LANCASTER CREWS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 7 February 1944, Page 5

LANCASTER CREWS

RECENT RAIDS ON BERLIN FIGHTERS THE MAIN BUGBEAR EXPERIENCES OF N.Z. AIRMEN London, Feb. 5. “Fighters are our chief bugbear. We do not mind the flak so much, while rockets are interesting and add variety,” is a fair summary of the opinion of New Zealanders flying Lancasters, the best heavy bomber in the world, from one of the stations commanded b; Air Commodore A. McKee, C.8.E., D. 5.0.. D.F.C., A.F.C., of Oxford. Many New Zealanders I met at this station had taken part in the recent series of big raids against Berlin, some going there three times in four nights. With the exception of Squadron Leader P. J. Lamason, D.F.C., Napier, who began his second tour with the raid on Brunswick, they are all on their first tour.

They include Flight Lieutenant W. M. Harris, Cromwell, Flying Officers E. S. Henzel, Christchurch, H. N. Burrows, Gore, Pilot Officers D. G. Goodwin, J. L. Funnell, both Auckland, W. L. Wilson, Waipukurau, Warrant Officer G. R. Franklin, Taranaki, Flight Sergeants I. Tvrdeich, C. S. Benson, M. J. Sparks, and K. Dunlop. Auckland, G. D. Heathcoate and R. Short, Dunedin, M. Johnston, Christchurch, D. G. Blackmore, North Canterbury,— Sewell, Wairarapa, G. Gardner, D. E. Grant, and C. Thurston, Wanganui, Hilford, North Auckland, D. Y. Andrewes, Hokianga, J. R. Court, Woodville, R. G. Payne and E. Featherstonhaugh, Hamilton, and Compton, Wairarapa. GERMAN TRAP FLARES The experiences of these New Zealanders are typical of the majority of crews on these big raids. They bomb in “waves,” dropping their loads on coloured flares laid by the Pathfinder force. They have to be certain that these are the correct markers, for the Germans are in the habit of laying marker flares of their own over vacant land in the hope that the R.A.F. bomber may waste their loads.

Another German habit, once they are certain of the target selected by the R.A.F., is for their fighters to drtip a lane of flares right over the target area, lighting up the bombers and making them a better mark. It is also a growing German custom to shoot up a lane of flares 40 miles or so wide all the way from the target to the coast in the hope that their fighters will be able to shoot down the homeward-bound bombers. The Germans seem to adopt these tactics more particularly on cloudy nights. On clear nights they seem to rely more on belts of searchlights and flak, but their fighters are also active.

Several New Zealanders have seen rockets which the Germans have been using comparatively recently. They say the rockets resemble the ordinary firework rocket and often seem to curve in upward flight, giving the impression they are actually following the aircraft as it attempts to avoid them. They are chiefly coloured red or orange. GIGANTIC FIREWORKS DISPLAY With rockets, flare markers and flak, the crews say the target area frequently resembles a gigantic fireworks display. One of them described incendiaries beginning to burn in Berlin as a “glowworm’s picnic.” Funnell. whose navigator, Heathcote, has carried out 13 raids, has fairly typical experience He has been over Berlin three times and was over Berlin on 27th January. “We had to climb through storm clouds reaching 12.000 feet on that trip,” he said, “but we like a layer of clouds over us because they hamper the searchlights. Going over the coast a fighter us and another Lancaster. We would weave a bit when he came at us, with the result that he would lose us and then chase the other bomber. This went on for some time till he lost both of us without opening fire. We had the usual flak over the coast areas.

“We arrived over Berlin among the first of the second wave and found Pathfinders’ flares glowing nicely. Flak did not seem bad, and by the time we had dropped our bombs the fighters were laying a lane of flar©6 right across the sky. We were just about to set off for home when a Focke Wulf dived right past us. He had evidently seen the flares but had not seen us. “There was practically ten-tenths of clouds all the way home, but we could see the glow of Berlin’s fires for many miles. We checked up on the marked flares on the way out and got back with little difficulty. WARY GERMAN FIGHTERS Gardner began his tour of operations by going to Berlin three times in four nights—all the latest attacks. He is a rear-gunner. On the first operation another Lancaster nearly collided with them over the target. On the second raid a fighter prepared to attack. He did all the “regulation drill” of which Gardner had learned during his training, but at the last moment the German changed his mind. Harris, who is a pilot, also went to Berlin on those three raids. which meant 22 hours’ flying. Returning over the North Sea a JuBB picked up his Lancaster in its searchlight Almost immediately afterwards a single-engined fighter went tearing past the Lancaster. Harris decided not to'wait for further developments. He was at 21.000 feet, so went into a dive and lost 15.000 feet in five minutes. He pulled out at 6000.

On his third visit to Berlin a fjghter shadowed Harris's aircraft for 40 to 50 miles but never attacked. This is typical. for it has been noted that German fighters do not attack unless they arc satisfied they can hit. McKee, who controls several squad rons, has had an outstanding career in this war. He began it as squadron leader—he served six years in India before the war —took part in early raids on the German fleet, did many pamphlet raids, and bombed the Germans approaching Dunkirk. He frequently went on raids after he had been promoted group captain. Lamason won rapid promotion to his present rank from flight sergeant. He did 31 raids on his first tour and for a large proportion of his time since beginning his second tour he has been acting squadron commander. He is regarded as a first-class pilot and administrator. —P.A. Special Correspondent.