大象传媒

Apart from the first raid when the navigator let them down there were other setbacks. On one occasion an engine wouldn鈥檛 start. The Engineering Officer arrived but he was no more successful so Eric鈥檚 participation was cancelled. Engine number 2 controlled all the instruments so, if that was hit or damaged in any way, it was extremely difficult to navigate or to maintain a level flight.

On 3rd July the port engine caught fire soon after take-off. Eric landed safely and the engine was sent back to Rolls Royce. Eric salvaged a twisted piece of the damaged engine but unfortunately it was thrown out in one of our 鈥渢idying-ups鈥�.

On yet another occasion the ground engineer flooded the engine so, again it wouldn鈥檛 start.

These last minute cancellations must have been most unnerving for the entire crew.

On 26th November G. for Golden Fleece ran into fog on the way back and had to be diverted to Leconfield, spend the night there and return to base the following morning.

The 鈥渓oo鈥� was at the back of the aircraft and, as none of the crew liked it if Eric put the automatic pilot, known as 鈥淕eorge鈥� in and left his seat, he used to take an empty squash bottle for obvious reasons.

Most crews dropped things other than bombs. Unofficially empty bottles were dropped as they sounded like bombs coming down. Officially leaflets were dropped and we still have a selection.

However the most important extraneous item was 鈥渨indow鈥�. This was narrow strips of silvered paper, first used in a raid on Hamburg on 24th July 1943 in order to confuse the German Wurzburg radar sets. The result was to make it appear there were far more bombers approaching than there were in fact.

The crew were given survival kits containing items which would help them should they come down in enemy territory. In these packs were maps, French paper money, a dictionary of useful words and phrases, some Horlicks tablets and a self photograph which could be used in a false passport. In total the packs were small enough to be carried in a pocket. They were handed out at each briefing and returned after the raid. In addition crew were issued with collar studs which, when the surface was scratched, revealed a compass. We still have one but after all these years it is far from accurate.

Following this tour Eric was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for 鈥淭he completion in various capacities many successful operations against the enemy in which he displayed high skills fortitude and devotion to duty鈥�.

After a well earned leave he was commissioned as Pilot Officer Eric Phillips No 170712 and became an instructor, teaching pilots the art of flying Lancasters.

During the next months he was posted to Lindeholme, Binbrook, Hemswell, Sandtoft and Swinderby, by which time he had been promoted to Flight Lieutenant.

Instructing was not without its hazards. On one occasion Eric was teaching a pupil how to fly on 3 engines. He was told to feather each engine in turn and then start it up again. Unfortunately the first engine didn鈥檛 pick up but, instead of leaving it he carried on to feather the rest. By the time Eric was able to take over, only one engine was working. It was to everyone鈥檚 surprise and great relief that he was able to land this 29 ton machine on one engine.

On another occasion the airfield was covered in snow and the Squadron Leader wondered whether it was worth clearing the runway so that flying could start. There was only one way to find out and Eric took to the air. Because everywhere was so white it was impossible to get one鈥檚 bearings. The altimeter was slow in responding which made landing very hazardous. Fortunately, Eric got down safely but his advice was that it was too dangerous for less experienced pilots. So flying was cancelled for that day.

While Eric was at Hemswell I took our son,Ian to spend a week at the nearby inn, Caenby Coner and Eric got permission to take us over a Lancaster. It was extremely interesting but I think that the only thing the 3 year old Ian remembers is banging his head while crossing the infamous main spar.

Throughout the time that Eric was away we wrote to each other every day. By the time he came home for good we had a trunk full of letters - all written on flimsy paper. I don鈥檛 know whether or not it was a good idea but some time later we burnt the lot.

He also phoned me every Wednesday and Sunday evening except when the station was operational. Possibly my worse days were November 23rd and 24th 1943. As he didn鈥檛 ring on the 22nd I knew that he was flying that night and the following morning the papers were full of the huge losses suffered the night before over Berlin. The following night he still didn鈥檛 ring, so, although common sense told me that I should have been notified immediately, I couldn鈥檛 really believe that he was safe. Fortunately he rang during that day so all was well.

After the cessation of hostilities in Europe, members of the ground crew were taken for trips over the continent to see the damage inflicted by our bombers on Germany and by the German bombers on the Low Countries. Eric piloted 2 of these trips.

On 16th October 1944 he had the opportunity to go to Berlin - and land this time. He stopped at the British Officers鈥� Club and we still have the postcard he sent to me from there showing views of Berlin as it was before the war

On one occasion he flew to the Channel Islands to check their radar. On another he took a returning Australian pilot to Kenley airfield. On the way back he diverted to pass over New Malden and waggled his wings as he flew over Alric Avenue, New Malden, where we were living. Moreover I actually saw him.

Earlier I said Eric loved the Lancaster. I don鈥檛 think that is too strong a word. It had proved their life line during raids and he knew its every idiosyncrasy. Once he passed a Flying Fortress - America鈥檚 nearest approach to the Lanc. Eric feathered one engine and overtook them flying on his three engines and them on their four engines. Sadly there is only one Lancaster, The City of Lincoln, still flying in the U.K.. Based at Duxford in Cambridgeshire, she can be seen, together with a Hurricane and a Spitfire in fly pasts on ceremonial occasions..

Eric spent quite a fair bit of his free time walking around the countryside and, if he came upon a farm where he could buy eggs he did so - and sent them home wrapped in his dirty washing for safety.

He also sent home sultanas, Horlicks tablets and glucose tablets . The latter used to appear on the door handle of Ian鈥檚 bedroom door and walked into his mouth. But only when Eric was home!

On 9th January 1945 Flight Lieutenant Eric Phillips came home for good.

55,573 men of Bomber Command died attacking Germany during the war
.
We were the lucky ones.

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