Joey Jacobson's War

by Peter J. Usher

  An operational trip is mysterious – hundreds of planes fly for the same target – yet none go together – only the occasional one is met over the target – then you anxiously inquire if everybody returned when you get back – often some are missing – mysterious & strange – all take off – some just disappear and are never heard of again.

  Casual comment goes on at all times – “that fellow is getting it” – laconically says the pilot about another plane caught in searchlights and aak aak – then you nonchalantly tell one another how you got caught in searchlights & flak & how you got out – you are still alive by a hairsbreadth – but that does not worry you any more –

  Standoffs & free nights are heaven sends – you feel light & free & no matter what you do – you do it well – it might well be your last nite – a week of flying is like a year or more of hectic living –

  But despite the unspoken tension – the dangers, strain & losses of fine & genuine pals you still keep your sense of humour & fun – you still get a kick out of doing things – anything – eating – sleeping – dancing and you still don’t worry or fret – or above all – fear – it’s a game of death – but its all a big joke – game & sport – at least I think so –

  (JJOD 20 August 1941)

  Joe made light of his experience in his letters home:

  There is a great spirit on our squadron which is rapidly becoming one of the ace squadrons in the country. Our wing commander is under thirty – he has won the DSO and DFC – he leads the dangerous and toughest daylight raids himself. … our squadron leaders … go on many raids themselves – they are absolutely tops with us – they are just one of the boys – we call them by their first names – they take almost as many risks as we do – model leaders – great men – fine examples – that spirit spreads right down to us all.

  … I look on our regular night excursions as a hockey game – sometimes we have a tough game (target) – sometimes an easy one – sometimes we are fooled – sometimes surprised.

  We have loads of fun when flying – everybody is free and easy – no panic – no excitement – when the searchlights or AAK start shooting up at you there is a bit of suspense until you get out – then the jokes start flying fast and quick. Some fellows eat their lunch over the target – others fall asleep on long trips. But we all try pretty hard to locate the target – and hit it – we usually succeed – but the Jerries are smart – you can’t be careless or they get you – you have to be on your toes and outfox them all the time – it’s quite a game and I am getting a huge kick out of it – we blast them night after night and I don’t imagine they are too happy about it – the Germans are not getting too much sleep these days.

  It does not take long to learn the country and I can almost go around Germany – Belgium, Holland and France plus England – blindfolded – at least from the air – we use planes to visit pals at other airdromes and it is marvelous meeting some old pal from Canada in some Godforsaken spot in England. (JJL 10 August 1941)

  I autograph all my bombs before every take off – the big ones are for Mom & Pop – the smaller ones for the girls and for requests – everywhere we are besieged by people to drop a bomb for them. I don’t know what you have been eating of late Pop but you sure made some powerful explosions on the last couple of trips. One of our boys wrote Judy Garland and asked her if he could name his plane after her – she wired back and said yes.

  … I don’t like sending cables whilst I am in the midst of heavy work – it is bad luck – I just write my steady weekly letter and leave it go at that. …

  It is difficult though after an epic making and thrilling raid to try and start giving you the local chatter – just doesn’t seem to make sense but they won’t let us talk about our trips in our letters home.

  … I joined the local lending library and am catching up with my reading. Since I have a nice home with a fireside and radio and food I am very comfortable. (JJL 21 August 1941)

  In his exuberance, Joe characteristically exaggerated his familiarity with German territory in his letters home. He would soon enough be disabused of this conceit. Perhaps this was Joe’s way of dealing with his fears, but there is also a note of fascination with what he was seeing in the air, and the forces he was engaged against. He was in a constant state of elation and anticipation. He could have been on call for operations on any night. On his free nights Joe went drinking in nearby Lincoln, Horncastle, or Boston with his newfound comrades. In his spare time during the day, he played pool, went on bicycle rides with his pals, and wrote letters and read books. He was also learning how easy it was to get killed. Three 106 Squadron crews – people who were no longer strangers to him – failed to return in those two weeks, and news continued to arrive of the loss of his Canadian pals at other stations. He added a “grim note” in a letter home:

  I am addressing two letters care of our home – one to Mrs. Abrams – the other to Mrs. Kennedy who lives on Grosvenor Ave – since Ed Kennedy was one of my best pals and Hy a good friend I thought their folks would like to hear from me – both ran into a bit of tough luck and were killed. (JJL 21 August 1941)

  Joe was given a week’s leave, which he began in London with Roger Rousseau and Jack McIntyre (who was also billeted in Woodhall Spa) on the 18th. They shared a room at the Central Hotel, and spent much of their time at the Beaver Club, where they found dates for a dance at Covent Gardens, and where Joe ran into several of his McGill buddies now in the air force. He saw some plays, and enclosed two theatre programs in a letter home. Percy characterized these, in his own diary, as historic documents on account of “a paragraph in black type advising the use of [a] certain air raid shelter nearby the theatre in case of air attack but stating that in any case the show would continue and those in the audience who wish to remain seated could do so …” (PJD 23 September 1941).

  Left London after 2 days of merriment with Roger & Jack – we were all aware one or all [of] us might not be together again – we enjoyed ourselves without going haywire – now as happy as a lark.

  (JJD 21 August 1941)

  Joe proceeded on to Midfield where, as he told his family, in Dan’s absence:

  Everybody is in high spirits and Suzanne and Henriette have been laughing like they have not laughed in a long time – we have all been having a lovely time … talking, laughing and joking for the past five hours about family – travel, countries, politics, music and every other conceivable subject. They are all well-educated, informed, traveled and able to talk and laugh with real continental charm and intelligence – we had a delightfully evening together and Suzanne and Henriette especially were really lively and thoroughly enjoyed themselves – we certainly have some lovely times together when we are alone …

  … I am going back to my squadron tomorrow night. This has certainly been one of the nicest weeks I have spent anywhere. I feel thoroughly at home here and they all feel thoroughly at home with me. Their charm and kindness is overwhelming and I hope I shall be able to do something for them some day – I think that if you could get a very nice cigarette case with an air force crest on it for Henriette that she would like it – plus a nice lighter for her if you can find them – give them to Monty to bring over with the stockings and other items.

  I swanked it last night – took Janine to the Midland Hotel in Manchester for supper – she’s about the best find over here – (JJL 24 August 1941)

  He confided more than that to his diary:

  the more I see & go around with Janine – the better I like her. … yes I am falling – for Janine. (JJD 24 August 1941)

  Being in the company of intelligent people has put me on my mettle. I can still handle my end of it but not as adequately as I would like to. I intend on improving my English vocabulary & speaking which has become shabbier than ever. (JJD 25 August 1941)

  Have been thinking of Janine & my position all day – definitely fond of her – but still a lot of obstacles to a real love match – different countries being one & my slipshod ch
aracter another – I have slipped badly of late will have to buck up as she is too good to lose – not many Janines around. (JJD 26 August 1941)

  Nineteen

  Confidence Affirmed

  Joe returned from crew leave brimming with confidence, ready for another crack at German industry.

  Back to the station & home again with old pals … flying talk & tension – Jim Erly killed whilst away.1 (JJD 26 August 1941)

  Went for a delightful bike ride with Roger & Dave – we rode to Horncastle – had a few beers, rode back in the dark, singing and watching the searchlights … Jack, Roger & I have decided we want commissions when we finish our 200 hrs – the three of us planned the same things – I wonder which of us will live to see our plans realized.

  (JJD 27 August 1941)

  Jack, of Scots origin from Toronto, Roger, a French-Canadian from Trois Pistoles, Quebec, and Joe, a Jew from Westmount, might have been an unlikely threesome in civilian life back home: a Canadian fable of sorts. On operations in the same squadron in England, they shared a natural bond of citizenship and danger.

  Spent the day sleeping & getting briefed for our trip to Duisberg – it should be hot – and heavy … funny how you put everything in order before a trip over Germany – feel in another world whilst flying – then think nothing of it … (JJD 28 August 1941)

  It is hard to believe but I am sitting quietly in Mrs. Lettice’s kitchen with Roger enjoying a quiet supper. Last night we had a shaky do & just about had it – can’t understand how or why they did not hit us – vitally – yet when we reeled back we talked & joked about our adventures like I always do about all events of all kinds. (JJD 29 August 1941)

  The operation on Duisberg’s railway yards, from which one of the squadron’s crews failed to return, had indeed proved hot and heavy.

  We really had our problems this trip. We made a landfall over Borum & the Zuider Sea – from there to the target was one mass & maze of incendiaries. We were picked up in earnest on the Rhine just west of the city & they held us for fifteen minutes. Once the searchlights caught us the aak aak started to pot at us & were we ever pounded. They were so close they hit our wings with bits of shell and there was a steady crunching & booming as the gunfire got closer & closer. We turned and dived and dropped from 12,000' to 2,000' before escaping – only to be picked up again and fired at from the low levels. I honestly thought that we were done for. It was uncanny with the dozens of searchlights from all angles holding you in their vice whilst the accurate guns came in for the kill. We dropped our bombs over the city. We escaped uninjured and without damage for some unknown reason – fate played a hand – we were lucky even then we had to fly straight back over Jerry Land thru searchlights – fighter patrols & aak. It certainly felt great to have the wheels touch the ground again. But you still joke and talk about your trips as you do about a hockey game – a trip in the country or any other pleasant adventure – the fact that you come within a foot or two of being hit and killed does not worry you in the least. It is a lot of fun while it lasts – at least you can make it seem like fun if you do not have too many narrow escapes – also once you lay off your imagination & reasoning powers take command and you realize the danger and start to worry. (JJOD 28 August 1941)

  The Duisberg sortie seems to have been the closest run affair of all of Joe’s operations. Decades later his pilot recalled that, coned by searchlights, the cockpit was lit brighter than daylight, while shells were bursting all around them. In the blinding light they could see neither the target nor the ground, and had to find their way out of the target area by reference to the pole star.

  The next day Joe wrote to his father, who on account of the news he had been hearing in Canada, was less optimistic than Joe about the progress of the war. Joe told him that he was encouraged by the fight the Russians were putting up, and the Americans’ inching progress toward war, but most of all by the bombing campaign:

  Internal view of the air observer’s cockpit, looking forward. The table is in the working position and can be slid back along the bar on the starbord side and stowed in raised position. The bombsight is shown in lowered position beneath it. The bomb-aimer’s switches are on the starboard side (top right of the photo), and the drift sight on the port side (labelled “104” in this photo). Patricia Bay, BC, 1943. (Library and Archives Canada, PA-178902)

  External view of the air observer’s cockpit. Canadian Jim Erly, DFC, is demonstrating the use of the electrically driven Mk. II automatic bombsight. 106 Squadron, RAF Coningsby, summer 1941. (Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre)

  we are really keeping the hopes of peoples alive for today – that is especially true of the more unfortunate ones. Thru special informed sources, which we have access to – various facts emerge.2 Our nightly raids – those steady sorties made practically every night of the week with anything up to four hundred planes, some of which you read about – some of which you do not, are the main hope and inspiration to our friends and allies, whilst at the same time they rock and devastate the morale as well as the possessions of our enemies. We drop leaflets still on every raid – we sometimes drop tea for Holland – those leaflets are devoured by all – by French, Belgians, Dutch – yes and by the Germans. The steady drone of our airplanes is active proof to the sufferers of our fighting strength and determination. And they are also a true proof to the Germans of our fighting strength and determination.

  So although isolated news items might look gloomy and depressing from where you are, I feel that the great, gradual, mighty forces are slowly hemming the Germans in, tracking them down, crushing them. It might take a longer time than we can yet foresee – it will bring many more localized set-backs – but slowly and surely the power of those who refuse to be dominated by the German race is becoming effective. Since that power is practically the power of the peoples of whole world outside of Germany itself – I see nothing but hope, encouragement and victory if we stick to it and fight with brains, might and courage until the end. … (JJL 29 August 1941)

  Joe then turned to

  a more personal matter which I have never yet discussed with anybody so far – I have only vaguely thought about it in my own head at times. I feel as you probably do that we all have some reason for living – we do not decide upon our coming into or going out of the world as we know it. That is at least one weight off our shoulders which probably explains why I have not the slightest qualms about any of the more perilous jobs I am on. When your turn is due you “get it” and that is that.

  But there are certain events which we can control thru our own character, personalities, knowledge, intelligence, training etc. Now here is the whole point which I have come up against. Where can I fit in? Not now particularly, but after the war if I am still around. The question is what is my capacity and what are my abilities in particular. I don’t particularly feel like spending all my time and energy upon a purely selfish, petty life. I would like to do something that has more scope that would perhaps start making others conscious of others. It is definitely hard to explain but the point is – could I be of the best service in business exerting as good an influence as possible thru the various formal channels and societies or is there not something a little more imaginative I might do? I mean there should definitely be a new spirit developed after the war and somebody has got to help develop it. But here is the biggest problem of all. What would my abilities and capabilities enable me to do? Frankly and honestly I would say – at the moment not very much. Most people I know would probably be optimistic but I know myself better and I would say I have a long tough battle ahead to fit myself for anything big or small.

  I know this will all seem a little puzzling and muddleheaded – but I seem to have reached the belated stage where I have to find myself. It might seem foolish thinking about these problems when engaged in the type of job that I am, but I feel that now is the time to try to formulate a plan – more or less get my ideas straightened out in order not to go to pieces once the war is over. For i
f the war was to end tomorrow I should find myself a very perplexed young man [not] knowing either what I wanted to do or what I was capable of doing, though the latter question does not really faze me – I now feel I could tackle anything – in fact I have – almost.

  … In the meantime do not worry about me. I am having the chance of a lifetime and I certainly enjoy it. (JJL 29 August 1941)

  Two days later Joe’s crew was dispatched on a mine-laying sortie off Kiel Harbour, which he thought was a complete success, having “planted the vegetable” in the allotted position from a height of seven hundred feet. He saw the parachute open and the mine strike the water. It was a long trip, eight and a half hours, but Joe considered it:

  A most enjoyable trip – a long 340 mile sea trip during which time it is possible to relax – use the available lights to check up on your progress – eat – talk & enjoy yourself.

  We hit the German coast north of Sylt – pinpointed myself in Denmark – cruised down the Baltic – found our exact spot and dropped our mine. We saw some ships in Kiel Bay – one fired at us but we had no difficulty. The weather was perfect – the whole operation was a complete success. Upon our return we were diverted to North Luffenham because of the weather. We stooged around the beacon there for over an hour amongst dozens of our own planes, Jerries, OTU planes, etc. Naturally you cannot see any other planes – but it was uncomfortable so we went to Waddington & landed there. It was extremely enjoyable, satisfactory and a tonic for rattled nerves. (JJOD 31 August 1941)

  Mine-laying was a very different type of operation from those over industrial targets on land. On arriving near the target, the crew had to pinpoint on a designated point on the coast, and then at the end of a timed run out to a point a mile or so from shore, release the mine from a few hundred feet above the sea. The mine was a long cylindrical affair weighing nearly a ton, with a parachute attached so that it would drift down and descend to the shallow seabed intact. There it would wait to be triggered by the magnetic field of a passing enemy ship. The Hampden bomb bay was uniquely suited to the purpose and during the early years of the war, mining operations were generally assigned to Hampden squadrons.