Letters from the Front: From the First World War to the Present Day by Roberts Andrew

Author:Roberts, Andrew
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Letters From the Front: From the First World War to the Present Day
ISBN: 9781472808189
Publisher: Osprey Publishing Ltd

While the British were in headlong retreat in the Far East and struggling to survive in the North African desert, the main way they were able to strike back at the Axis powers was through the strategic bombing campaign over occupied Europe and Germany.

Flying Officer Ron Williams flew as the navigator on an Avro Lancaster with Nos. 106, 61, 57 and 617 Squadrons, RAF, from October 1942 onwards.

Officers Mess

RAF Syerston

NOTTS

23/4/43 1.30pm

Dear Mum and Dad,

I have received both your letters now for which thanks. I am very sorry about the gap in mine – I was clear in my mind that I had written sometime over the weekend – until I woke up on Tuesday!…

I’ve got another trip done since I wrote – we took part in the varied attacks on Hitler’s birthday. It was quite a nice trip as we could map read in the bright moonlight once we had crossed the sea. We did slightly different tactics which caused some fun on the way back (which I’ll tell you about later) – but nothing dangerous. Bob has now only 13 more to do, and I hope to do the same – we have got to the stage of counting how many to go now, instead of how many we’ve done…

There is a new stunt on this afternoon, and we’ve all got to be in a running kit at 2pm to do a bit of a x country, so I’d better go and change.

Love to all,

Ron

Officers Mess

RAF Syerston

NOTTS

28/4/43 1.30pm

Dear Mum and Dad,

Here we are … lunch eaten, and time for a short letter before the post goes. Your letter and the Guardian arrived yesterday tea time, for which thanks. Regarding the ‘number of trips’ query, it is usual, when pilots complete their tour by doing 30 trips, to finish other members of the crew also if they are only two or three short. It is pretty well the rule in the case of navigators anyway, so, being two behind Bob, I hope to finish on 28. With these last two, it now needs only eleven – should be in single figures soon.

Friday afternoon saw us doing a cross country of two or three miles across the drome and down by the Trent. Having a hot bath on return alleviated some of the stiffness next day. Bob and I were changed in time for the bus and a short quiet evening in Notts…

Sunday was again a quiet night. In the afternoon the crew did a bit of clay pigeon shooting – it’s the first I’ve done since ITW – and then Bob and I changed to go down to the WAAF officers’ mess, to which we had been invited for tea. We stayed there until about 8.30 when we all went along to the dance in the NAFFI.

Monday of course there was considerable activity. The ace crews from each squadron were attacking first and I am almost certain we were the very first to bomb. Of course that means we get all the stuff at us as we go in.

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