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1684957 Sutcliffe W.E. Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (WOP/AG) Den Helder, Ijmuiden, Heligoland and Hook of Holland anti-shipping raids possibly taken at Langham Norfolk in full flying kit circa 1945.
The following account is best to put into context by reading my story listed under: Irene M M Sutcliffe:
My future husband Bill was selected as aircrew and after training as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner and further OTU training in the Middle East and Radar training at RAF Chivenor, he was posted to Langham in Norfolk where I met him while I was working on the airfield as an electrician. You can see in the photograph, the flying kit that aircrew war was designed to keep them warm. Air Crew, flying at high altitude, operated in an extremely hostile environment. It was essential to guard against frostbite and the soporific effects of extreme cold. Aircrew were expected to be alert 100% of the time whilst flying. A fighter attack would only last approximately six to ten seconds in which time the aircraft could be destroyed. Much of Coastal Command's work involved methodical searching of vast areas of ocean. Bill was tasked with anti-shipping operations off the North Sea coast of Germany and Holland . His missions took him to Den Helder, Ijmuiden, Heligoland and the Hook of Holland. He was attacked by a night fighter on the night of 24th to 25th March 1945 on an armed recce to Heligoland. I refer in my account to an attack on an E Boat Group. This probably took place at approximately 18:30 to 19:00 hrs flying Wellington XIV “J” on 11/01/1945 during a Box Patrol - A/S at Den Helder.

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