Pilot tells of adventures

Kyt · Oct 23, 2007

Pilot tells of adventures in Dambuster squad

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nort...adventures-in-dambuster-squad-72703-13422368/

A surviving crewman who flew alongside a Tyneside RAF hero has told of their amazing war-time adventures.

Flt Lt Norman Glaholm, 84, flew 38 successful raids in the hostile skies over Germany in Dambuster Guy Gibson's infamous 106 Squadron.

The Chronicle revealed Norman's incredible archives, which included never-before-seen pictures taken on raids over Germany and his log book.

Now former pal Flt Sgt Frank Reeve, 83, from Derbyshire, who heard about Norman's death in June, has revealed to his daughter how he flew with him over Germany.

Frank, who is in ailing health, wrote: "After 14 days of circuit bumps came a Boxing Day posting with several more crews to Guy Gibson's 106 Lancaster Squadron at Syerston. Due to losses they had just been given a 14-day stand-down.

"At the time I was getting ready for my first two, and only two, both to Berlin, on Saturday, January 16, 1943, and again the next day, 190 of us on the first and 170 on the second, but in my 80s I'm not complaining

"I seem to recall being told we would be found some nice `quiet' trips which started on January 16, 1943, when 190 Lancasters went over to target Berlin.

"Only one failed to get back.

"I was posted to RAF Filton on ground defence of the airfield for the Bristol Aircraft factory, during which time I survived the intense daylight raid by German aircraft on the factory and the airfield when they dropped a large number of bombs."

Frank's daughter Tracy Noad, from Goverton in Nottinghamshire, said: "Dad heard about the articles and Norman's death from the squadron newsletter.

"Obviously there are few surviving members of the squadron left and things like this mean a lot.

"He flew with Norman on some of the missions to Germany near the end of the war and spoke very highly of him."

Norman qualified for his wings in 1941 and spent some time in Ontario, Canada as an RAF trainer, but was soon drafted back for attacks on Germany.

He flew Lancaster Bombers in raids targeting factories, docks and military targets over cities like Berlin, Cologne and Dusseldorf, not knowing if he and his crew would make it back alive.

Norman was given five days leave in October 1940 and travelled from London to Tyneside to marry his sweetheart, Claire.

The pair were married for 52 years before she died 11 years ago.

Such brave men

Scores of young men went up into the skies in World War Two in little more than flying crates.

Despite the glamorous RAF image, flying a bomber was one of the most dangerous and uncomfortable jobs imaginable in the armed forces.

Between 1939 and 1945, more than 55,000 Allied aircrew were killed in raids over Europe, the highest loss rate of any branch of the British military.

At first, missions over Europe were flown by day, and German fighters found the lumbering British aircraft easy targets.

In late 1939, 21 out of 36 bombers on one sortie failed to return. Many of the planes were flying so low that when they were hit there was no time to bale out.

Daytime raids were soon switched to night to provide cover, turning the rickety planes into draughty, freezing cold prisons.

Navigation in the dark also proved a problem in the days before laser-guided bombs, with crews having to rely on map skills and guesswork and often forced to make a second run if fuel held out.

The Lancaster bomber remains one of Britain's best-loved aircraft since it was immortalised in the epic war film The Dambusters.
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spidge · Oct 23, 2007

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Pilot tells of adventures

Kyt Άρης

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