大象传媒

My father was in the RAF reserve and was called up when war was declared in 1939.The family lived in Yoxford,Suffolk,and at the outbreak of war it was decided that my mother,elder brother and sister would move to Leeds and I would live with my grandparents at Halesworth,Suffolk.
I,like many boys during the war,took advantage of being close to an American airfield(Holton,Suffolk)and spent most of my spare time on the base.Eventually,I became a sort of mascot to one of the aircrews who nicknamed me 'Mike'. I went everywhere with them but never entered the liberator bomber they flew.I often ate with them at the mess,enjoying very good food and being able to take home luxuries such as butter,fruit juice,cigarettes,tobacco,sweets etc.They also gave me sealed boxes of aircrew 'K' rations which contained a huge bar of solid chocolate amongst other items.My grandmother welcomed most of these goods and invited the crew to afternoon tea on a number of occasions.
At the age of about 10 or 11,I was taught to drive by the americans and would drive jeeps and ambulances on the airfield. I clearly remember visiting the hospital and what I now realise was the morgue.Inside were metal V beds with a pipe at the end to drain the fluid from dead aircrew.
As well as the liberator bombers,Thunderbolt fighters were stationed at Holton Airfield.I visited several crashes that occured around the base.These were almost all Liberators,and often they crashed on take-off with a full fuel and bomb load.As boys we went to some of the crash sites,and at one the aircraft had blown up and debris was scattered everywhere.I picked up a leather glove which had a severed hand inside.There was a terrible smell at these crash sites that lived with me for years.
I was a choir boy at Halesworth Parish Church.During evensong one Sunday night the whole of the east window was lit up with a red glow.An aircraft had crashed near the airfield.After the service several of us jumped on our bikes and went to the crashsite.We were not allowed near.I seem to remember it was an RAF bomber.
When I was on the base sometimes I was told not to go near a certain hut as the whole crew were missing.Their aircraft had been lost on a raid.However,on one occasion I did open the door and looked inside.It was a strange feeling to see all their personal belongings around their beds and lockers and one I think I remember clearly was a pipe and tobacco on a table waiting for its owner.Even as a small boy I realised to a certain extent what I was witnessing and the significance of the event which is clear in my mind to this day.
I remember the Americans complaining of the rain and god damed mud.
I remember the Americans on their bikes,They never wore cycle clips and just rolled up their trousers,causing much comment by the locals.

I remember seeing Winston Churchill and I think General Montgomery at the entrance to Halesworth Railway Station.They had got off their train to wave to Halesworth people.

I remember the Americans were very generous to us boyss.We were always being given chewing gum,candy and even copper coins.

I remeber wearing plastic-type anti-gas capes as raincoats.

I remember a great deal of excitement on the base when one of the main aircraft hangers was used for a big dance with Glen Millers Band.

I remember seeing liberator bombers coming in to land,badly damaged,often parts of the tail missing.

I remember a huge Rolls Royce Merlin engine from a Spitfire sited in the main corridor of Halesworth School which fascinated me.Why it was there I have no idea.

I remember large murals painted on the wall of the interior of huts.These were normally of naked women,quite a shock for a country lad.

When the Americans went back to the States at the end of the war,I was given four bicycles,two radios,tool kits,etc,and two aircraft axes(used to escape from a crashed aircraft)I still use one of these axes and a tool kit to this day.

On reflection I suppose I had an exciting childhood.My bedroom faced the airfield and I watched searchlights,tracers and flak when the base was attacked.

I also witnessed dog-fights during the day and saw aircrew coming down on parachutes.There were several air raids at Halesworth.We lived on the outskirts and often watched the activity from the back garden.Some bombs fell about a quater of a mile away near the Patrick Stead Hospital but did not go off.My friend and I went to the spot and could see the holes in the ground made by the bombs.During the latter stages of the war we watched doodlebugs going over.Only when the engine stopped would we get under the big table in the sitting room which acted as an air raid shelter.

A few years later I qualified as a pilot at Cambridge,aged 17 1/2,flying Tiger months and Chipmunks.I later flew in Lancasters an B29s(the type of aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima)

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