大象传媒

After our return from Russia I was selected to go to Canada to train as a pilot and I left Oban for the last time. Whilst waiting to go to Canada, I was posted to a Wellington Squadron in Iceland.

Two days after our arrival one of our Wellingtons, fully loaded with fuel, ammunition and bombs took off for a night mission but it just could not gain any height. We could hear the engines labouring as the pilot fought to get some lift and then watched in horror as the Wellington few into the low hillside two miles from the airfield: another entire crew killed. The cause of the crash was icing on the leading edge of the wing.

Shortly after this I was on my way to Canada aboard the Queen Mary, the holder of the Blue Riband. I spent my Christmas leave on Vancouver Island with a very wealthy family from London and for three weeks lived the life of a film star. After returning from Canada I was posted back to Bomber Command as a Wellington pilot. Missions over occupied Europe followed, including one where we were very nearly brought down by two of our own planes and then shot up by a night fighter. In the early hours of that morning we really did come in on a wing and a prayer, as Anne Shelton had sung.

You can read much more about Ted Cowling's wartime exploits in his fascinating, funny and sometimes desperately tragic autobiography, 'The Journey', proceeds of which will go towards the Severn Hospice.

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Becky Barugh of the 大象传媒 Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Ted Cowling and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Ted's stories:

• 1) How important it is to feel welcome
• 2) Neither darkness nor fighter cover for protection
• 3) Highly dangerous missions
• 4) A hand picked crew
• 6) Winds that cut like a knife
• 7) Top Gun

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