his great efforts.

As for Bertie, only a miracle could have saved him and I say, "May he rest in peace."

Duration of trip: 5hrs 20mins
Ops completed: 8

Jack Powley died in 2002 at the age of 85, leaving 4 children, 8 grandchildren (including me) and 2 great-grandchildren.

May he rest in peace.

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