C- CHARLIE
Having completed my air gunnery course on the date of the incident , I was invited by your father who was O/c in charge of that course, to join the flight . The reason I was stood down was because I had incompatible oxygen equipment to that of a Lincoln bomber . I have researched in depth the incident at the National Archives in Kew , relating to both the shooting down of the aircraft and the ultimate payment of compensation to the dependants , which by current standards was minimal .Two questions still remain unanswered: did the Mig fire at those members of the crew who did manage to bail out and secondly , as both aircraft violated Russian air space , was any hint of "proposed violation " indicated at the briefing .Only crew members of the aircraft H-Howe could answer this latter query .