BOMBER COMMAND ASSOCIATION IN AUSTRALIA Inc.

Recommendations

Info

“As darkness fell over the North Sea, Joe’s Halifax became one of the 749 bombers in the stream. Coned twice over the target, Herman was relieved when the bombs were gone and the photograph taken, but just as they were ‘on course for home’ something thudded into the Halifax. The gunners saw no fighters and the crew guessed they had been hit by flak. In his windscreen, Herman could see the reflection of the flames behind him and the engineer, Harry Knott, went back to try and put them out. Suddenly the Halifax was hit twice more. With more fires breaking out in the wings, Herman called ‘Bale out! Bale out! Herman heard the rear gunner leave before the intercom went dead and guessed the bomb aimer and navigator had gone through the open front hatch. He saw the mid upper gunner, another Australian, John ‘Irish’ Vivash dragging his wounded leg as he crawled along the fuselage towards the hatch. Herman decided it was time to leave his seat, grab his parachute and clip it to his harness. Just then the plane rolled, spun and exploded. Herman found himself in the air with objects around him and in the dim light of the moon and searchlights he thought he was stationary in the air. Then he realised he and bits of aircraft were all falling earthwards together. He even thought that among the debris, he might be able to find his parachute pack. After a long time falling – he may have fallen two miles – he crashed into something. In his dazed state, he heard Irish Vivash say, ‘Is there anyone around?’ Joe then realised he had his arms around one of Irish’s legs. Irish, with one leg badly gashed from flak and with the distractions of parachuting through the night sky, had not been quick to realise that he had the skipper clinging to him. It seems that Irish had not opened his parachute until late, otherwise Herman, falling faster, would have been below him. In one of Irish’s pendulum swings below his canopy, Herman had collided with his legs and grabbed one. “Irish suggested as they got close to earth, Joe might ‘drop off’, but Joe was non- committal. ‘Maybe’ he said. The ground rushed at them, they brushed a tree, Joe hit the ground, Irish landed on Joe’s chest and cracked a couple of Joe’s ribs. Battered from flak, explosion and heavy landing, Herman and Vivash stumbled west towards Holland for five nights until hunger and cold forced them to ask for help at a farmhouse. The German police picked them up. The next day and the two Australians were on their way to prison camp”. Ed JWF. Stranger things have happened but I am not sure when or where! Another quote from ‘Chased by the Sun’ shows how well the author, Hank Nelson, selected material that gives graphic and accurate pen pictures. This one fits in with the ‘first trip’ theme of other stories in this issue. “On his first raid over enemy territory, David Scholes flew as second dickey:“Searchlights came from nowhere. We are at 9,000 feet. We weave violently towards the markings. Flak is coming up, more now. I see a PFF aircraft coned below and to port and they are giving him merry hell. However he escapes – good show! Now we are almost there. Never have I experienced such a feeling of excitement as this. The whole sky is lit up with weird lights – just like a ten times glorified Henley Night. Bombs burst with vivid white flashes. Flak is all around and light flak, like snakes, comes up to meet us in long red streams. (Ed JWF. At 9,000 feet, just above the effective range of the deadly German Bofors guns) We steady up for the bombing run. It seems ages. One feels like a sitting duck, so exposed, or like a man walking across Piccadilly with no trousers on would feel. At length the bombs go and the crate shudders as they leave the carriers. Away we go with much power on.” Ed JWF. And with what a feeling of blessed relief! If you still have not read this book, ‘Chased by the Sun’, it is well worth chasing up. Page 6 of 8
Editorial Space in this newsletter is too precious to indulge myself a spot in each edition but perhaps I should say where I dropped from. My father was W/O Bob Raebel, a Fitter IIE on Pegasus and Merlins with 455 and the embryo 463 Squadrons. I used to think my Dad talked a lot about the War, looking back, his tales were mostly 1941-42 when the war was more gentlemanly. Crews might go to the pictures, then come back to go on a Hampden raid "It's 10/10ths all the way, Bombing on ETA, It's foolish but it's fun" When I was 8 years old Dad said one day in answer to one of my questions "I don't know, we tried not to get too close to aircrew. It hurt too much seeing them get killed." I know now he largely wiped 1943-45 from his memory. In 1991 I took him down to see G – George, he stood there for a long time, then said "We were checking a Lanc next morning after a raid and found a forearm hooked by the elbow around the fin." It was unidentifiable but just brings to mind the personal tragedies of war. Separately and on a lighter note, you will notice a change to our masthead. The Committee concurred with my suggestion to include a picture of a 4 engined heavies, plus one of the lesser aircraft in the Command Geoff Raebel Ed. BCAA Function Reminders – Rodney advises that he has few acceptances. Please send them in asap so he can make bookings so you don't miss out! BOOKINGS for LUNCH – ANZAC DAY – ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB I will be attending the lunch at the RAC on Easter Monday 25 th April 2011, after the march 12.30pm Name: ........................................................................ $50.00 I will be accompanied by:........................................... Cost at $50 per head covers meal and first bottle of wine per table _______ Cheque enclosed for Total $_______ Please return slip and cheque to Rodney Higgs, 42 Eaton Road, Lindfield, 2070. Bookings close 15 th April BOOKINGS for LUNCH – VE DAY – NSW PARLIAMENT HOUSE After wreath laying at Cenotaph at 11.00am I will be attending the lunch at NSW Parliament House on Monday 9 th May, 12.00 for 12.30pm. Name:................................................................................ $65.00 I will be accompanied by:.................................................. Cost at $65 per head covers pre lunch drinks, lunch and drinks with lunch _______ Cheque enclosed for Total $_______ Please return slip and cheque to Rodney Higgs, 42 Eaton Road, Lindfield, 2070. Bookings close Friday 29 th April Cut Here‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Rodney needs advice on this one straight after by Anzac Day to make your booking Page 7 of 8 BCAA MEMBERSHIPS DUE Just a reminder for those who have not caught up this year. Membership at $15 is pretty cheap when you consider the printing and postage of four of these newsletters per year. For membership forms or payments to Bomber Command Association Australia Inc, contact Anthony Trayhurn whose detail are at the top of Page 1. 460 Squadron's G – George before leaving UK
Page 1 and 2: BOMBER COMMAND ASSOCIATION IN AUSTR
Page 3 and 4: window and there, silhouetted again
Page 5: By using the available sources to t

BOMBER COMMAND ASSOCIATION IN AUSTRALIA Inc.

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?