Book Read Free

After the Flood

Page 39

by John Nichol


  Goebbels, Joseph 291–2

  Goodman, Lawrence ‘Benny’

  apprehensiveness of 173

  aware of human cost of bombing 321

  comment on vandalism to Memorial and Harris’s statue 320

  difficulty taking off with Grand Slam bombs 296

  forced to abort Bremen op 309–10, 311

  memories of VE Day 315

  safely lands his plane in thick fog 278

  takes part in Berghof op 313

  takes part in Hamburg op 311–12

  takes part in Tirpitz op 235

  under fire 175

  visits Arnberg after the War 301

  volunteers for the RAF 174

  Göring, Hermann 83

  Grand Slam bomb (‘Ten-Ton Tess’) 61, 294–300, 307–11, 316

  Grantham 10, 20

  Great War see First World War

  Grimes, Iris 238–40, 305, 306

  Grimes, Sydney

  aware of human cost of bombing and war 320–1

  background 236–7

  becomes an instructor 244

  believed to be dead by his mother 305

  celebrates sinking of the Tirpitz 273

  deals with death of crew 237–8, 240

  joins 617 Squadron 244, 246

  joins RAF 237

  meets and marries Iris 238–9

  relives wartime experiences 239–40

  saddened at death of his crew 305–6

  stands down reluctantly after Bielefeld 301

  takes part in Bielefeld op 297

  takes part in Politz op 277

  takes part in Tirpitz op 236, 246

  Group Headquarters (Swinderby) 99

  Grüner (executioner of Wyness’s crew) 231

  Gueydon (French cruiser) 185

  Gumbley, Bernard ‘Barney’

  background 244–5

  comment on Fauquier 274

  death of 304

  discusses future plans with Grimes 302–3

  joins RNZAF 245

  receives award at Buckingham Palace 245–6

  takes part in Politz op 284

  Haakøy Island 214, 260, 265, 267

  Hamburg, 35, 65, 81–2, 115, 311, 316

  Hamilton, Malcolm ‘Mac’

  comment on bombing technique 77

  deals with death of crewmen 238

  joins 617 Squadron 67, 88

  survives Le Havre op 133–6

  takes part in Saumur tunnel op 130

  takes part in Tirpitz op 198, 200, 250

  told to increase his accuracy by Leonard Cheshire 57–8

  Hanover 316

  Harris, Air Chief Marshal Arthur ‘Bomber’ 3, 11, 223

  argues against the Dams raid 20

  assured of Tallboy’s penetrative abilities 129

  astonished that Bomber Command not acknowledged by Churchill 319

  comment on flying bombs 143

  doubts concerning low-level marking technique 104

  euphoria and pessimism 21

  recommends 617 Squadron to solve simulation problem 114

  reluctantly agrees to Operation Argument 87

  statue defaced 319

  suggests using 617 Squadron to assassinate Mussolini 33

  writes note of commendation to 617 Squadron 326–7

  Hawks, Howard 25

  Hay, Squadron Bombing Leader Bob

  charged with ensuring high degree of accuracy 26

  death of 85, 86, 92

  grave visited by Larry Curtis 326

  Hayward, Tony 252

  Heavy Conversion Unit 80

  Hebbard, Loftus ‘Lofty’ 258, 276

  High Capacity (HC) bombs 36

  Hill, Nelson 253

  Hitler, Adolf 20, 62, 171, 186, 195, 267, 275, 312, 313, 314, 321

  HMS London 246

  HMS Seanymph 55

  Hobbs, Gerry 151–6

  Hobday, Sydney

  bales out of stricken aircraft 43, 44

  marathon escape back to UK 48–54

  Holden, Squadron Leader George

  appointed CO 26

  character and description 26

  death of 40–1, 56

  takes part in Dortmund–Ems Canal op 40, 46

  Home Guard 78, 245, 275

  Hopgood, John ‘Hoppy’ 8–9

  Hosie, Bruce

  character and description 224–5

  executed by Grüner 230–1

  presumed to have perished 230

  takes part in Kembs op 224

  Howard, Christopher ‘Kit’ 228, 232

  Humphries, Squadron Adjutant Harry ‘Humph’ 22–3, 86

  Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system 123

  Ijmuiden 316

  Ingelby, Flying Officer Phil 147–8, 184–5

  Intelligence Section, Woodhall Spa 100, 109, 112, 158

  Isherwood, Flight Sergeant Samuel 155

  Isle of Sylt 241

  Iveson, Squadron Leader Tony

  at forefront of Memorial campaign 321

  background 144

  comment on Berghof op 313–14

  comment on necessity of bombing campaigns 321

  death of 321

  joins 616 Squadron and survives ditching in the sea 145

  joins 617 Squadron 146–8

  joins RAF Volunteer Reserve 144

  meets German fighter pilot many years later 269

  off-duty informality 147

  promoted Flight Commander 144

  returns safely from long operation 269

  sadness at death of Wyness 232

  safely lands his crippled plane 290–1

  takes part in Politz op 286, 288

  takes part in Tirpitz op 197–8, 199–200, 202, 204, 209, 210, 235, 255

  visits grave of fallen crew at Nesbyen 212

  watches newsreels on Ardennes op 284–5

  Jimmy (Scottish mechanic) 89–90

  ‘Johnny Walker’ magnetic mines 108

  Johns, W.E. 144

  Johnson, Edward ‘Johnny’ 42, 43

  Johnson, George ‘Johnny’

  agrees to join special squadron 6

  award and celebrations 23–4

  becomes a bomb-aimer 32–3

  character and description 5, 33

  comment on Dortmund–Ems Canal op 39, 45, 46

  comment on dropping bombs wide or aborting missions 243

  comment on Gibson 19

  comment on squadron relationships 18–19

  comment on the thrill of low-flying 28

  comment on V-weapons 137

  (Johnson, George ‘Johnny’ cont.)

  comments on Leonard Cheshire 57, 58

  deals with loss of comrades 17, 18, 48

  family background 31–2

  joins the RAF 32

  meets and marries Gwyn 5–7

  post-war work 322

  proud of his part in Dams raid 325–6

  stops flying combat ops 104

  takes part in Dams raid 7, 14, 16

  takes part in Limoges op 77

  training 32

  unaware of impact of Dams raid 20–1

  Johnson, Gwyn 4–7, 16, 31, 104, 325–6

  Johnson, Vic 269

  Johnston, J.I. 153, 154

  Joplin, Arthur ‘Joppy’

  crashes his plane in thick fog 278–82

  learns of the death of some of his crew 283

  posted to 617 Squadron 220, 276

  recovers in Louth County Infirmary 282–3

  reprimanded and given red endorsement 284

  takes part in Politz op 276–9

  takes part in Tirpitz op 234, 251, 258, 261

  Juvisy railway marshalling yard 104–6, 127, 247

  Kaa Fjord 196

  Kassel (1943) 56, 65

  Kell, Arthur 234, 251

  Kellow, Bob 43

  Kembs barrage 224–31

  Kennedy, John F. 141

  Kennedy, Joseph P. Jr 141

  Kergostrov Island 200
r />   Kiel 314

  Kinema in the Woods (The Flicks in the Sticks) 69

  King, Flying Officer W.J. 155

  Knell, Les 176

  Knight, Les

  character 37

  saves his crew but dies in the process 42–4

  successful bomb-drop on Eder dam 12–13

  superstitions 39

  takes part in Dortmund–Ems Canal op 40

  Knights, Bob

  awarded the DSO 273

  christens his aircraft ‘Thumper’ 81

  comment on bombing civilians 67

  meets his crew 80

  praise for markers at Munich 108

  takes part in destruction

  of V-weapons sites 158

  takes part in Hamburg op 81

  takes part in Leipzig op 241–2

  takes part in Limoges op 74

  takes part in Tirpitz op 199, 210, 250, 260

  Knilans, Hubert ‘Nicky Nylons’

  agrees to second tour with 617 Squadron 100–1

  begins to suffer from combat fatigue 130–2

  bravery of 65–6

  comment on bombing civilians 67

  comment on life and death 69

  death of 322

  flight-tests aircraft 148

  joins 617 Squadron 64–5, 67–8

  joins 619 Squadron 65

  learns of African-American discrimination 131

  nearly courtmartialed for low-flying 68

  post-war work 322

  as practical joker 65

  practises escape and evasion exercise 176

  practises fuel-consumption tests and short-landings 187–8, 192

  safely returns to England 212–13

  successfully completes fifty ops before standing down 213

  survives Le Havre op 132–3

  takes part in Anthéor op 85

  takes part in destruction of V-weapons sites 158, 167, 209

  takes part in Tirpitz op 199, 201–2, 204, 205, 206, 208

  tests Tallboy bomb 127

  witnesses impact of buzz-bombs 138

  Krupp steel-works 196

  Ku Klux Klan 131

  Kursk, Battle of (1943) 35

  La Pallice 187

  lack of moral fibre (LMF) 241–3

  Lancaster Finishing School 146

  Langston, John 295

  Lappland 249, 256, 273

  Le Havre 122, 124, 132–4, 136

  Leavitt, John 253

  Leipzig 241

  Levy, Flying Officer Frank 212, 217

  Lippman, Else 304–5

  Littlehampton 126

  Lloyd, Squadron Leader Tommy 87

  London 137–9, 142, 143, 148–9, 171, 186

  BBC Bush House, Aldwych 137–8

  Bomber Command Memorial 319, 320, 321

  Chez Cup 186

  Chez Moi 186

  Coal Hole, Strand 24

  Hungaria Restaurant, Regent Street 24–5

  Madame Tussaud’s 191

  Mayfair Hotel 24

  Milroy Club 273

  Palladium 273

  Savoy Hotel 273

  Louth 282, 283

  Luftwaffe 267, 276, 292

  Lüneburg Heath 314

  McCarthy, Pilot Officer Joe

  asked to join special squadron 5, 6

  character and description 18

  compulsorily retired from 617 Squadron 143

  not involved in Dortmund–Ems Canal op 46

  post-war work 322

  takes part in Dams raid 13, 14

  takes part in Toulouse factory op 103

  McKie, Alex 247

  McLean, Don 18

  McLean, Flight Sergeant Tom ‘Killer’

  character and description 92

  joins 617 Squadron 94

  practices with his crew evasion and counter-attack tactics 94–5

  shoots down several enemy aircraft 95–9

  studies operational gunnery techniques 92–3

  success in air combat 92, 93–4, 99

  survives fifty-one operations 99

  McLennan, Don 247–8

  McNally, Barbara 148–9

  McRostie, ‘Mac’ 161

  Madrid 54

  Mailly-le-Camp 116–20

  Majdanek concentration camp 171

  Malta, Siege of 2

  Maltby, Squadron Leader David

  character and description 37–8

  death of 38, 39, 45, 55

  takes part in Dams raid 10–11, 12, 37

  Maltby, Ettrick 55

  Maltby, Nina 38

  Mannheim 93

  Maquis see French Resistance

  Marseille 193

  Martin, Flight Lieutenant Harold ‘Mick’

  always carries a toy koala bear 177

  considered greatest bomber pilot of the war 74

  leaves 617 Squadron and joins 515 Squadron 86

  makes emergency landing on Sardinia 85–6

  opinion on reasons for loss of life 22

  replaced as CO 25–6, 56

  suggests low level marking 63–4

  takes part in Dams raid 9, 10, 12

  takes part in Dortmund–Ems Canal op 39, 40, 41–2, 44, 46

  uses low-level marking technique 73–4, 76, 77, 84–5, 103

  Martin, Flight Lieutenant Phil

  awards given to 225, 231

  drops Grand Slam bomb on Arnsberg 300

  joins 617 Squadron 225

  safely flies his plane back to England 228–9

  survives direct hit on his plane 286

  Maudslay, Henry 12

  May, Bernie 17

  Maydslay, Henry 12

  Melville, Colonel Chris 225, 232

  Metz 95

  Michelin rubber factory (Clermont-Ferrand) 99–100

  Military Intelligence 173, 190, 307, 312

  Military Police (MPs) 112–13, 189

  Mimoyecques 139–43, 170

  Möhne dam 316

  Möller, Anneliese 299

  Molotovsk 201

  Mönchengladbach 216

  Monica radar warning equipment 95–6

  Montgomery, General Sir Bernard 314

  Mulheim 25

  Munich 107–10

  Munro, Les ‘Happy’ (or ‘Smiler’)

  acceptance of death 39, 243

  celebrates Dams raid success 23

  comment on 617 Squadron 28–9

  comment on Tallboys 129

  compulsorily retired from 617 Squadron 143

  memories of VE Day 314

  not involved in Dortmund–Ems Canal op 46

  reasons for enlisting 29

  takes part in escape and evasion exercise 176–7

  takes part in Le Havre op 133

  takes part in Operation Taxable 123

  takes part in Toulouse factory op 103

  unable to complete Dams raid 13–14

  Murmansk 199, 285

  Mussolini, Benito 33, 35

  NAAFI 120

  National-Zeitung (Swiss newspaper) 229

  Nesbyen 212

  Nicholson, Elizabeth 55

  Nicholson, Vivian 55

  Nienburg 307

  NKVD 207–8

  Nordhorn 40

  Normandy 104, 122, 125–6, 163–4, 193

  Norris, Sergeant James 168, 169, 170

  Norwegian Resistance 289

  Nuremberg 102, 316

  Oboe (bombing system) 63

  O’Brien, Harry ‘Obie’ 42–3

  Oder River 291

  Okel 304

  Onega Bay (White Sea) 199–200, 201–2, 206

  Operation Argument (1944: ‘Big Week’ attacks on aircraft-manufacturing plants) 87

  Operation Chastise (1943: Ruhr dams) 15

  see also Dambusters

  Operation Crossbow (1944: destruction of V-weapon sites) 150–60

  Operation Dragoon (1944: invasion of southern France) 186–8

  Operation Garlic (1943: Dortmund–Ems Canal bombing) 35–46

&nb
sp; Operation Glimmer (1944: radar counter-measures) 125

  Operation Gomorrah (1943: destruction of Hamburg) 35, 65, 81–2, 115

  Operation Mandrel (1944: radar counter-measures) 125–6

  Operation Market Garden (1944: seizing the bridge at Arnhem) 223

  Operation Moonshine (1944: radar counter-measures) 125

  Operation Obviate (1944: 2nd Bomber Command attack on Tirpitz) 215

  Operation Overlord (1944: invasion of France) 68, 122–6

  Operation Taxable (1944: D-Day diversionary tactics) 114–20, 123–5, 175

  Operation Tiger (1944: D-Day rehearsal) 112–13

  Operation Titanic (1944: dropping of dummy parachutists) 125

  Operational Training Unit (OTU) 44, 79–80

  Orbaizeta 53

  Ostend 193

  Ottley, Bill 15

  Pamplona 54

  Paris 52, 99, 104, 122, 127, 186

  Paris Gun 142

  Pas de Calais 62, 73, 126

  Pat O’Leary organisation 154

  Pathfinder Force 63, 102–3, 106, 110

  Patton, General George 189

  Pau 52

  Pearl Harbor (1941) 32

  Pesme, Pes 185–6

  Peterborough 24

  Petwood Hotel Officers’ Mess 68, 69–70, 72, 120–1, 172, 176, 213, 270, 305

  Phillips, Flight Engineer John ‘Taff’ 288

  Philpott, Group Captain ‘Monty’ 234, 270

  Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) 206

  Politz 276-9, 284

  Pool, Reg 161, 179, 180, 184, 323

  Popular Flying magazine 144

  Portefaix, Raymond 307

  Porter, Ken 191

  Portland Bill 126

  post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 131–2, 242, 323

  PQ17 convoy 195

  Pritchard, Lorne 154

  Project Ruby (evaluation of bomb penetration) 311

  propaganda 1, 21, 25, 76–7, 192, 208, 217, 218

  Pryor, John

  becomes a POW 289–90

  joins 617 Squadron 88

  suggests ‘gaggle’ system 151

  survives plane crash 288–90

  takes part in Brest op 185–6

  takes part in Mimoyecques op 140

  takes part in Tirpitz op 209

  takes part in Toulouse op 105

  Pyrenees 52, 53, 54

  Québriac, Aristide 183, 188

  Queen Elizabeth 65, 89, 195

  R-Roger (Jolly Roger) (Knilans’ plane) 68

  R100 airship 60

  radar 113–16, 123–4, 198, 256

  Radcliffe, Bill 18

  Rauceby RAF hospital 136, 282–3

  RCAF see Royal Canadian Air Force

  Red Army 202, 203, 291

  Red Cross 54

  Reid, Flight Lieutenant William

  becomes a POW 168–9

  character and description 164–5

  courageous attack on Düsseldorf 164–6

  joins 617 Squadron 166

  takes part in attacks on V-weapon sites 166–9

  Remagen 292

  Rennes 189, 190

  Rhine 224, 227, 292

  Rhude, Harry 80

  Rice, Pilot Officer Geoff 13

  Rilly-la-Montagne 164–5, 166–9, 170

 

‹ Prev