From Hitler's U-Boats to Kruschev's Spyflights by Clark Chris;

Author:Clark, Chris;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / Aviation
ISBN: 1769037
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2013-09-08T16:00:00+00:00

Wing Commander Leon’s commendation for Tom.

“D: Friday, 18 August, fifty-third day. Left by three-tonner for the south; arrived at camp near Sienna for lunch. On again afterwards to No 1 C.R.U; where we spent the night.

“N: On Friday, 18 August, we left Florence, by three-tonner, having been provided with soldier’s boots, berets and uniforms, and after various meanderings arrived at a camp near Arrezzo, where we spent the night on the ground.

“D: Saturday, 19 August. On to Rome via many of the places we had bombed previously. Arreno-Magiore-Spoleto-Fermi-Castel-Vecchia-Roma; slept at transit camp, utterly fed up!

“N: We made Rome the day after, and saw many places of interest on the way. The 20 August saw us on our way to Naples, and more interrogations at the No 1 Allied PoW Repatriation Camp. After a few days, I went to No3 S.P.D. Naples, while he, Navigator Flying Officer Hulme, went to No1 RAF General Hospital for treatment to his injured arm. After I had undergone a medical inspection at the B.P.D., I met Flying Officer I.C. Campbell, our Pilot, and Warrant Officer E.H. Evans, the W/Op, and was never more surprised and pleased in my life, as I thought they were still in enemy occupied territory. This meant that all the crew had returned safely, and was a comfort to Flying Officer Hulme and myself. After about a week at the B.P.D; I was able to return to the squadron (then stationed at Cecina) none the worse after my experiences, while Flying Officer Hulme was flown home for special treatment”.

Signed: Flying Officer, Clark.

A signal was received by the Air Ministry in London on 24 August 1944 from the Base Personnel Office, North African Air Force, advising that Tom, and Flying Officer Hulme, had been located at the Allied Prisoner of War Repatriation Unit, Central Mediterranean Forces.

On 1 and 2 September, eleven Baltimores of 55 Squadron flew a sortie in the Adriatic Sector, attacking small barges along the coast. They were met with searchlights and heavy and light flak. Sadly, during the early hours of 2 September 1944, the same day as the Allies had broken through the “Gothic Line” at the southernmost part, Baltimore FW 482 “U” was hit and the crew consisting of Sergeant H.F.L. David, (Pilot), Second Lieutenant D.M. Cameron, (Navigator), Sergeant 1801228, James Walter Thomas Hudson, (Wireless Operator), and Sergeant W.B. Walker, (Air Gunner), died in a sortie over Malta. Hudson was a 21 year old from Putney, London, and the crew’s memory is commemorated at the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial on the island.

In the meantime, Flying Officer Campbell had walked back through the lines, and after rest and recuperation, restarted flying with 55 Squadron during the first week in August 1944; Warrant Officer Evans would rejoin his crew during the third week of August 1944. Their other crew members being Flying Officer R.A. Petchey, and Flight Sergeant D. Lea, Air Gunner, then later, Lieutenant L.W. Douglas. Tom would take Lea’s place from 23 September 1944, making the original crew of three, less Flying Officer Stan Hulme.

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