Enemy Coast Ahead [Illustrated Edition] by Wing Commander Guy P. Gibson VC DSO & Bar DFC & Bar

Author:Wing Commander Guy P. Gibson VC DSO & Bar DFC & Bar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: INscribe Digital
Published: 2015-11-14T05:00:00+00:00

THE HEAVY BRIGADE

AOCs, Group-Captains and the rest of them are very fine, powerful fellows; there is no doubt about that. By merely pushing a button they can launch into the air hundreds of aircraft to obey their immediate command. If the wine last night was good and their liver this morning bad, they can in one quick second give an order which will parade thousands of young airmen in best blue; all standing stiffly to attention, each one thinking the old thought: So this is an inspection. They can post men at will from John-o’-Groats to Baghdad. But when it comes to altering a posting, that is an entirely different matter.

‘Ah! we must be careful here,’ says one.

‘Must not put our foot in this,’ says another.

And the final result is nearly always the same—nothing happens. And so it was with me. A journey to Fighter Command brought no joy. A quick flight to Grantham, which used to be the Headquarters of No 5 Group, was a waste of time. It looked as though I would have to go to the OTU.

My last week in the squadron alternated between Bob and me trying to ‘pull as many strings’ as possible, and a run of large and extensive farewell parties. I was sorry to leave fighters and very sorry to leave the boys. Someone said something about my taking over the squadron when I came back in six months’ time. Ted hadn’t been very well and might be rested himself about then. But I didn’t intend to come back. Night-fighting was all very well, but it meant too much patience for me. I should think single-engine fighters are good, clean fun if you are lucky and a good shot. The best thing of all would be train-busting in Hurricanes, being both fairly safe and effective, but night-fighters were different. In a year’s work, involving about seventy night sorties and thirty day patrols, I had in all seen about twenty Huns. Of these, I had opened fire on nine. Obviously I was not a very good shot. And bombing was still in my blood.

Many people have asked me which I prefer, bombers or fighters. The answer is obvious. They have also asked me many times what is the essential difference between the two. I may be wrong, but I think it lies in one’s mentality and personal make-up.

But first let’s separate the day-fighter from the night-fighter. The former is a single-engine flyer; the pilot has no responsibility save for his own skin and, of course, the responsibility which all team work involves in aerial combat. He does not have to undergo an awful lot of training. His is a happy-go-lucky existence, for the very reason that to him flying is fun, even though sometimes casualties are high.

In the case of a night-fighter crew we have a highly-skilled team, working together, pilot and observer. A Spitfire boy will always avoid flying in cloud, as it involves instrument-flying, but a Beaufighter pilot has to fly on instruments, often from the moment of take-off to the moment of landing.

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