Arts to Intelligence by Doreen Galvin

Author:Doreen Galvin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biographies & Memoirs
Published: 2015-07-31T00:00:00+00:00

Marking Time

A few days after the fateful sortie, Feltwell became a non-operational station. The Venturas were not considered suitable for carrying out strikes in enemy occupied territory any longer, and were later transferred to Coastal Command for less dangerous duties such as coastal patrol work. Only our Radar Squadron continued to operate as it flew sorties close to the enemy coast at night. Its specific activities were kept secret from us, and it worked independently of the Intelligence section of the station.

Within less than a week, we received news from Underground sources that, despite heavy opposition of the enemy fighters, some of our aircraft succeeded in breaking past the German Luftwaffe, and attacked the hydro-electric station with some success. They had done an excellent job, but their one-way trip proved that they were a poor match against the enemy fighters. There was still no news of the aircrews who carried out the strike.

Towards the end of the following week, the gloom, which pervaded us all, lightened, when the King and Queen, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother, visited Feltwell to meet and commiserate with the wives and children of the missing airmen. It was a great event, and one which showed the genuine concern of our Sovereign. At Buckingham Palace in London, where they lived during most of the war, the King and Queen were kept up-to-date with information of any unusual current events, both good and bad. Consequently, they were familiar with the circumstances of the Feltwell operation, and knew the names of wives and children of the missing crews. They chatted with each of them personally and, when conversation became difficult, the King helped everyone to relax, by joking about the number of times he bumped his head on the roof of the car, as they drove along the twenty miles of pot-holed road from Ely.

It was a very joyful and memorable experience for everyone. Unfortunately, I was on duty and could not join in any of it, although, that evening, it was my turn to sit at the dinner table and ask all the questions. It was exhilarating to hear all the happy and enthusiastic answers.

But the atmosphere at Feltwell changed quickly from a vibrant station, with high morale and a sense of purpose, to one of gloom, waiting for direction. We missed the regular sight and sound of twelve aircraft bursting into life, as they took off from the airfield, one after the other to carry out a mission. Each target destroyed made our country a little stronger, and helped us feel just that bit closer to the end of hostilities and the atrocities that accompanied them in the occupied countries.

Now, the only operational exercises carried out, were by the Special Squadron whose aircraft would come and go individually under the cover of darkness. There was no outward glamour to their activities. They were appreciated by the people who lived in the nearby village for being no more than disturbers of their sleep in the middle of the night.

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