AIRMAN’S TRAVELS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 32, Issue 3290, 19 July 1943, Page 6

AIRMAN’S TRAVELS

TRAINING IN CANADA KAIHERE PILOT-OFFICER ACTION WITH ROYAL AIR FORCE Pilot-Officer lan Smallfield, in a letter to Mrs E. Smallfielcl, of Kaihere, Hauraki Plains, gives the following description of his adventures and travels since he left the Dominion 21 years ago for service overseas. • “It is now just over two and a half years since I sailed from N.Z. to train in Canada under the Empire Ah' Training Plan. 1 enlisted as an airgunner, but we had to be trained, as wireless operator-air gunners, as we were informed at that time that there was no such member of an aircrew as a ‘straight' air gunner. “We settled down to classes for several months, during which time we were able to see much of the sur rounding country, as we had almost every week-end free. When we graduated as wireless operators and set, out to another part of Canada for our gunnery course, I'm sure we all found it hard to leave the many friends we had made. The people certainly treated us extremely well, and nothing was too much trouble for them if it would add to our comfort or happiness. “Our new school was out on the prairie of Saskatechewan, seemingly miles from anywhere. The temperature during the day was seldom below 100, and when the wind blew, the sand and dust was terrible, everything being filled with dust, even the food we ate and the water we drank. This was a completely new airfield .and much of the ground was bare, so that we had to expect dust conditions in this particular spot and it in no way reflects on the rest of Canada. A Flaming Ball of Fire “The evenings were beautiful in those northern. latitudes. I have often stood watching a sunset at 10 pan. The sun, like a huge flaming ball of fire, the northern sky tinted with the scent of sweet grass and clover, brought a' mellowness to the general atmosphere that has made those sunsets a living memory.

“After our Wings Parade at the end of our course, we set out for the east, soon to be sailing on the final stage of our journey to England. With a companion, I spent three days in and around Toronto. visiting Niagara Falls, which was a wonderful experience because we had always heard so much about them. They certainly lived up to expectations. American tourists were very interested in us. as we were from ‘down under,' and several times as we strolled around seeing the sights, a car would stop beside us and we would be asked to ‘smile and watch the birdie’ while we had our photos, taken.

“On reaching England we were given a little more tuition at a wireless school, as our standard had dropped during our gunnery course and our Atlantic crossing. After this refresher course we went to to 0.T.U.. in different parts of the British Isles. I found myself separated from all the boys I knew and sent to a station which seemed to be 70 per cent Canadian, so the loss of old friends was soon made good, as many of the Canadian boys hail trained in the same schools and we had something in common. The English lads we found very quiet ; perhaps shy. because they were not so ready to make friends until we had known them for some time.

Admitted to Hospital “When almost prepared for operations, I had to go to hospital, whicl) deferred me for about three months. On my return to flying duties, I found myself almost a stranger again. However, I was soon in a crew, and back in the general run of things. I was wireless operator on a Wellington bomber, Keith was my R.A.F. captain, Roy . the riagivator, R.C.A.F., Herbie the bomb-aimer R.C.A.IH, and George —from Georgia, U.S.A. —was our reargunner. Our first raid bn enemy territory seemed doomed to failure, as we were late at take-off; then the radio went, unserviceable. It took nu some time before I could get it working again. The generators later faiiV.l to function properly, and at one point we actually turned back, but after a ‘conference’ over the ‘intercommunication,’ we decided to carry on, but had to turn the radio off to conserve the power for any emergency. Over the Target Area “During the time we were in the target area I stood beside the pilot, watching the flak coming up all around us in all different colours and forms, some like big Xmas trees, others like sausage machines, then the really

heavy flak, which explodes with a huge burst and leaves a black pall of smoke hanging in the sky. The greatest moment came when we dropped our bombs and waited to see them burst amongst the fires far below, as we felt, ns we watched those fires burning, that we were now doing something to help smash the enemy and justify our country’s expense during our long training. “The thrill of returning to base after that first raid has never been surpassed on any of the subsequent raids. We had taken off in daylight, and as we circled our base on our return. awaiting permission to land, the sun was already on the horizon starting off a new day. After we had landed and our plane ‘N’ for Nuts, was safely in dispersal, we went to -interrogation, then breakfast, and the most welcome reward of all —sleep! It was a wonderful feeling to be back again among the people who had worked so well to service our planes and help in every available way to make our journey possible. “After our first trip we changed to a Halifax aircraft. This added Jack, an R.A.F. engineer, to our crew, and Jock, a Scots lad, became our rear gunner, as George had left, on a special course to become a gunnery leader.

“On our first trip in a Halifax we were attacked by a German night fighter. I will endeavour to describe the action as if took place. The first we knew of the fighter’s presence was when Jock called: ‘There’s a fighter on our tail. I can see the glow of his exhaust, pipes.’ “Keith (captain) : How far away is he now? “Jock: About 600 yards, coming in fast. He's firing at us with cannon and machine-guns. Keep turning to port, skipper. “Keith: 0.K.. Jock. Tell me if he comes too close. Jerry Down In Flames • “Jock: He’s overshot now, and he’s turning to come in again. Here he comes, diving to attack. Turn to port, turn to starboard, quick! I’m firing at him now. I’ve hit him and he's going down in flames! “Keith : Nice work, Jock! I can see the glow beneath us now. That’ll teach him!

“Jock: I guess he's wishing he never joined the Luftwaffe! “During this engagement I must admit I felt verv uncomfortable, because < from the wireless position you can see nothing outside. You can only hear what is going on over the intercommunication, hear the machine-guns firing, and you wonder if any of the Germans shells are going to come crashing (through the fuselage. “After the heat of battle had' worn away, Jock found that a cannon shell had hit. his turret and made two holes each 6in in diameter. He had only missed death by a miracle, and the mental strain he must have suffered can well be imagined, because all of us were terribly shaken, though we had no active part in the combat. The evasive action taken during an engagement such as this is not to be recommended for a weak stomach: even now. after hundreds/ of hours of flying. I almost yield to the temptation of being violently ill during any severe evasive action. Blue Lightning Flames “For a while our trips seemed to become a matter of routine, with nothing very exciting. Perhaps a fighter would trail us for a while and never attack, in which case we were all just as happy. One night we flew through a terrific thunderstorm, and the blue flames seemed to be dancing all over the aircraft. The ice was being thrown from the airscrews, making a noise like riveters at work in a shipyard. On our return to base we found that most of the paint had been burned off by lightning, but apart from this the aircraft was undamaged.

“Several times we have been to Italy—a long stooge, which has often been described as ‘a piece of cake.’ It is a thrilling sight to be able to Iqpk down on the cold white peaks, so rugged and majesitc in the moonlight. When you look out and see the airscrews, and hear the engines throbbing in perfect harmony, you cannot help but think of the splendid work which has gone into the making of those engines—the paragon of airplane motors, the Merlin— journeys of 10 hours with temperatures dropping. All comes in their night’s work, yet they are always ready for the next operation. . Our oxygen masks often have icicles hanging from them and the oxygen tubes are encrusted with ice from the condensation ,of our breath.

“The fin's of Genoa one particular night were really spectacular. There were a few searchlights, which were

extinguished as we approached the city. Flak opposition was negligible as we flew a little way out above the Mediterranean, turned back for the docks, where we dropped our bombs, then circled the city again for one last look at the night’s work. We could still see the fires when we were 30 miles away on our homeward journey. Caught In Searchlight Cone “At one particular spot we were caught in a cone of. from 40 to 50 searchlights and held for several minutes. The flak started coming up and bursting near enough for us to smell the charges of cordite. As evasive auction was of no avail. Keith put the plane. into a very steep dive, which almost doubled our normal speed. When we had lost 16,000 ft, the searchlights went out, so we were able to fly a normal course for a few minutes. Jock in the rear turret, sighted a German fighter on our tail, and once more we were forced to take evasive action. As the fighter closed in Jock managed to fire several bursts from his four guns and the fighter sheered off, leaving us to complete our journey without further interference.

It was with a great feeling of satisfaction that we felt our wheels touch down at our aerodrome. We knew then that we could relax after being keyed up and alert for nearly ten hours. “After another trip, when we were unable to return to base, we sat in the sergeants’ mess and listened to the English session on the German radio from the very town we had bombed only a few hours before. It seemed impossible that our enemy should give us such sweet music when we showed our appreciation with a load of bombs at every available opportunity. “It was aboult this time that we were granted 14 days’ leave, which I

think is one of the things we look forward to always. For myself, I must say a few words in appreciation of the warm-hearted hospitality I have found everywhere in England. It is certainly a pleasant surprise to visit some strange village or town and be invited out to dinner, finding yourself sitting down to roast duck or. even turkey. Here, again, I have found nothing is too much trouble for. these people, if anything can be done to help, our daily life a little easier. To leave 'England now would be as; hard, if not harder, than leaving home for the first time, because through the trials and tribulations of war we have been brought together in our fight against the common enemy.

Exciting Trips “I must get back to work, though up to the moment there is only onetrip to speak of, although that ti;ip has been the most exciting and drariiatic of all our operations to date. “One Sunday night we set out for a raid on South-west Germany with the usual feeling of apprehension as to what the journey held in store for us. A few nights before we had lost Roy, our navigator, who had gone on operations with another captain, and as Keith taxied our plane to the runway he remarked: “We can go and join Roy now!” He had taken the loss very hard, because we had been the greatest of friends for such a long time and had done all our operations together?

“As we neared the • target, flying over 10/10/ths cloud, we were almost rammed by a J.U. 88 night-fighter, which flew straight across our bows and fired a. stream of tracers at us, which fortunately dropped beneath us. Keith called to the gunners and was answered by Jock, in the fear .turret,.

who, by this time, had found another J.IJ. 88 behind us. “Jock: Turn to port, skipper—now starboard; keep turning, keep turning. “Keith: 0.K., Jock. Can yon see the other fighter anywhere? “I’ve. Hit Him!” ‘•Jock: Yes, but he's not too close yet. Turn to starboard. I’m tiring now. I've hit him! lie's on tire! His port engine has exploded and he's going down in flames! “Keith : Good work. We’ll turn and have a look at him. Oh, 1 can see the reflection of the Hames on the clouds. Where is the other fellow now, Jock? “Jock: He’s on the beam, firing at us. I think he's going over us' now Turn to port, Keith. i “Keith: 0.K., Jock. “Jock: I see him now ‘Snowball’ (mid-upper gunner) has set his starboard wing on fire. He's coming in to attack, and his wing is blazing! Turn to starboard, Keith. “Keith: 0.K., Jock.

“Jock: He’s coming right in. Keep turning. I’m firing now. I can see my tracers going right into the fuselage. He’s on fire from wing-tip to wing-tip. I can see the pilot’s face in the light of the flames, and can see his goggles on top of his helmet. He must be less than 50 yards away. He’s turning on his back, right over, and going down in a spin! I can see another fighter about 600 yards away. “Keith: Can you see if the other fighter has hit the deck? “Jock: Yes, there’s a break in the clouds now and I can see him burning. I guess none of them got out of that kite! “Keitii: What’s thb other fighter doing? “He’s Seen Enough!” “Jock: I guess he’s seen enough, because he’s not coming any nearer. “Keith: O.K. Perhaps we can go and drop our bombs now, and get but of this place., That’s just about enough for one night!

“We dropped our bombs on the target ; then Keith told me to send a message back to base. I must say that I felt very proud to be able to send this message back: ‘Have shot down two fighters. Attacked by three on target. Target bombed. Aircraft damaged. Returning to base.’ “When we were on our homeward journey Keith asked Jock if he was hurt, and Jock replied that he had received a graze on his finger. He later remarked that when he first saw his glove was torn he puled it off and expected to find his finger inside it! It was a miracle how Jock had managed to escape with nothing more serious than a grazed finger. “On our return to base a few minutes behind time, we found all the personel on duty were as thrilled as we ourselves were. The A.O.C. had left a telephone message of congratulations for us, and the group captain was there to welcome us. It gave us all a great feeling of satisfaction to have shot down two fighters, bombed our objective and returned so safely and free from serious injury. We have since been heartened by the glad news that our gunners have both received the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal. Faces It Calmly

“As I look back on this one particular engagement and think of the Shot and shell which Jock faces so calmly, and how near he had been to serious injury or even death, I feel thankful that I am a wireless operator* and not a gunner. Perhaps it Is self-preserva-tion ; perhaps It is just plain fear. My respect for the nerve and guts of the gunners is unbounded, and I often think of a verse written by one of the gunners when he were still training in Canada: — “It takes guts to be a gunner, and sit out in the tail, When the Messerschmitts are humming and the slugs begin to wail.” “I think that describes my feeling towards every tail gunner. In combat the motto is changed from ‘Live and let live’ to ‘Destroy or be destroyed.’ I wish our gunners a long and suecessful career, that they may long enjoy the honour of their decorations. “I also hope that before long, our skipper will be wearing the D.F.C. For myself, I Only hope to finish my operational trips and be trained as a pilot, which is the height of my ambition.”