Ah REG, Yates’s Wine Lodge , Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The war won, train from Kirkham to Blackpool for a night out. Last train back to Kirkham, Reminds me how two and a half tons of fifty six pound test weights and some ‘red’ paraffin lamps mysteriously disappeared from Blackpool Central? Station and reappeared at Kirkham station. I might stick my neck out and tell the tale later., but back to Hemswell.
One advantage I had over some of the others was the freedom my motorbike gave me.. It was great to be able to nip into Gainsborough for a night out, to explore the local area, but most of all I could travel home whenever off duty. The ferry across the Humber was only twenty miles away with very little traffic, the journey most times would only take half an hour. This reminds me of one night when we were ‘stood down’, the crew decided to travel into Gainsboro, I went on my motorbike , one crew member on a push bike and four others on the crew bus. The W.O.P. Jock, who didn’t drink smoke, and obviously a sensible chap, remained in the billets. We gave him the telephone number of the hostelry we intended to visit , in case we were required. Unfortunately we were recalled, and then had the problem how to transport the extra four back to Hemswell quickly.. We eventually decided the only way was to tow the bike, using a piece of a shot up drogue rope that I always carried on the motorbike. Fortunately the push bike had a backstep so with three on the motorbike and three on the push bike we cruised back to camp at a steady twenty knots., with no repercussions. `
We next carried out a diversion raid, no doubt dropping loads of Window, a total of six and a half hours flying. This was the trip when there was a ‘clamp on’ at Hemswell as previously described. ~We landed at Dishforth with what seemed like the rest of the R.A.F. Returning to base after a good sleep. More h igh level bombing, fighter affiliation, and air to sea firing, and self tow.
And now the tale of I Q Jig. ( Reg your observations on this would be much appreciated. What do you think went wrong?). I Q Jig was known as a jinx aircraft on the squadron, having been forced to land in France, repaired using cannibalised parts and returned to 150 Sqdn and was usually allocated to sprog aircrews. After fitting with a new starboard inner we were the lucky ones to be chosen to air test it, with instructions to climb to ten thousand feet, and stop the starboard engine ,feather the prop, for ten minutes, then restart. We duly climbed to ten thousand feet and feathered as per instructions, and we trimmed the rudder to compensate for the dead engine. Shortly after this , we flew into thick cloud. I was instructed to unfeather and start the engine. I believe the trim was not removed , so we then had the starboard engine and the trim pulling the aircraft to port at which point I glanced at the turn and bank indicator and noticed it showed a rate four turn to port, In other words the needle was ‘up against the stop’ think the gyro had toppled and the airspeed was increasing . This was followed by load bangs creaking, and shuddering with the Lanc rapidly descending in a spiral. Still in thick cloud, the skipper shouted emergency, emergency, jump, jump. As my chute was stowed under the ’navs’ table there was no time for me to reach and fit it, so I stowed my seat and lent against the Starboard side of the aircraft to make room for the ’nav’ to pass me on his way to the escape hatch. However as the turn tightened I was pinned against the starboard side facing the skipper, and could not move and suspect non of the crew could move. more loud noises, popping , and banging and the altimeter merrily whizzing round. The only thing I remember is that my eyes were alternately fixed on the skipper ,and the altimeter, until we broke cloud at about a thousand feet, and saw the ground rapidly approaching. The skipper was hauling back the stick with all his might. And the Lanc seemed to level out just above the trees. The intercom suddenly came alive with the crew making silly remarks, and someone singing ‘I am safe in the arms of Jesus, . I don’t care if it rains or freezes etc’ However the mid upper was surprisingly quiet. We decided to land and keep quiet about the whole episode . Hoping no one would notice a few panels missing from the top of the wings, ( yes , I know , some chance. But it seemed a good idea at the time ,sir. ). After ‘Funnels’ the airfield , which appeared to be quiet , suddenly became a hive of activity, the fire engine, and ‘blood wagon’ being the first to appear. Followed by numerous bods on bicycles who headed for our dispersal. On arrival at the dispersal we were amazed to see people staring up at the Lanc with open mouths. We were soon to find out why when we climbed out of the aircraft to find numerous panels missing, but worst of all the mid upper turret at disappeared , We found out later, all external aerials had disappeared, every radio valve in the aircraft was shattered ,etc, etc. When we finally found the mid upper gunner, he was completed dazed and with difficulty explained parts of the turret had hit the back of his head. He was immediately sent to the station hospital for tests. One of the tests was something like. walk four paces forward, three to the right, t hen three to the left He could not complete this task , and was immediately moved to a specialist hospital.
An enquiry followed, each crew member questioned individually, after which, nothing further was heard, I would imagine from then on I.Q Jig was avoided ,whenever possible by crews ,and possibly gven another call sign.
REG. Discuss?.
Gyros toppling. ‘Flying by the seat of your pants’. Trim ? What do you think the panel of enquiry would say in private after the enquiry? How many times crews were ordered to jump. Jump and could not move ? Did we exceed Mach 1 ? (Don’t remember an order to reduce revs and boost)
I attach below a scan of ‘Pilot’s Notes, General 1943 ,contents page, and if any one would like me to print any particular page, I would be happy to do so. (+Time and energy permitting)
