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This story was submitted to the people’s war site by Alan Gammon from Littlehampton Learning Centre and has been added to the website on behalf of Gwendoline Nairne with her permission and she fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

I was stationed at RAF Filton at Bristol, I served in the Flight HQ of Balloon Command. My role was a Balloon Operator.

Whilst on night duty with Stella Budd a signal came through from Squadron HQ that all balloons were to be bedded down. The balloons at that time were at ‘Close Haul’ which mean’t that they were suspended about 30’ off the ground by a ‘Rip.

The reason for this is that a storm was brewing up and there was a real danger that the balloons were lost if they were not bedded down. I relayed a message to all the balloon sites and awaited confirmation from every one of them that the operation had been completed.

One site was a little late reporting back and when they did so, the message was ‘the balloon has broken away and taken A.C.W. Sharp with it’

I replied, Repeat! (as much as to play for time as much as to establish that I had heard correctly)

I asked if she had a thorough search of the site or was it possible that she had gone to the toilet?

She assured me that this had been done and there was no trace of the woman. I reported this to Squadron HQ who in turn informed Air Sea Rescue and Coastal Command. She was safely rescued at sea, found unconscious.

It appeared to happen this way, that as she was winching the balloon down a gust of wind caused the rip link to uncouple itself. When it swung out and came back to knock her out. The hook then caught her belt, the balloon broke away and took A.C.W. Sharp with it.

She later became Clerk Special Duties at Squadron HQ,

No more ballooning for her!

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