The Drover’s Tale by Fred Mitchell
Factual Notes to Elsham Tales
On the 9th June 1943 an Air Test was carried out on Lancaster ED879 103 Sq coded PM-E it was crewed by:-
F/Sgt A. Egan (RAAF) Pilot
Sgt. J Johnston, F/Eng.
F/Sgt S Elliott (RAAF), Nav.
F/Sgt W Miller (RAAF), B/A.
Sgt. J Brown, W/Op.
As this was an Air Test to be carried out in the vicinity of the home base there was no requirement for Air Gunners, any defensive measures would be assumed by the
Bomb Aimer and Wireless Operator who were trained gunners.
As the Lancaster turned off the perimeter track to approach the Runway in Use it swung out of control and ran into a ditch bordering the airfield. Fire developed and although the crew escaped injury PM-E was so badly damaged it was written off charge.
Sixteen nights later Lancaster ED528 coded PM-Z took-off from Elsham at 22.42hrs to join 473 Bomber Command aircraft tasked to bomb GELSENKIRCHEN in the Ruhr valley. It was skippered by F/Sgt Egan with his usual crew (named above) and included the two Gunners Sgts. H. Horrell and C. Britton. The raid was not a success, 5 PFF Mosquito's (Target Markers) out of 12 had navigation equipment failure, the target was obscured by cloud and industrial haze (a common feature for the Ruhr). 30 aircraft were lost (6.3) including PM-Z which crashed 15 miles short of the target, presumably shot down by Flak. There were four fatalities and three Prisoners-of-war. Fate seemed determined to ground them.
In writing this tale I have used poetic licence in naming the participants but the event certainly took place.
The Drover's Tale
John, the Green Man landlord, wondered how long his one barrel of mild beer would last. The Brewery could not deliver any more this month and if the bad weather continued the local airmen would make considerable inroads into his meagre supply.
Mary, his wife filled a pint glass and called "Here Tom, a pint of the usual".
Tom Drover, the local gamekeeper, who had just entered the pub, nodded his thanks and picking up the glass glanced around the Bar. It was useful, thought Mary, to keep in with Tom as
he provided a source of game in these difficult times.
Tom for his part enjoyed the odd drink and a game of dominoes at the Green Man, he looked across to a table over in the corner and recognised one of the two Air Gunners sitting there. The fair-haired one had celebrated a birthday last week and had bought Tom a pint he recalled. "Hello, lads" he said, "Care for a game of Dominoes?"
"Why not" Huggy Horrell replied '”First one to lose three lives buys the beer!"
"Yes, I'm on," agreed his companion Cubby Britton.
Huggy and Cubby were the Rear and Mid-Upper gunners in Flight Sergeant Alan Edwards crew, so nicknamed by the skipper because he felt that the names Hugh and Cornelius were not in keeping with the rest of the crew.
They settled down to play, Huggy drawing the high number domino to start the game, glancing briefly through the taped leaded window at the steady rainfall and thought of the rest
of the crew, no doubt gathering in the dismal Sergeants Mess at the airfield.
The Airfield looked as if it should be given its last rites, drained of all colour and energy. The grey shapes of the immobile Lancasters, trees and Nissen huts could just be glimpsed against the steady rain that had been falling for the past three days on the Lincolnshire Wolds. "Where's Huggy and Cubby ? " Edwards enquired of Dusty Miller, the Bomb Aimer.
"Down at the Green Man in Louth I expect. That’s their usual drinking hole" he replied.
"I saw them leave on their bikes, half-an-hour ago" added Stuart Elliott, the Navigator.
"It’s just as well we are stood down for Engine because they will return skint and resembling newts ! " commented the pilot.
'' Lucky buggers " exclaimed Elliott. ;
A metallic voice broke into the conversation " Aircrews of C Flight report to Briefing at 1100hrs".
Edwards looked up at the tannoy speaker "What the hell for, the clouds are so low even the birds are walking"
"Hell it’s better than hanging around this miserable bar with no beer and bottles of maiden's water " grinned the Bomb Aimer at the Bar Steward.
"Hey, watch it Aussie" quipped Jock, the Steward "Only birds and bloody fools fly".
At 1400 hours Edwards, Elliott, John Black (Wireless Op) and Miller trooped into the Operations Room having been told by their Flight Commander that gunners would not be needed. Here they met a Flight Engineer Wilf Bailey. As their regular Engineer was on a 48 hr pass, Sergeant Bailey would be with them for this flight.
Bailey, they learned, had come up the hard way entering the RAF six years before as one of Trenchard's Brats - an Aircraft Apprentice – and had volunteered for aircrew two years previously.
They sat down on folding chairs grouped around a trestle table covered with a green cloth.
"Good on yer mate" said Edwards to the Engineer Wilf, but the Navigator and Bomb Aimer just nodded in recognition. They would not readily accept any newcomer to their crew until he had proved his worth with a few trips over the Third Reich.
C Flight Commander, Squadron Leader England, was nearing the end of his second tour, only three to go, and being a Flight Commander could choose the trips unless it was a Maximum Effort. It seemed to him that Group had designated all the recent Ruhr raids as Maximum. He motioned to the assembled aircrews, who stood apprehensively around to relax and gestured to them to resume their seats saying "No panic, chaps, it’s not an operational briefing. The aircraft have been re-engined in record time with new Packard Merlins and now require to be air-tested. E-EASY, S-SUGAR and Y-YORK win take-off at five minute intervals from 1530hrs.
Clear Elsham, climb to 2000 ft, orbit Goole, up to Carnaby and return to Base.
RT code Tendril , colours of the day are Yellow Yellow, watch out on return because there is a convoy around the Humber Estuary and you know the bloody Navy shoot at seagulls. Remember I want no cock-ups. Any questions ?"
'What’s the cloud base Sir, because from where I am sitting it’s on the deck.” This from Edwards. "The Met man says it will lift to 2000ft by 1500 hrs and with your Nav’s D/R and Bomb Aimer’s map reading it should be a piece of cake Alan." came the reply from the Flight Commander.
Tom Drover had had a skin full at the Green Man. He chuckled at the recollection of winning five games of dominoes with the young airmen.
The weather had eased a trifle since he left the pub but he kept his head down against the blustery showers as he pushed the pedals of his rattletrap bicycle.
The road was wet. Tom was wet and not particularly looking forward to greeting In his wife when he got back to his meat. The airfield was on his right, separated from the road by a low hedge which ran alongside for about three hundred yards. On his left the roadside bordered on a slight depression, the result of sandpit workings some years ago, now lightly covered with rough grass and small weary looking scrub.
A little way ahead the road curved to the right giving the impression that it was turning into the airfield itself.
Tom was startled to hear the noise of aero engines starting up with their characteristic cough and splutter of cold Merlins.
Runway lights came on and he thought, “That's more friendly, not far to go to the cottage, about three-quarters of a mile to pedal.“
E-EASY stood on its hard standing circle at dispersal some two hundred yards from the perimeter track, dull matt-black, oil stained and war weary from 120hrs of flight. The average wartime life of operational Lancasters was much less than this and E-EASY had gone into borrowed time.
Edwards and his crew, without the two Gunners, arrived by crew van driven by a cheeky WAAF driver who screeched to a halt impatiently revving the engine till the crew lurched out wearing Mae Wests and parachute harness clutching parachutes, maps and other equipment.
"Get your fingers out" Betty yelled "Pick you up in an hour"
"Belt up" replied Dusty Miller."Don't be late, girl!"
The groundcrew Flight Sergeant, universally known as Chiefie, handed the Form 700 for signature to Edwards and by doing this passed the responsibility for E-EASY to the pilot. The aircrew clambered aboard.
Navigator Stuart on passing by the unclipped rest bunk on the port side dropped the Astro Compass in its stowage box onto the bunk thinking that this will not be needed today nor night if this bloody weather keeps up, someone ought to have clipped the bunk upright, never mind, I'll do it, which he did.
Alan started up the Port Inner then Port Outer followed by the Starboard Inner finally the Starboard Outer, watched by Wilf Bailey, all four responded, the magneto drop on each engine was within the 150 revs tolerance. He signalled to the ground crew to disconnect the Trolley Accumulator and remove whee1 chocks.
E-EASY lumbered forward and by using outboard engines and rudder she turned onto the perimeter track trundling along to the Runway-in-Use, which was East/West nearly into wind.
"Visibility is bloody awful" said Dusty Miller. Too bloody true thought Alan, I'm going to make the shortest Air-Test in E-EASY's career "Give me full power, Wilf, I’ll turn straight on to the runway and take-off without running-up on the brakes"
"Wilco Skipper" replied Bailey, a bit risky he thought but we have no bombs nor full tanks and at 38000 lbs should be O.K. with these new Merlins.
The slow moving Lancaster gathered speed as if anxious to get airborne. "Right Wilf, turning onto runway, give me full power 3000 plus 121bs boost when we get the green".
The signal Aldiss lamp flashed green from the control tower (R/T transmissions were being kept to a minimum per Group instructions). Four throttle levers were pushed forward, propellers in fine pitch, 15 degrees of flap, brakes off - E-EASY was committed.
"Christ she is not responding to right rudder" Alan yelled as the aircraft slewed across the runway, four engines building up to Maximum revs and the four three-bladed steel propellers pulling it along at 60+ knots accelerating toward the perimeter track and the country lane beyond.
The port rudder control rod had been jammed by the Astro-Compass box that had been placed by Stuart on the rest bunk, when the pilot had turned directly onto the runway and taken off with full power.
E-EASY screamed across the grass, past the vacant hard standings and incredulous ground crew erks, past the control tower with wide-eyed officers and NCO's as if determined to reach that country lane.
Tom Drover heard the increased pitch of sound and saw to his horror four gleaming metal discs heading toward him. There was only one thing he could do and Tom did it - he jumped off his bike, rolled over to his left and fell down the side of the disused sand pit, thumped onto the ground and looked up.
E-EASY came to a grinding halt just above him. Edwards had retracted the undercarriage and cut all four engines but the momentum carried the Lancaster across the intervening hedge and lane as if determined to reach Tom.
"Bloody hell, those airmen take their losing at dominoes with bad grace" Tom muttered.
He did forgive them later when he was picked up and given some strong refreshment and profuse apologies by Flight Commander England.
Alan Edwards and his crew did not relish the ensuing Court of Inquiry that wou1d have to be held. "We shall be paying for the repairs when we are ninety" said Dusty Miner.
"Longer than that, the skipper with be stripped down to AC-4 with about tupence a day" quipped Stuart ElIiott.
They needn't have worried, none of them returned from 6elsenkirchen some two weeks later, there were no last messages only next-of-kin in Australia to be informed that they were "Missing".
Written by the late Fred Mitchell Air Bomber in Bill Steel’s crew.
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