TOUR OF OPERATIONS
EUROPEAN THEATRE
1944-1945
Exerpts from the
Diary of Flt.Lt. Richard P. Perry.
CREW:Robbie
Robertson, Dick Perry, Reg Churcher, Frank Aspden, Harry Mullett,
Dennis
Outhwaite, Johnny Limb.
218
(Gold Coast) SQUADRON, METHWOLD, 1944
October
7, 1944
Daylight
raid on Kleve, our first trip
We
took off at noon into a clear sky and climbed up to 14,000 feet to meet
the bomber stream.Crossed the Dutch
coast at The Hague with very little flak in evidence.As
usual Gee was out and, being a clear day, map read our way in to the target
for our final bombing run.The target
was a railway marshalling yards and, still, with little flak to trouble
us, unloaded our bombs as a clear straddle across the tracks.Bomb
load was 11/1000’s & 4/500’s.A
Halifax, right in front of us, had its wing shot off and crashed, not the
best of sights for us on our first bombing sortie.Map
read all the way back to base, again encountering very little flak at the
Belgian coast.All of our aircraft
returned safely.
October
19, 1944
October
31, 1944
Night
raid on Cologne, trip #5
Took
off into very bad weather and carried on to the target over 10/10ths cloud.Very
pretty over target, very little flak, sky markers, bright moonlight and
German fighters circling above us.Saw
our first jet/rocket aircraft which went straight up through the bomber
stream and started circling above us.Did
not note that it accomplished anything.Bombed
on sky markers, a cookie and 14 cans of incendiaries.Very
uneventful trip and arrived back at base at 11.30 pm.
November
4, 1944
Day
raid on Solingen, trip #6
Took
off at 12 noon and proceeded to the target over 10/10 cloud.No
flak evident and were able to bomb, visually, through a gap in the cloud
cover. Target a marshalling yards and bomb load a cookie, 6/1000’s and
6/500’s.One unnerving experience,
the aircraft next to us blew up for no explainable reason.Was
it sabotage, who knows?Then to top
things off, the Germans sent up two scarecrows, the first we’d seen.Very
evident that they were not planes as there was no sign of any wreckage
andwe actually flew right through
some of the debris.Flew back by
way of the sunken island of Walcheren but could see no sign of activity
even though it was a battlefield at the time.Map
read back to base through clear skies and landed at 5.30 pm.
November
5, 1944
Back
to Solingen, trip #7
Took
off at 10.30 am and proceeded to the same target.My
first experience with the Elsan, it was full up and liquid sloshing about.Used
a perfectly good Mae West in order to clean myself up.This
time we bombed over 10/10 cloud on sky markers.Also
dropped some of our own markers for the following aircraft to bomb on.Same
bomb load.Came home to pouring rain
and had to virtually feel our way down to the runway.Advised
that aircraft had been bombed by other aircraft on both of these days.Is
it any wonder that we keep Dennis, our mid-upper, searching the skies for
aircraft above us with their bomb doors open.
November
15, 1944
Day
raid on Dortmund, trip #8
Took
off at 12.30 pm into 10/10 cloud and followed the main stream to the Belgium
coast.This time we used Gee which
was working for a change.We took
an unorthodox course over Belgium and, as a result, arrived over the target
before the bomber stream.We were
leader to three other aircraft, AA-K, Y and B and they followed us faithfully,
dropping their bombs when we dropped ours.Bomb
load was a cookie and 14/500’s.Target
was a marshalling yards. There was very little flak although we heard,
later, that it was much heavier when the main stream arrived.This
was the first time that we had used GH as the bombing device.Once
again had scarecrows tossed up in front of us, two of them.Then
our Gee caught fire and, fortunately, went out by itself.Back
to map reading with the aid of H2S.Got
back down at 5.30 pm with one aircraft, AA-K, still following us.
November
17, 1944
Day
raid on Heinsberg, trip #9
Army
co-operation, breakthrough to Cologne.Took
off at 1.30 pm in terrible weather which fortunately cleared up over the
target.Ran up on GH but were ordered
to bomb the town visually rather than use either GH or markers.That
was the last we heard from the Master Bomber although we heard later that
he had been shot down.Orbited around
looking for a likely target and, then, dropped our bombs, a cookie, 6/1000’s
and 6/500’s, in the town center.Very
heavy light flak by this time so quickly exited from the area.Took
over from Robbie as usual, and note that this time he went up in the nose
where he probably took a nap.He
took over from me after we left the Belgium coast and proceeded to base.No
brake pressure so were diverted to Woodbridge where we had a hairy landing
using FIDO.Almost ran off the end
of the runway before we came to a stop.Spent
three of the worst days we have ever experienced, cold, wet, nothing to
do.Finally left for base again
but were diverted to Newmarket.Eventually
made it home on the 20th.
November
20, 1944
Day
raid on Homberg, trip #10
Really
duff met, we hit cloud at the Belgium coast and it stayed with us, with
few breaks, till we reached the target.Once
again we bombed on GH over 10/10 cloud and no flak. Carrying a cookie and
14/500’s. In cloud all the way back till we were over the Channel when
it cleared until we reached the English coast where it thickened up again.What
a sight coming back.Hundreds of
aircraft all leaving BLACK vapor trails behind them and, at one stage,
climbing up to 24.000 feet to get over the CuNimbs.On
this trip we actually saw three aircraft destroyed by bombs dropped from
aircraft above them, and swerved away, ourselves, from beneath one that
would have passed right over us with it’s bomb doors open.I’ll
always remember our mid-upper, Dennis, yelling out the instruction to swerve
right.
November
21, 1944
Return
to Homberg, trip #11
Yesterdays
effort was no good so back we go again, takeoff 12.30 pm.Bursts
of cloud all the way back until we reached the target where it cleared
so bombed visually on sky markers.No
flak and great visibility, a perfect bombing run and bombs right on target.Once
again, the target was a marshalling yards.We
carried a cookie and 14/500’s.Back
to base and arrived home at 5 pm.
November
26, 1944
Day
raid to Fulda, trip #12
Takeoff
at 8 am over 10/10 cloud, essentially to test the range of our GH equipment.A
very easy trip, no flak, no fighters and 10/10 cloud.The
trip was unsuccessful as we were unable to pick up a signal at that range.Target
was to be a marshalling yard.Returned
to base, jettisoning our bombs over the Channel.
November
27, 1944
Day
raid to Cologne, trip #13
Takeoff
at 1 pm in clear skies.Everything
went fine until we reached the target and the flak started coming up at
us.I have never seen so many shell
bursts at one time. We picked our target, a marshalling yards, and went
in on our bombing run.Everyone was
yelling.“Drop those bombs and get
out of here.”We pressed on, dropped
the bombs, a cookie and 14/500’s, and raced for home.It’s
hard to describe the sheer terror and beauty that accompanied a raid like
this one.500 odd bombers above us,
beneath us and around us, flak bursts like myriads of balls of cotton wool,
aircraft spiraling down to crash into the holocaust below and tail gunner,
Harry, shouting “Weave” as the predicted flak crept up behind us.My
comment, I note, was that I hoped we would never again have to fly over
Cologne in broad daylight with no cloud cover.We
were one of the few aircraft that returned without any damage, our lucky
day.
November
28, 1944
Day
raid on Neuss, trip #14
A
marshalling yards and an uneventful trip over 10/10 cloud.Off
the ground at 2.30 pm, very little flak over the target, bombing on GH
and, for a change, equipment was operational.We
ran up on the target, dropped our bombs, a cookie, 6/1000’s and 6/500’s,
and headed for home to arrive back at 7.30 pm.
The
period from this date until our next trip on December 1, 1944 was a very
busy one.We packed up all our gear,
took off and proceeded to a new airfield at Chedburgh.
218
(Gold Coast) SQUADRON, CHEDBURGH
December
1, 1944
Day
raid on Oberhausen, trip #15
Took
off at 12 noon over 10/10 cloud for an uneventful trip.Target
was a marshalling yards, we bombed on GH, a cookie and 14/500’s, and headed
back to base and were on the ground again at 5 pm.
On
leave until December 15, then back again to support our ground forces in
their battle with von Rundstat in the Ardennes.
December
21, 1944
Day
raid on Trier, trip #16
The
weather was so bad that 7 trips in a row were scrubbed.We
took off at 12.30 pm over 10/10 cloud and proceeded to the target.Very
little flak but, for the first time, our bombs hung up.Very
disappointing.Came back over the
Channel and jettisoned our bomb load and were on the ground again at 5
pm.
December
22, 1944
Back
to Trier, trip #17
Off
at 12.30 pm into a beautiful clear sky.Target,
the town of Trier, stood out like a sore thumb.A
classic bombing run and all of our bombs, a cookie and 14/500’s, right
down on the target.Very little flak
to contend with.Congratulations
received from Bomber Harris.Two
of us got direct hits on the target which was a tank concentration in the
middle of the town.Back home at
5 pm.
December
24, 1944
Night
raid on Bonn Airfield, trip #18
A
clear night, off the ground at 3.30 pm.Once
again we were supposed to bomb on GH but could not get any signal.Bombed
visually on the aiming point, the airfield runways, and got a direct hit.Bomb
load 11/1000’s and 4/500’s. Very little flak and were back at base at 8.30
pm.
December
26, 1944
Day
raid on St. Vith, trip #19
Off
the ground at 1.30 and clear skies all the way to the target.This
was another tank concentration and, again, a classic bombing run with very
little light flak.A cookie and
14/500’s. The German tanks were clearly visible and, once again, a direct
hit on the target.Back to base
to land at 5 pm.
December
27, 1944 – my 21st birthday
Day
raid on our “favourite”, Cologne, trip #20
Off
the ground at 11.30 pm over 10/10 cloud.Target
was a marshalling yard to the south of the city.Bombed
on GH, a cookie and 14/500’s.Noted
smoke going up to about 8000 ft so presumed that the target was hit. Very
little flak to contend with, this time.Back
to base to land at 5 pm.
December
28, 1944
Night
raid on Vohwinkel, trip #21
Off
the ground at 3.30 pm into clear skies.Bombed
visually on target indicators, a cookie and 14/500’s.Target
was, again, a marshalling yards, and was clearly visible.Masses
of searchlights criss-crossing the sky and every now and then, holding
an aircraft in their beam.Masses
of fighter planes, both coming in and going out which kept Robbie and our
rear gunner, Harry, very busy.Our
first experience with flashless flak, impossible to see where it is bursting.Escaped,
unscathed, and were back at base at10
pm.
December
31, 1944
Day
raid on Castrop Rauxel, trip #22
A
daylight raid to celebrate New Year’s Eve.Again,
a marshalling yards over 10/10 cloud.We
were leading the group and got all the predicted stuff on our run in to
the target.Bombed on GH, a cookie
and 14/500’s.This was the first
time that we’d been hit and, on landing, we counted 27 holes of various
sizes and a piece taken half way through an elevator control rod!!!! Thankful
for no injuries.Back on deck at
3.30 pm.
January
5, 1945
Night
raid on Neuss, trip #23
Off
the ground at 4 pm into 10/10 cloud.Another
marshalling yards and bombed on GH, a cookie and 14/500’s.Very
little flak.Used window on the way
out from the target, very messy as the bundles tend to break up and the
strips get jammed everywhere.On
crossing the Channel we were told to divert to Mildenhall where we spent
the night.Back to base on the 6th.
On
leave again, back to work on January 20.
January
24, 1945
Cologne
again, trip #24
Took
off at 10 am over 10/10 cloud.The
southern marshalling yards again and bombing on GH.Very
impersonal.We follow the track on
the screen until we see a blip, enter the wind speed data and start counting,
open the bomb bay doors and, after the required time interval, drop the
bombs.Often wondered how many of
these bombs actually landed on target, sight unseen.Back
to base and landed at 3 pm.
January
30, 1945
Day
raid on Krefeld, trip #25
Up
at 12 noon into clear skies.We saw
very little flak but others told us that they were faced with heavy stuff.Bombed
on GH, a cookie and 14/500’s, and headed for home where we arrived at 3.30.
This
was the trip that saw F/O Evers and crew shot down on the last trip of
their tour.Too bad but it happens.
February
1, 1945
Day
raid on Munchen Gladback, trip #26
Up
over 10/10 cloud at 10 am.Again
bombing on GH and no flak. a cookie and 14/500’s.Arrived
back at base at 3 pm.Uneventful!!!!
February
2, 1945
Night
raid on Wiesbaden, trip #27
Off
the ground at 8 pm over 10/10 cloud.Again
bombing on GH and no flak. Usual load.
Had
to climb up to 22,000 feet on the way home to clear the CuNims.Back
to base and landed at 1.30 am.
February
3, 1945
Night
raid on Dortmund, trip #28
A
very shaky trip.Took off at 5 pm
to arrive over the target just after dark.Hundreds
of searchlights everywhere, and flak bursts all over the sky.GH
again went out and we bombed visually, on sky markers.Dozens
of fighters around us but managed to get out without a scratch.Robbie
and Harry again very busy.Back to
base and landed 10 pm.
February
5, 1945
Day
raid on Wanna Eickel, trip #29
Off
the ground at 10 am and fine weather until we hit the French coast.Took
the aircraft up to 25,000 feet to clear the CuNims and stayed there until
we reached the target.Dropped to
22,000 to unload bombs on GH, the usual load, and back up again right after.Predicted
flak followed us all the way in and out.Much
weaving to avoid the predictors. We ended up being the only aircraft on
the station that got the GH signal. Back at base at 3 pm.
February
9, 1945
Night
raid on Hohenberg, trip #30 – OUR LAST
Briefed
at 12.45pm and takeoff into clear sky at 4 am.A
few scattered searchlights over the target and very little flak.One
of aircraft in front of us blew up, again for some unexplained reason.Target
was a marshalling yards and, again, bombed on GH.Back
to base and landed at about 8 am.Congratulated
all round on finishing our operational tour.
FOOTNOTE
I
have been asked over the years what it was like during those years and
how I felt about the bombing.My
answer is always that we had a job to do and we did it to the best of our
ability.From the foregoing it will
be evident that the bulk of the missions were to cause as much damage to
the railway systems as possible.The
only outstanding exception was Duisberg which was one of the main transport
links with all parts of German Europe and, therefore, a prime target.We
had our moments of terror and elation and, we who survived, are only sorry
that so many bright young men were killed in the conflict.The
above are excerpts from the diary that I kept during those years and lists
all of the 30 trips that we completed during our tour.There
are only two of our crew left, now, Reg Churcher (deceased since writing
this note), our WOP and myself.We
both belong to the 218 Squadron Association whose Secretary, Margery Griffiths,
keeps us up to date with her News Letters.
DESCRIPTIONS
GEE - Navigational device used in the latter part of the
war.
H2S - Radar scanning device used for map reading as a naviigational
aid.
GH - Bombing aid usind a set of concentric circles
to pinpoint a target.
FIDO- Fog Intensive Dispersal Operation. A kerosene fueled method for
fog dispersal.
COOKIE - A 4000 Lb. tank filled with explosives and with fuses in the
end.
SCARECROW - A German device sent up to scare our bomber crews.
INCENDIARY - A thermite device for setting fire to buildings.
FLAK- German anti-aircraft fire.
WINDOW - Strips of tinfoil unloaded from the aircraft to fool
anti-aircraft fire.
CUNIMS - Towering cumulus clouds going up to 30,000
feet.
ELSAN - A chemical toilet.
MARSHALLING YARDS - Railway marshalling yards.
MASTER BOMBER - Usually in a Mosquito aircraft. Pinpointed target.
SKY MARKERS - Markers dropped by the Master Bomber as a bombing target.
MET - Meterological report given out at mission briefing.
Richard
P. Perry
January
2, 2002
The montage shows some of the courses attended and the aircraft flown during WW2
The Mighty Lancaster
Lancaster & Tiger Moth