The story goes on........
November 1943 was a very busy one for Bomber Command and I began to see the end of my tour as a very real possibility. I was told by many people nearing the end of their tours that the last ten were the worst to experience as , it seemed, that many of them "went for a Burton " at this time. I do not know where that phrase came from but it was nearly always used to describe someone "buying it" or "cashed in his chips". There were many euphemisms but no one would ever say the actual words.
In November I went to Dusseldorf (Ruhr or "Happy Valley"), Cannes Marshalling yards....This was a rare event and sighs of relief went up when the ribbon showed the unbelievable target in the South of France. In actual fact there was a lot of Flak and a fair amount of fighter activity but it was not like anywhere in the German heartland. Then we tried to find Leverkeusen again. It was a small town in the Ruhr but had a huge Factory that I think was I.G Farben, but I am not sure. I know that 4 Group had been there before and had never been successful in finding the target and this one was just the same as I see that we bombed on ETA over a thick layer of cloud under which there was certainly the Pathfinder's correct Markers. Then it was back to the Big City once again and a long haul to Stuttgart to finish a very crowded and scary month.
There were rumours going around that the Squadron was going to be split up and they turned out to be true as I had only one trip to Leipzig in the beginning of December and then I was sent on leave for Xmas and New Year with Dora, who had gone back to St. Helens to her parents to prepare for the expected new arrival in 1944 towards the middle of February. I was told by the C.O. that the whole of "C" Flight, which was my flight,were being posted to nearby Burn,to form the nucleus of a new squadron No 578. but that I was to return off leave to Snaith.
I don't remember much of that leave but I know that it was with a very heavy heart that I left St.Helens to return to Snaith where I found that there was nearly a mutiny going on with the "Press ganging " of "C" Flight the bone of contention. No one wanted to leave Snaith and the ties to 51 SQdn. were so strong that there was a very heavy atmosphere about the Station the whole period until the move which was due to take off at the beginning of Feb. 1944.
I was not surprised to see that it was Berlin again, towards the end of the month on the 20th. of Jan. but I see that in my log book I have noted "Target bombed from 21,000 ft. Little opposition" and that was a notation that rarely appeared , especially after that specific target. That was my 28th. Op. so only two more to go.
By now we were a mixed crew as Phil, my Navigator and Jack my
Bomb Aimer, had joined me in the Officer's Mess. I thought and still think , that it was a bad thing to have these differences in rank. We were lucky in that we had a very good "esprit de corps" amongst ourselves and the matter never came up unless it was a joke that someone just had to relate but I know that there were many crews who had been very good ones had told of a completely different attitude towards each other came up when one or two of the crew were commissioned after a long spell of ops on the same footing.
The morning of the 28th. of January 1944, I went down to Breakfast and saw that the Battle list for the day was on the board already. It was usually put up towards the middle of the day and I saw that our crew was on the list so we were "On "for the penultimate trip of my tour. It was no surprise to be told that there would be an early briefing would take place immediately after lunch and it was no further surprise when we saw the red ribbon ending in the heart of Berlin again. It would be my second successive trip to Berlin and my fourth of the tour.
Whenever "Ops" were "On" the station moved into very tight security. All telephones were closed to outside calls and incoming calls could only be directed to Duty Officers. The station gates were locked and the whole of the perimeter was patrolled by the RAF Regiment. I was sitting in the Mess after the briefing when I heard my name being called over the Tannoy. I was to report to the C.O immediately. Rather apprehensively, wondering what I had done to warrant this I went over to his Office and was ushered in by his Adjutant. To my surprise "Wilky" as he was affectionately known to the crews , got up and warmly shook my hand. "Congratulations " he said "I have just received the news that you are the Father of a little boy and your Wife and your son are both fine ". I was absolutely flabbergasted as we were not expecting the baby until early February. I just stood there and could'nt find any words. " I know that you are very surprised and I want you to know that we are all very happy for you. Unfortunately I can't let you go to see them until tomorrow but I shall not be surprised if you tell me that you would prefer not to go on the Operation, tonight. It is entirely up to you and I shall not question your decision." To my own shock I found myself saying that I would prefer that things were to be left as they were and that I would have an added incentive to a successful trip. I am sure that I said "You bloody idiot " to myself but not absolutely. Anyway the "die was cast" and I don't remember much of going back to the mess but I know that I had to tell someone, so Phil and Jack of my crew were the first to slap me on the back and very soon the word had flown around the Mess and it seemed as if the whole Squadron was shaking my hand. Unfortunately the Bar was always dry during Ops to those who were "On" but rash promises were made as to the future celebrations.
The ensuing trip was, without doubt, the longest and scariest trip that I had made during the whole of my career. We were "coned" three times over Berlin, itself and I had to throw the Halifax around for what seemed like hours on end before eventually breaking clear of the ring of Searchlights into the comparative calm of the Flak and the everpresent Fighters. It seemed a never ending battle all the way to the Dutch coast and I and my crew were exhausted long before we saw the welcome sight of the Station beacon winking at us from a few miles away. The end of one of the most eventful days of my life was not yet over. To my surprise Wing Commander Wilkerson , the C.O. himself was waiting for me at the dispersal. He told me that he had phoned the Hospital and had checked that everything was fine and then said " She will be very happy to know that you have done the last trip of your tour. I have personally decided that you have been on "Ops" long enough and you are now screened." I was completely dumbstruck and could only splutter out "What about my crew, Sir? and was told that it would be taken care of properly and not to worry and then he gave me my leave pass, told me not to overdo the celebrations....It was at least five in the morning by now and all that I wanted was my bed to be alone and sort myself out. I honestly did not know whether "I was batting or bowling " as My Wife was always fond of saying. I had been on "Ops" from Oct.1942 until Jan 28th. 1944 but had ony done 29 and not the requisite 30. I somehow felt cheated but I wasn't going to stick my neck out again.
So I went up to St. Helens next day to see my "Sprog" who was awaiting me. He had a slight touch of jaundice, which Dora assured me, would soon go and his lips were a bright purple from some Gentian Violet dressing that Dora had transmitted to him but we both agreed that he was the loveliest baby in the world and when I told her that my Ops were finished she burst into tears and I think that I joined her.
Wilky kept his word and asked the crew individually whether they wanted to continue for the few Ops that they might be asked to do. I think that they were all told that if they stayed they would have to go with new..."Sprog" crews and only Roy, our Canadian Mid Upper gunner, said that he would stay. He was shot down just two months afterwards over Berlin and is buried in the Berlin War Cemetery.