J.A Longs story
Having been in the RAF for two years already and undergone Navigation training in Southern Rhodesia and the bomb aiming course in Satverton, now came the time to "crew up". He was directed to one of the hangers where the completly random process was taking place. Everyone milled around introducing themselves to one another, Mr Long was approached by a soft spoken Welsh Pilot, Flg Off Norman Thomas, who turned out to have several hundred flying hours as a flying instructor. They seemed to "hit it off" and the basis of a crew was established!
"Tommy" Thomas then put together the rest of the crew,
Sgt Bill Neal (ex London policeman) as Navigator,
Sgt Doug Phipps (formerly a barber from Bisbane, Austrailia) as Wireless
Operator,
and Plt Off Geoff Wood as Rear Gunner.
Through July and into September they all got to know each others quallities and characteristics, flew cross country missions all over England. Fighter affiliation exercises, dinghy drill, gunnery practices and communications exercises ensured each member became proficient in his own "trade". Mr Long also spent 13 hrs in the left hand seat learning enough about flying the Wellington to be able to do so if "Tommy" Thomas was put out of action.
Two days before training was complete Tommy was told to fly their first operational mission over France, their baptism by fire, ready or not! The target was an important ammunition and supply concentration in the Foret de Mormal.
At 19.50 hrs on 2nd Sept they took off in Wellington L7888 and crossed the English Coast at Beachy Head and the French at Pointe au Banc. Then came the first experience of real flak and the concentrated flash of bombs exploding on the ground far beneath them, the fires that were started , the cold clammy hands on his bombsight and the fear in his gut as he lay prostrate in the bombing hatch. Running up to the target was when the aircraft was most vulnerable to attack, as no evasive action could be taken, the searchlights could zero in and the night fighters attack.
John dropped the 6, 500lb(225Kg) bombs and Tommy turned the aircraft back towards base post-haste, they crossed the French coast at Neuport and the English at Clackton, Nearly 100 mi off course, but a wonderful sight none the less.
L7888 was one of 6 aircraft from 21 OTU that night, five were considered to have succeded, though cloud cover was "total" only one returned after "navigational difficulties" and abandoned its sortie.