大象传媒

I was born on the 13th January 1924 in Langley Park, County Durham. At 18 years of age I was living in Gateshead and was in a protected occupation working for the Railway I decided to join up and joined the RAF.
What was it like to be a member of a Bomber Crew?
We were all volunteers. I was a rear gunner and my pilot was also a Gateshead lad. We were the two original members, Stan at the front end and me at the back. We had met early during training at Upper Heyford. On arrival at my allocated bed space, I observed a young Sgt. Pilot lying on his bed. Hearing my Geordie voice he enquired "where are you from? I replied "Gateshead, Lobley Hill." "Well I'm from Gateshead,Dunston" he said. Within 2 minutes he and I agreed to fly together. Next day we then selected the rest of our crew, Bomb Aimer, Navigator & Wireless Operator. The previous night I had told him that I had a pal who had trained with me and who would be our Mid-Upper Gunner. During our operational training our Bomb-Aimer was replaced. This followed an abortive exercise. His replacement was a Canadian Flying Officer, his previous crew had all been killed during a training flight.
Wellingtons did not require a Flight Engineer and it was only when we progressed to Stirlings did they become crew members. Following a crash, our Engineer was replaced and events proved that Stan and I the original two crew members, were the only members to participate in every one of our operational trips.
Eventually we were one of the two elite Squadrons which, at that time, carried the 5 1/2 ton Tallboy Bomb. We were No. 9 Squadron, the other being No. 617 Squadron.
As told to Lobley Hill Library staff.

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