大象传媒

THE AMERICANS HAVE LANDED. As sometimes happens, even today, the meteorological services can foul up, and things can get quite rough when good weather is predicted, but bad weather moves in. This late February day in 1945, American Air Force had been out 鈥渆n masse鈥� to distant targets in Germany. While still several hours from their home bases in Northampton and Suffolk, unpredicted dense fog moved in rapidly. All of England was pretty well socked in, except for about ten R.A.F. bomber stations in the Lincoln area. And so it was, that dozens of Liberators and Flying Fortresses, all getting low on fuel and with daylight almost gone, and with fog moving in rapidly, were diverted to our base. All the elements for a mass tragedy were in place.
Control tower staff faced a Herculean task; how to get approximately sixty heavy bombers down, before either fuel was gone or limited light gave out? One thing did work for the controllers; there was practically no wind, and so it was possible by proper timing to land bombers on two runways practically simultaneously. These intersected near their extremities; it had to have been extremely hectic, however, with so many planes landing so close together. One mistake, or an accident could have resulted in a chain reaction tragedy. Finally the last plane was down just before fog and darkness took over completely, and six hundred American flyers, and all those on our base giving moral support, gave a collective sigh of relief. As a tribute to the skill and dedication of the many control tower personnel involved, only two of the four hundred and eighty planes which landed in the Lincoln area were slightly damaged. All aircrew, I鈥檓 sure, would agree that every controller deserved a medal for his work that day.
The major problem was over, but many more had to be solved. Accommodation had to be hurriedly arranged in the Officers鈥�, N.C.O.s and airmens鈥� quarters, as well as providing a hot supper for over six hundred unexpected guests. Both squadron commanders were perfect hosts though, and made the Americans welcome. Later, in the Officers Mess, the big request was for Bourbon, but in its absence, the visitors were soon drinking and enjoying Scotch whisky and other favourite beverages of the R.A.F. It had been a hectic day throughout, and so, on the advice (or orders) from their senior officers, the Americans retired quite early. Doc, Rosie and I had a captain from Texas billeted with us and he was everything you would expect a Texan to be. He was big, handsome and very outgoing. The next day we showed him around the Station and through our Lancaster S-Sugar. He was very impressed with the bomb load that we normally carried, as to that which the Fortress or Liberator carried. When we inspected the American planes, it was apparent that the bomb loads were sacrificed for the extra armour plating and the extra fire power that they carried.
That evening in our mess things became hectic. Drinks were flowing freely, and as usually happens when a bunch of men get together, the topic of conversation turned to national sports. The visitors decided to demonstrate the American game of football, and so the main portion of the mess hall was cleared. A football was secured from somewhere, sides were chosen with Americans on each side, and the slaughter began. It was really rough and ready, but after half an hour the demonstration was over. The Americans then wanted to play the British game of soccer, and the British were eager to oblige. Again, it was a brutal session, but eventually, through sheer fatigue or injury, it was over. Nobody could say who won in those international games! Our squadron leader had his left leg broken and was still on crutches when we left the Squadron months later. Two American officers had broken arms, and black eyes and bruises were in evidence everywhere. Damage to chairs and tables, and to the Mess Hall in general, was extensive. On one point there was complete agreement 鈥� that it was a most enjoyable evening, and that the R.A.F. and Americans now understand each other much better than they ever had before.
The next morning weather conditions had improved somewhat, and Doc took our Texas friend up in S-Sugar for a weather check. Tex was really impressed with the Lancaster, and couldn鈥檛 believe its power and manoeuvrability. By noon weather had cleared, all visiting planes had been refuelled, and practically the entire squadron strength was on hand to wave the Americans off and wish them well. We were mighty happy to have been able to be their hosts for a few days, but I鈥檓 sure we were all relieved when the last Fortress rose into the air and disappeared into the distance.

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