大象传媒

Joined RAF in 1942 and trained as Navigator in Canada and used sextant to get positions. Then introduced to 鈥淕鈥� box which was basic radar. Crewed up at Silverstone and flew Wellingtons with 2 engines and from there onto Operational Training Unit (OTU). Then joined Conversion Unit and went onto 4 engine Stirling aircraft to get used to flying and then onto Lancasters.

Joined 467 Australian Squadron at Waddington in Lincolnshire. First operation was a memorable one. As navigator I needed a good watch as everything relied on timing. Just after D-Day we flew to somewhere in France. Kept falling behind and asked pilot to increase speed. When asked how long to target I realised my watch had gained half an hour and with plotting we were now miles ahead of target. Had to do a dog leg all over enemy territory to get back to others. We were then behind time when we reached target. Approached target and ready to drop bombs when wireless operator had message from base to say not to drop and to return. Started flight home and a couple of minutes later another message came to drop bombs and then return. We did this and returned to base and I soon got a replacement watch.

On another occasion went to target deep in Germany with a mixture of bombs on board 鈥� some normal and some delayed action. Over target, dropped bombs and gave course to steer back home but there was one delayed action bomb which had not dropped. Pilot tried to dislodge by jerking plane about but no luck so had to return with 500lb bomb still on board. After we crossed English Channel and were over England it dropped off into bomb bay and we were all frightened it would explode. We then had instructions to divert to Halfpenny Green instead of normal airfield due to bad weather. This was a grass aerodrome and we landed safely in early hours of morning and went to bed. After an hour or so the Skipper was called out of bed by Flight Engineer 鈥� they had to move our aircraft away from the others in case it blew up. Later that day we had to fly back with bomb still on board to Waddington. Thankfully it didn鈥檛 go up.

Another time we were off to target in Germany and were nearly knocked down by anti-aircraft fire. We continued mission and on way back over French coast a German fighter shot at us. Took a chunk out of tail plane and woke the two gunners up and they quickly returned fire and then we flew home.

We were due to go out one night and we were allocated S for Sugar plane which had done 137 operations. Went to get briefed on a destination which was some distance away but then told we didn鈥檛 have to go. Later realised this was because the Duke of Gloucester came to inspect squadron the next day and we had to parade alongside the aircraft. I did fly in the plane another time. Several planes were lost on that fateful evening but we were saved by Duke鈥檚 visit.

Flew during daytime over Belgium and Holland to target aerodromes. Also buzz bomb sites in France as well.

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