June 21st1944; Target Wesseling, Near Cologne (Oil Refinery).

(Lancaster No. 192K)

12 Lancasters from 44 Squadron attacked. 6 came back. It might easily have been 5 had I not, after being coned by approximately 20 searchlights, pushed the control column downwards as far as it would go, putting the 'plane into a lunatic dive from 18,000 feet and re-attacked the target from 3,000 feet. On my return the Ground Crew pointed out 70 hits on my Lancaster.

July 26th 1944; Target Givors, Near Lyons, France.

(Lancaster No. 190J)

We took off in dreadful weather and very soon were in cumulo-nimbus cloud. At about 20,000 feet bits of ice were breaking off the wings and could be heard hitting the aircraft. The pitot head froze and therefore I had no indication of airspeed. The artificial horizon had toppled. The 'plane was going up and down like a cork on the sea. When guessing we were 'over the target', I decided to switch on the navigation lights (no Germans were around in such dreadful weather). I was at once aware of another Lancaster heading straight at us. I did a sharp turn to starboard, and thankfully so did he, but our mid-upper gunner fainted with fright. Coming out over Cherbourg, in clear weather again, we saw another Lancaster on the same heading. I decided to catch up on it. As we drew near, the mid-upper gunner of the other Lancaster opened up on us causing our port inner engine to catch fire; one of his bullets missed my Navigator by an inch. I told the Wireless Operator to fire off the colours of the day, and the firing stopped. We then put the fire out in the engine using the extinguishers.

83 Squadron (PFF) Coningsby.

April 25th 1945; Target Tonsberg, Norway (Oil Refinery).

(Lancaster No. ME 417)

We dropped Route Markers and gave windspeed and directions to our aircraft. All O.K. and on the way home, not far from Tonsberg, at about 18,000 feet, I decided to try out the VHF radio to see if I could raise Base over such a long distance. There was an immediate response from Base, strength 5: What did I want? What had I called for? In my surprise, all I could think of was to ask control to ask my Batman to light the fire in the Nissen hut! This was the last night raid of the Second World War.