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Library Reference Number: 073

For Valour

Harry Fisher, Scottish Saltire Branch, ACA

This is a personal account of an operation undertaken by 152 aircraft, 112 of the total number being Stirling aircraft, and 13 of those belonging to my Unit, No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron. My role in this particular operation was as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in one of the crews able to return safely, but for another crew from my Squadron, it ended with heroic but tragic consequences.

On 12/13th August 1943, the target was Fiat's factory in distant Turin. On the same night, an even larger force attacked Milan. Stirling bomb-loads averaged only 3,360 Ibs for this operation. For our part, our 13 aircraft crews were briefed, and included our commanding officer W/Cdr W.G. Oldbury. Eleven aircraft attacked the primary target dropping 43,220 Ibs, and the two aircraft reported missing, were later reported as having landed in Algiers.

We took off from Downham Market at 21.30 hrs and landed at 05.30 hrs next morning, giving total flying time of 8 hrs. This was our longest operational flight apart from one to Modane which had a similar duration.

The Mk.3 Stirling had an improved operating height, but even then, Alpine transit still presented danger, and we took a circular route around the western side. We bombed from 16,500 feet on Green T.I. marker, and as we left the target good fires were seen. Just prior to this, I picked up a coded message from one of our own Squadron Stirlings, EF452 'O' for Oboe, that their aircraft had been attacked and was badly damaged. With the Navigator dead, the Pilot mortally wounded, it was fairly obvious the remainder would never make it back over the Alps, and complete the long journey home. Realising that their Wireless Operator was having difficulty contacting base, one of our other aircraft acted as a go-between. The crippled aircraft was captained by F/Sgt Arthur Louis Aaron, DFM.

In setting out, F/Sgt Aaron had safely crossed the Alpine region, was on course for Turin when suddenly raked from ahead by gunfire. The official version was that firing came from a night-fighter; but with few fighters around at that time, it was said that his aircraft was shot up by - to use a modern expression - 'friendly fire' from the rear-gunner of another bomber. However caused, the result was that Navigator Sgt. C.A. Brennan was killed outright, F/Sgt Aaron was horribly wounded to the face, lung and right arm. Three of the engines were hit and the windscreen shattered. Two turrets were out of action and elevator cables damaged. With Aaron being taken back to the rest bunk and given morphia, the Bomb-Aimer had taken over the controls and decided to make for North Africa.

F/Sgt Aaron having rallied after a short respite, then insisted as Captain of the aircraft, he should once again take over the controls. He was really too weak, and the Bomb-Aimer was virtually in physical control with Aaron at his side. Without a navigator, it was no small feat, but together they flew the aircraft across the Mediterranean, and with the aid of the Wireless Operator, made it to Bone (Annaba) in Algeria.

With great courage and the little strength he had left, Aaron assisted with the landing which was eventually made after several attempts with wheels-up. However, it was only the active involvement of the Bomb-Aimer that enabled the aircraft to be landed. Sadly, F/Sgt Aaron succumbed to his injuries nine hours after landing. In spite of his terrible wounds, had he conserved his strength it is just possible that he might have survived, but he gave his life for his comrades.

F/Sgt. A.L. Aaron, DFM, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the first and only one, to a member of No.218 Squadron; and the third to a member of No.3 Group. His citation read "An example of devotion to duty which has seldom been equalled, and never surpassed." The Bomb-Aimer, F/Sgt. A.W. Larden, received the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, and the Wireless Operator, Sgt. T. Guy, the Distinguished Flying Medal.

This is just a small tribute to a courageous man and fellow aircrew member of 218 Squadron, and to all the number (in excess of 40%) of aircrew in Bomber Command who lost their lives in WW2. The casualty rate was horrific and, to put it into perspective, by the end of the war, of the 125,000 aircrew who had served in Bomber Command, 55,000 had been killed; a quarter of all those who had lost their lives in the whole of the British Armed Services. In addition, there were in the region of 18,000 further casualties listed as wounded or taken prisoner.

I shall conclude by quoting the words of the A.O.C. in C. of Bomber Command, Air Chief Marshal (subsequently Marshal of the Royal Air Force) Sir Arthur T. Harris, Bart, GCB, QBE, AFC, LLD, in his most moving tribute:-

"There are no words with which I can do justice to the aircrew who fought under my command. There is no parallel in warfare to such courage and determination in the face of danger over so long a period of danger which at times was so great, that scarcely one man in three could expect to survive his tour of operations."

(Acknowledgements due to "The Stirling Story" by Michael J.F. Bowyer; also "Bomber Harris - His Life and Times" Henry Probert)

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