Joey Jacobson's War

by Peter J. Usher

  (JJL 8 January 1942)

  Joe told the Pony Club that he would be “starting to train on what will probably be the biggest bomber in operational use in the air force.”

  The information (or rumours) Joe picked up on his return was not entirely correct. The sneaker raids that had begun in mid-December had ceased by the time he got back from leave. None had been carried out with much effect, although two aircraft were lost. Flying training on Manchesters would not begin for another month, conversion to Lancasters would take two or three months longer than Joe had been led to believe, and 106 Squadron would not move to Syerston until October. But his anxiety about operating on Manchesters was widely shared among Bomber Command’s aircrews. Adding it all up, his prospects in the near future did not seem good. In the meantime, he faced another week of inactivity. And it was exactly at such times when the pointless exercise of authority was most likely to occur.

  Supposed to bomb the Scharnhorst & Gneisy but I was scrubbed at the last moment – squadron getting binding with rigid training program – read Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam again – great stuff but I can’t resign myself entirely to “a loaf of bread beneath the bough a flask of wine a book of verse & thou” – I need the excitement of making that possible. (JJD 9 January 1942)

  Had our regular sat nite bull session in Boston with most of the old gang – Russians really pushing the Germans back – the only power today capable of handling the Germans – Singapore in grave straits bec[ause] of incompetent so-called colonial leaders believing whites superior to coloured people and acting accord[ingly].

  (JJD 10 January 1942)

  The whole gang went to a show in Boston – did a little too much rough house – rec’d a nice letter from Mom – Pop’s play a real success – both are sensible, reasonable, warm-hearted people – I shall have my work cut out after the war trying to live up to their hopes & my reputation – I should be able to give a good account of myself though.

  (JJD 12 January 1942)

  Loafing by day by day getting lazier – inactive & listless – a few trips will wake me up – had a visit from some Canadian officers attempting to clear up grievances – see that we get promoted properly with our commissions, etc. might shake up the RAF stooges – Eng[land] certainly expects plenty from [the] men without giving much in return – time the hereditary geniuses were kicked out.2 (JJD 13 January 1942)

  Some old pals from Waddington landed here last nite – had a bull session about our pals at O.T.U. about three quarters are missing – yet you accept the fact calmly – in fact you become conditioned to the prospects of death and watch others go & nearly go yourself without too much fuss. (JJD 14 January 1942)

  Always pleased to provide the Pony Club with a lecture, Joe sized up the war situation and America’s place in it:

  Herb is spreeing around giving his all to the old firm – I would not be surprised to see the reserved occupations become more unreserved shortly – besides you will probably experience a psychological change with regard to your desire to be a civilian or a soldier once the uniforms become obvious in the streets …

  Britain by sheer courage, will power, luck and a little brains stood up to the Germans – partly took their measure and held on long enough to marshal her resources and rally the world –

  Russia by sheer hard work, foresight, good hard common sense, unselfishness and courage prepared for the evil day – took the measure of the Germans and did more than that – she showed herself prepared and able to hand back to the Germans what she received. …

  The United States thru sheer greed, selfishness, downright stupidity and fantastic lack of foresight failed and partly refused to prepare for the evil day as did the Russians – they escaped the fate of France purely because of an ocean instead of a river – now they are awake – too cocky and far behind in the race for munitions of war having little equipment and what she has is hopelessly outdated – don’t get too cocky when you read all you are going to do – don’t forget that is only going to be possible because of the Russians – the British and others – Americans will probably crow again about winning the war – actually they nearly lost it. … Since U.S. power won’t be really felt for another year we stand a good chance of still being in uniform next New Years – maybe together – maybe separated – maybe not at all.

  Naturally there are hundreds of other guiding, influencing and controlling factors – I can’t begin to consider them – I only sketched the broadest of outlines mainly to keep Herby in his place. The letter you sent showed little appreciation for any factor in this war outside the U.S. It was too narrow-minded, shallow and uninformed for a Poneyite. The war is not in the bag simply because the U.S. is in – the U.S. has done little so far to affect the outcome and what it is doing won’t be effective until the outcome has been decided – you are only a reserve my boy – a substitute – so don’t act as if you are the star – American products and people are held in none too high esteem over here – of course I would not let that worry you but I am trying to impress upon you yankee doodles that you are only little bits of piss in the ocean as are everybody else – so let’s remember that – do our best together and let it go at that –

  Now this diatribe is not directed against our loyal Poneyite – a former Canadian and future American – it is to be read to the public around Times Square, Delancy’s Lane (don’t give those slugs my address) and everywhere that people gather – I won’t let a bloody Englishman breathe a sentence of reproach against my American confreres – but I thought I ought to tell you privately just for the hell of it – but don’t tear up your U.S. citizenship papers because Mub and I might settle down in New York some day – but tuck some of the baloney away in the corner of your head to act as an inspiration to you to right past mistakes – to correct wrong impressions – and above all – to do something concrete to plaster the haughty Germans and the crafty Japs. (JJL 8 January 1942)

  On the morning of 15 January, Coningsby was instructed to prepare eleven Hampdens from 106 Squadron, and six Manchesters from 97 Squadron, to participate in a raid on Hamburg as the main Bomber Command target for the night. It was Bomber Command’s first raid on Hamburg since Joe had been there on Roberts’s last sortie at the end of November. This time the tactics would be different. The wing commander outlined the forecast and strategy:

  a certain amount of mist in Hamburg, also some frost, 15°. All public services suspended. 5 Group to take advantage of these conditions. Crews are to be told that the intention is to burn the town of Hamburg. If Hamburg cannot be identified – bombs are to be brought back. No incendiaries to be dropped on Germany tonight – except Hamburg. Success depends on our concentration in time and space. The route is approx: base to a pt. 54°30N, 4°E. This is to take advantage of the prevailing wind and for best visibility. Picked crews to go in first and act as a guide for the others. Leading crews may attack from low level – even 1,000 ft. if Captain of aircraft desires – … – all incendiaries in centre of town – aiming point ‘C’.3

  Joe recorded in his diary that day that he been detailed to Hamburg that night “to burn the city.” These were not his own words. They had come directly from Bomber Command Headquarters at High Wycombe. Aiming point C was not a military target. The objective was to inflict maximum destruction and demoralization on the city’s inhabitants by burning it down, using tactics recently conceived but not yet implemented. Comparative assessment of the results of the previous winter’s Blitz versus the RAF’s recent area bombing campaign showed that the Luftwaffe’s success had relied primarily on the deployment of large quantities of small incendiaries rather than high-explosive bombs. Fire rather than blast was apparently the most effective way to destroy a city. To succeed, however, several tens of thousands of two-pound incendiaries had to be dropped within a small area over a short time, and then followed by high-explosive bombs, in order to overwhelm the ability of the city’s firefighters to respond. If the results proved satisfactory, the Air Ministry opined, “
it may well be that we shall find ourselves able to undertake the systematic destruction of German towns at a much earlier date than we have been able so far to hope for.”4 But although such an attack had been planned since October, the necessary conditions for success – clear weather and a large enough stock of incendiaries – had not come together until now. Hamburg, and especially its old centre with its timbered buildings and narrow streets, was thought a good place to experiment. So it was that all aircraft participating in the attack on Hamburg on 15 January carried incendiaries, not for target marking but for fire-raising. That was the purpose of concentrating the attack on the centre of the city in as short a time as possible.

  The weather was fair early in the day although snow was forecast from the west. Joe’s aircraft was one of two that did not take off, due to what he described as a “taxiing crackup.” The crew was uninjured, but their flying was done before it started that night. The raid was unsuccessful in any event – besides the two aircraft that did not even start, one crashed on takeoff, two returned early with engine trouble, and one failed to reach the target because of engine trouble and jettisoned its bombs in the sea. Only four claimed to have reached the target; however, because the target was obscured by cloud, they released their bomb loads, but not their incendiaries, on what they assumed was at least approximately the target area. So the experiment still awaited ideal test conditions, and in the meantime, incendiaries would not be carried as part of a normal bomb load until further notice in order to conserve them until sufficient stocks could be amassed. But that night’s raid on Hamburg was a practice run for many more such operations in the years to come, and would culminate in the destruction of Hamburg by firestorm eighteen months later.

  Joe’s immediate concern, however, was that by twenty minutes after midnight, one aircraft had not yet returned. It was declared missing a couple of hours later.

  Roger is not back yet and I am goddam well worried – … it is essential that I get a trip in soon before I lose my taste for flying.

  (JJD 15 January 1942)

  Roger Rousseau missing – with crew Dashwood & Horseman from last night’s operation – the second of the McIntyre – Rousseau – Jacobson trio to go – I feel a bit empty at heart with the Rouse missing – another true pal whose bombs I will have to drop with Keswick, McIntyre & Kennedy – with Pop posted I remain the sole surviving Canadian here from the original fourteen – I wonder how long for?5

  (JJD 16 January 1942)

  Joe wrote to Monty immediately.

  Roger is missing from a low level on [words cut out by censor]. I see a good many men lost week in and week out but very few really mean much to me personally – few losses really strike home – the loss of Roger really does as we have been together for 15 months thru thick and thin and had one another sized up pretty well … – in fact altho I am more conditioned to seeing or hearing about fellow friends killed or lost – Roger’s bad luck makes me feel about the same as when I lost my own brother seven years ago as we had lived and flown together for longer than most people ever have –

  There is still a minute possibility [words cut out by censor] but so slim that it is not worth hoping for – I have not heard of navigators of [word cut out by censor – presumably “Hampdens”] ever bailing out or not very often – that is something to remember should I hit the same bad luck – the observer chances of escaping are nil.

  I am going out with Hodge and my crew to drink a few toasts to Roger and his crew – all our closest pals and thus usher still another band of friends into a select corner of our memories. (16 January 1942)

  Joe told Janine that he was

  still plugging along but Roger is missing after a low-level on Hamburg a few nights ago. The station is not quite … the same and most everyone feels badly – my old landlady was really broken up – the town feels sad whilst his close pals and myself in particular feel really a bit lost – thus another fine friend disappears … I guess I have to finish for the rest of the gang. (18 January 1942)

  No loss struck Joe deeper than this one. Joe and Roger had gone through their training in Canada and at Finningley together, they had been posted to 106 Squadron together, and they had roomed together. And each was an outsider in his own way, as both knew and recognized. If Joe had an extra hurdle to jump, as a Jew, so also and perhaps more so did Roger, as a French Canadian. It was no accident that so few French Canadians had entered the RCAF in 1940. There was no provision for training in French, so anyone not fluent in English was going to have a hard time. Several French Canadians were flunked out of air observer training that year and re-mustered as air gunners. Roger was one of the very few who had made it. Joe knew that and admired him for it.

  Already at the stage of his operational tour where he just wanted to survive it to completion and move on, Joe’s confidence was now badly shaken. The combination of cancelled operations and the gathering sense of doom sent him into a malaise and for the next few days he seems to have lost his sense of the future. He was in a state of simply going on, drowning his sorrows with his pals until something happened to him. On the 17th he had “an amazing adventure,” which he described to Janine.

  I have been laid up slightly with a bit of a cold but that has not impaired my faculty for getting into scrapes. Dave and I and another friend Robby missed the 7 PM bus from Woodhall where we are billeted to Boston where we planned to meet the boys in the pub and talk over past adventures & friends – Dave made us miss the bus despite my stalling tactics with the bus conductor which delayed it 5 minutes – well we had to get there so we canvassed the town for a taxi with no luck. The distance is seventeen miles – but we heard of a well to do farmer who had two cars – with unequaled gall we got hold of him – gave him our story which for a change was true and he offered us one of his cars – a big one – gas and all – Incidentally he knew my landlady well which helped – so off we went – but Robby insisted on driving against my better judgement and what a ride – the lights went out at one stage – most of the time we were on the wrong side of the road and when we did go on the right side we smashed into a post – 12 miles from Boston completely demolishing the fine car. No one was hurt but we had to push the car a couple of miles up the road to a farm house and walk a couple more before getting a hitch back to Woodhall – so we got nowhere – wrecked a car and somehow or other we have to get the car fixed – None of us have driving licences but that is the least of our worries – I hate to put a kind heart and good car out of commission.

  … I have been briefed and ready to fly practically every night since returning from leave – yet I have not taken off the deck due to failures of all kinds – including a taxiing crack up – But we will get off yet – … (JJL 18 January 1942)

  Another magnificent evening at Rysdale with Hodge, Stevenson, Steve, Dave – Tome, Paddy, Max & Robby – they put up a feed that does justice to my mom – plus scotch & beer in unlimited proportion.

  (JJD 18 January 1942)

  Loafed around camp playing snooker per usual with Hodge and Dave – saw Smithson with Robby and told him about his car – went to bed early – pleasant fire – smoked a cigar and read – life easy & lazy again plus tricky as I avoid signing books – attending lectures cagily.

  (JJD 19 January 1942)

  Joe advised Monty that he was

  revising slightly my instructions in the event of my disappearance – Mrs. Lettice will have your address and all my personal belongings such as diaries, pocket books – money etc. will go to you instead of Dan.6

  You can have Savard or one of the officials from Canada House send what you think should be sent home censor free – some of the things I have written might be interesting.

  I am sending all Roger’s stuff to Savard – to send home for him but his family is a bit different than mine as they have never showed any real interest in him –

  This is not a particularly cheering topic but it has to be attended to so from now on my boy – you inherit my rubbage.
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  He added that without Roger, and badly needing company, he had decided to move to barracks at Coningsby.

  Still hanging on with Mrs. Lettice but I might either get Dave to move in with me or move into Camp with the boys as it is rather dull without Roger – but the old lady is badly shaken so I shall stay on alone a while yet – (JJL 19 January 1942)

  Had my last supper with Mrs. Lettice. Moving to the mess – had a wonderful time here with Roger – but that stage has past – the good food can’t compensate for the loneliness and my desire to have a pal at hand – it’s Dave [Davies] now. (JJD 20 January 1942)

  Joe advised Monty that as he was going to Cardington on the 21st for his medical board, he would see what he could do to get to London for a few hours.

  I won’t be flying before then because I have a cold and am off flying until I get back. My pilot is crapping his pants for fear he should be on without me whilst Hodge is hanging on to his cold for dear life.

  Roger was certainly well thought of as many officers and men of all ranks plus civvies have been coming up to me and speaking about him – unusual around here – with Mac and Roger gone my folks will really start getting worried – I think I will send more telegrams – will return your letters tomorrow. (JJL 19 January 1942)

  He also visited Janine, as she was staying with Freedman relatives in London.

  Definitely cooled off on Janine. Too many others things to do – people to see – the old bugaboo of refusing to get tied down or hooked up.

  (JJD 22 January 1942)

  Talked & planned with Monty all night in clubs, lines & on street – starting to get concrete plans. (JJD 23 January 1942)