大象传媒

I was 20 years old when the war started andI was a regular member of the RAF stationed at RAF Mamby in Lincolnshire . I was a member of the ground crew 91 Squadron .In early 1941 the Squadron was re-equipped with the latest MKV Spitfire and the pilots and ground crew were more than pleased with this for, the new aircraft had greater manoeurverability in the air, had a much greater speed and much improved armament, compared to the old Spitfire. The Squadron was an unusual group of pilots of different nationalities, all very good and excellent pilots who flew their sorties as singletons or pairs, rarely at flight or Squadron strength.
When one of a pair of aircraft returned to base another singleton or pair were already in the air for patrol.
They flew over the French coast into France, reporting back on enemy shipping and aircraft movements. Only after reporting back the enemy movements were they permitted to engage the enemy unless of course they themselves were attacked before the report.Often they engaged overwhelming numbers of the enemy. Many successes were recorded but, inevitably there were also a number of fatalities
By contrast, on the ground the lack of personnel weapons was obvious.
In the event of invasion the ground crew were expected to deal with it. Our anti-paratroop units consisted of a number of small groups, consisting of 6 airmen in each group. Each group armament consisted of 1 Thompson Tommy gun with two magazines of ammunition one rifle with a limited amount of ammunition and 4 pickaxe handles with a sharpened piece of iron railing screwed on the end. I was one of the individuals who was allocated a pickaxe handle. What would have happened had I met a fully armed enemy paratrooper- beggers belief.Probably would have overpowered him as he stared at my weaponry in disbelief.

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