"AD LIB"
(The "Chota Coggage" for Survivors)
No.160 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Issue No.30 Autumn
2004
LifePresident:
F.W.(Bill)Cooper,37 Oakdene,Lansdowne Road, Cheltenham, Glos. GL51 6PX: Tel:
01242 255119 Email: cooperbill@freeuk.com
Reunion Organiser
& Vice President: E.H.(Ted) Daines, 45 Randolf Road, Norwich, NR1 2RU. Tel:
01603 660514. Email: ted@160squadron.freeserve.co.uk
Editor: Les
Crawley, 10 Cleasby Gardens, Low Fell, Gateshead, NE9 5HL Tel:
01914 878734 Email: lescrawley@lineone.net
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
1. S.S.O’s, D.R.O’s And HEROES
RETURN
2. “Medals” and Reunion report
3. Contact and HELP
4. More re “N” and Lady in White
5. Airflow and Radar Mechanics
S.S.O’s
and D.R.O’s
“HEROES RETURN”
The list for those taking up the offer to go with the
160 Group is now closed and we have a total of 37 which includes 17 of our
vets. We are now firming up travel details and these and other guidance notes
will be sent separately to the 17 vets plus co-travellers when we have
finalised the arrangements. It has to
be said that we do not yet have the money - just the apparent OK that we will
be qualifying. (What? me worried?) At least, if it fails, it is giving me
useful experience for a career as a travel agent. There is more about the visit
in the ‘Reunion’ notes in this issue.
Our application has been finalised and submitted at
the 37 and we cannot add more names but if anyone decides later that they wish
to go they can do so but they will need to submit their own individual
application to the fund. About Travel Insurance – hold fire on arranging it for
the moment as the latest “WHICH?” report advises single trip 15 days worldwide
cover for ‘ancient ones’ may be obtained for as little as £45 (maybe better
depending on state of health) from Coventry B.S. Tel:01243 621010. Meantime
please be sure that your passport will not be expiring before, say, September
2005.
OBITUARIES:
It is with regret
that we have to advise of the deaths of Brian Wheldon from Sheringham and Peter
Gay from Brentwood. Brian was a Fitter
(Engines) on the squadron and Peter, a pilot, did rise to the rank of S/Ldr and
at times acting Commanding Officer. We
send our heartfelt sympathies to their families and friends
ANNUAL SUBS: These were due for the year on 1st September and Ted
advises that some 24 members have still not paid. Not good for the finances – need one say more?
BOOKS:
The BOMBER War 1939-45
Arthur Harris and the Allied Bomber Offensive: (Neillands) A reprint of this work in paperback is
now available from Midland Counties Publications at only £9.99.Tel: 01455
254450
Canadians on Radar in South
East Asia: Angus Hamilton:
This book was recommended in Ad Lib No.25 and is worth another mention. It
appears to be out of print but can be downloaded from Robert Quirk’s site for
reading, free. It contains a wealth of material and has been well researched
with maps, statistics and lots of personal reminiscences. Extracts will be
appearing in Ad Lib. At least 23 of
these Canadian Radar experts served on 160 Squadron and coincidentally your
editor served on 176 Squadron (Beaufighters) at the same time as the author.
(Not many people know that).
The Biography of A.C.M. Sir
Keith Park. This book
covers his entire career from youth in New Zealand to First World War (fighter
ace), Malta 1942/3 and through to his role as Allied C in C in S.E.A.C under
Mountbatten. Was £12.99 but on offer at
£6.95. – Midland Counties Publications. Tel: 01455 254450.
D-Day – The Air Battle. This 192 page hardback book by Ken Delve
(our Heroes Return liaison contact) is described as the only full length book
on the air aspects of the invasion and has been carefully researched, is nicely
presented and easily digestible.
Available from Crowood Press, Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wilts SN8 2HR at
£16.99.
1445 FLIGHT: Robert Quirk (courtesy of Ken Krag) has
provided a copy of the ORB’s for this flight which operated from Lyneham more
or less solely for the reception and despatch from May to September 1942 of
Liberators and crews for 159 and 160 Squadrons plus some BOAC. If anyone would
like a copy by email to add to their historical records, contact Les Crawley.
SERVICE MEDALS: This subject cropped up at the reunion and
it appears that some of our number missed out on these awards. Briefly, (subject
to confirmation in each case) anyone who served at all during the war appears
to be entitled to at least the Defence Medal and the War Medal. The 39/45 Star is only issued for service in
an ‘operations area’ for six months (air crew two months). It may be that if
anyone spent their entire service in an ‘operations area’ there might be a
doubt about the Defence Medal.
The Africa Star and Burma Star are issued for anyone
who ‘entered’ the relevant ‘operations areas’ – one day is apparently enough –
between specified dates. In the case of
the Burma Star the dates are from 1/5/42 to 31/12/43 for anyone serving in the
‘operations area’ Bengal or Assam i.e. Salbani and Digri, and from 1/1/44 for
similar service east of the Brahmaputra i.e. Chittagong etc. Air crew on
operations could qualify for presumably both Burma and Pacific Stars but
only one medal is actually issued plus a clasp denoting the award of the
Pacific Star. Apparently, journeys by troopship, whether bombed or not, do not
qualify but, if you were a person wherever you were, who was in a position to
issue the orders for an operation to be carried out (i.e. a Group bigwig?) you
would qualify for the relevant medals. (No, ordering your bearer to go on
reconnaissance to find the Char Wallah does not come into this category).
We would like some feedback from anyone who may have
more information or is aware of definitions relating to service and ‘operations
areas’ in respect of Ceylon. As to the General Service Medal, you would be
eligible if you served for 30 days in French Indo China between 3/9/45 and
28/1/46 or for 30 days in Java or Sumatra between 3/9/45 to 30/11/46. In
addition if you served as aircrew ferrying POW’s or internees from Java,
Sumatra. Malaya, Siam, French Indo China and the Andaman Islands and completed
one sortie during dates peculiar to certain units, you could also be eligible.
Apparently 160 Sqdn was one of the units specified.(see Ad Lib No.13)
Applications for Medals: The procedure for applications is
apparently straightforward but there may be lengthy delays. Send to:- PMA (Sec) 1c (RAF):
Room 6, Building 248A, RAF
PMA, RAF Innsworth, Glos.GL3 1EZ.
160 Squadron Blazer
Badges:Ref:No.R151:From
David Barnes, 2 Wylye Close, Quidhampton, Salisbury SP2 9BE.Tel: 07227 43765
REUNION
SEPTEMBER 2004:
Friday afternoon and those arriving in Stratford were
greeted with an exceptionally heavy downpour - happily that was the only wet
thing about the week end. There were 43 of us: a good crowd but somewhat dwarfed by a reunion of HMS Suffolk. Some
of their members looked as though they may well have served on the original
Suffolk way back in Nelson’s time as well as fresh faced youngsters presumably from
the latest edition of the Suffolk.
The company was in great form and with good food and
reasonable weather we were able to relax and enjoy the sights of the town.
Orderly Officer did not appear to have received any complaints.
Saturday morning came and we had a meeting to discuss
the proposed “Heroes Return” to Sri Lanka.
Whilst the slow return of applications from those interested meant that
the formal completion of arrangements was not yet possible, it was established
that at least 30 would be taking up the offer. It was clear that we would be an
enthusiastic bunch of veterans especially after details of the proposed
itinerary and activities had been taken on board though a few did seem to turn
somewhat pale at the thought of a
challenge to be the first up Sigiriya Rock again. Arrangements for
oxygen are being considered.
The consensus was that a trip, later rather sooner,
would be better and a stopover rather that a non stop flight to Colombo, if
feasible, is desirable. The suggested date of going out on or about 27/28th
January 2005, was taken on board as a target date and generally the offers we
have from three tour operators all seemed to fill the bill for our requirements
adequately though no choice can be made till we are further along the application
trail.
So a great week ended but with one regret – that was
that we failed, as a group, to thank Ted suitably for making all the
arrangements and for making sure that the hotel and staff looked after us well.
Sorry, and thanks Ted! (Les Crawley)
MAKING CONTACT: News, old colleagues and HELP.
The Soya Sausage: Despite extensive research and enquiries
of experts in the Catering Corps, we have had no success so far - so this
request remains open.
Joe Cohen loss of “M” 22nd
September 1943: Hank
Illingworth’s moving account about this loss (in AD LIB No.28) was read by
Joe’s elder brother Malcolm and his niece Jocelyn who emigrated from Australia
to Israel after the war and it was very much appreciated along with the other
historical information we have been able to send.
We are grateful to them for the photo of Joe which
appears in this issue and we have also obtained a photo of his co-pilot F/O Taverner
(Tav) Pallet from David Clarke who earlier gave us the copy of the photograph
of Henry Deeny.
David has sent us copies of letters which we have
been able to add to our records, from Henry Deeny to his sister plus the letter
Colin Butler sent as C.O. of the squadron.
From the latter one realises that this was one of the most poignant
aspects of the C.O.’s responsibilities and as 160 had lost three crews in a
fairly short space of time in 1943 this
made it even more tragic especially the fact that all could only be recorded as
‘missing presumed killed’.
Colin Butler wrote:
S. E. C. Y.,
R.
A. F.,
Ceylon
25.9.43
Dear Miss Deeny
Before you receive this letter you will have been
informed by the Air Ministry that your brother, Sergeant Henry Deeny, has been
reported missing as the result of air operations.
Your brother took off early in the morning of the 22nd
and until today we had no further news. We now know that the Japanese have
broadcast a report that they brought down a Liberator on the 22nd in
the vicinity of the Nicobar Islands where your brother’s aircraft was
operating, one Japanese aircraft was shot down in the engagement. We have no
further details and therefore cannot assess accurately the chances of survivors
but, without wishing to buoy you up unduly, I must say that such a possibility
exists.
For the sake of those of us who have to continue you
will appreciate that these facts are passed to you in confidence. It is important that the enemy should not
know that the source of our information was their own broadcast or that this
Squadron is located in Ceylon.
The loss of this air crew is a sad blow to the
Squadron. Your brother was the chief
wireless operator in his crew, he is greatly missed in the Sergeant’s Mess and
his loss is regretted by all.
Your brother’s effects have been gathered together
and forwarded to the Standing Committee of Adjustment where they will be kept
in safe custody until your brother’s survival or otherwise can be confirmed.
May I now express the great sympathy which all of us
feel with you in your great anxiety and I should like to assure you how very
much we his comrades in the Royal Air Force admire your brother’s unselfish
sacrifice.
Should I receive more news I will inform you
immediately.
Yours sincerely,
C. Butler
Wing Commander
Joe Cohen’s brother Maurice Cohen. LLM. OBE, aged 89
(and niece Jocelyn) have been very touched and Maurice is overwhelmed by the
details he is now learning about his younger brother. As a friend of Joe’s, P/O Doug Strutton of the squadron wrote to
Maurice and we are grateful to Jocelyn for being able to produce the letter
here:
P/O
Douglas Strutton,
R.A.F.
SECY,
Ceylon
1st
October, 1943
Dear Maurice,
Please forgive the familiarity but Joe has spoken of
you so often that I can hardly address you by your surname, and I feel that it
is much wiser to write to you than to your parents in trying to pass on what
little I know of the circumstances of Joe’s disappearance, which we all feel
very keenly indeed.
To be quite frank, we know very little. The crew was briefed for a normal
operational trip to an area over which we had flown the previous day, when we
received no enemy opposition whatever. The weather we experienced was excellent
and there was every reason to suppose that the same conditions prevailed for
Joe’s trip.
However, at the expiration of his estimated time of
arrival at base, the authorities became alarmed and endeavours were made to
contact the machine by radio, but no response was made to our messages.
The only information we can glean is that given by an
enemy communiqué of that date, which claimed the destruction of an aircraft of
the type we are using for the loss of one of their own fighters.
That I regret to say, is all I can tell you, except
that every endeavour was made to find them by aircraft which made a thorough
search of the whole area in which he could possibly have been forced down.
As for Joe’s ability as a pilot, that is beyond
question, and he was recognised as one of the squadron’s most valuable
men. Nor could any doubts be
entertained as to the efficiency of his crew.
I can but add, as one who is proud to claim him as a
very dear friend, that I hope and pray that much better news will be
forthcoming in the very near future. If
there is anything I can do at this end, please let me know.
Yours sincerely,
Douglas Strutton
Even after more than 60 years it still brings home to
us the personal nature rather than the bare statistics of the loss of so many
of our colleagues and mates. Knowing
that this information will all be available through our newsletters, worldwide,
on the internet, adds another dimension to the importance of gathering together memories, reminiscences
and otherwise forgotten material for other family researchers and to add to
wartime history. For this reason as
well as others, we need your continued input whilst we are still around. (Editor)
P/O Joe Cohen Cptn & F/O ‘Tav’ Pallet 2nd Pilot
Both aged 21. k.i.a. 22nd
September, 1943: ”M”.
Paul (Charlie) Bourdon: LAC:
RAF: Charlie’s daughter
in law Carol sends a request from Australia asking if anyone remembers Paul who
is presently in hospital and she is trying to put together an album of his life
for the family.
Charlie eventually became a member of 159 Squadron and
his service follows the 160 pattern – Middle East Feb 1942, India June 1942,
SEAC November 1943 – Carol is hopeful that she can make contact with anyone who
knew him. Having seen AD LIB on the
internet she picked up the story about the Italian P O W Camp in North Africa
and she has a photo showing a group of people behind a barbed wire fence. We
now have copy photos from Carol showing various ground crew – they are a
welcome new addition to our records.
Email copies can be sent to anyone interested or who thinks they can
help. Carol says the 160 web pages ‘are brilliant’ – “more people should know
what you went through during the war” she adds.
The Mystery of “N” - crashed
on Cocos Island 1945:
This search which has been going on now for years has still not been
resolved. Enquiries of all possible
sources have drawn a blank and these include, the comprehensive lists of all
Liberators and their fate as kept by both Robert Quirk and Bob Livingstone,
various RAF squadrons, RAAF, the Netherlands Air Force History Unit, RAF
Hendon, BOAC, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and airmen who served on Cocos.
A lead from Ken Rosam’s book about the RAF on Cocos that all who were
buried on the island were re-interred in Singapore led to the CWGC searching to
provide me with the details but none of them coincided with this loss. In the
hope that our newsletter when on the internet is read by a wider audience I am
repeating this request for information.
It would be easy to dismiss it as to the facts being wrong except that
the photographs taken on Cocos do show the Liberator just prior to landing and
the wreckage of it in the trees at the side of the runway. Although not very clear, it was just
possible to read the letter “N”. I
obtained copies of the photographs from the late Tom Henthorne at the start of
this search and maybe showing one of them here will bring some response. It
cannot have been a Lib from 160 – there would have to be a serious omission
from squadron operations records and errors in the war graves registers but, I do
need to keep trying to solve this mystery. (Les Crawley).
Photograph of the Liberator
landing on Cocos probably about July/September, 1945. Courtesy of the late Tom
Henthorne.
NOW
IT CAN BE TOLD:
Three point landings: From an article picked up via the
Canadian Burma Bombers Association, it is interesting to read Gerry Boyle’s
description of his posting and arrival at Ratmalana.
“We arrived in Ceylon on June 23rd 1943,
with the first Liberator in India equipped with Radar in the nose. We had departed from Lyneham, England, about
three weeks earlier and bumped along through Gibraltar, Tripoli, Cairo,
Habbaniya Iraq, Karachi, New Delhi, Madras to Ratmalana, just outside Colombo.
We were the first new crew to arrive on the squadron,
the rest of the people having been converted onto Libs in England and arriving
a couple of months ahead of us. Incidentally, they had been taught to fly Libs
onto the ground in a three point landing, whilst, at OTU, we had been taught to
float them in on two wheels and then let the nose wheel down gently.
When we landed at Ratmalana that day, it was the
first time the squadron had seen a Lib landed this way!”
(Begs the question – did
everyone then follow suit?)
The Lady in White: Ted Daines and Frank Green in their comprehensive
story of the epic journey – Thurleigh to Ratmalana - as serialised in AD LIB,
covered the African episodes in issues 9 and 12 and duly recorded the fact that
the “Cuba” was welcomed into Durban by “The Lady in White”. At various times
there has been discussion as to how little we knew about the lady but now,
thanks to the internet and Angus Hamilton’s book ‘Canadians on Radar’ mentioned
above, we have photographs and something of her story.
The Lady was Mrs
Perla Siedle Gibson a professional concert soprano married to a Sergeant with a
South African squadron and she had two sons and a daughter in the services. Despite
losing one of her sons she never allowed her grief to stop her from singing. When
asked if she wasn’t afraid of spoiling her voice singing in all weathers and in
the open she replied, “I’ve never thought of it. This is the best thing I’ve ever done with my voice”.
After the war she was instrumental in raising funds
from the people of Natal Province to thank our forces for their sacrifice in
defence of freedom. Some of this money
was used to buy a small hotel in Weymouth, Dorset, and it provides non profit-making
holidays for naval ratings and retired servicemen – called ‘The Hotel for the
Royal Navy’ it apparently continued to serve all three services. The Perla Siedle Gibson Mobile Library was
also founded to serve British seamen and a five room unit at the Highway
Hospice was created with funds raised in her memory.
Mrs Gibson died
in 1971 at the age of 82 and a bronze statue, designed and cast by her niece,
was erected at Durban’s jetty in 1995. The men of the Royal Navy also had a
stone cairn erected in her memory on the North Pier. During WW2 more than 400
convoys, 45,000 ships and six million service personnel passed through South
Africa and over half of them stopped at Durban and few have forgotten its
legendary “Lady in White”. As well as being an international opera star she was
also a classical pianist and a portrait painter. Her autobiography “Durban’s
Lady in White” can still be obtained price about £10. Look for it on the
internet.
‘The Lady in White’ Mrs
Perla Siedle Gibson singing to the troops in Durban.
Information and photographs
from Angus Hamilton’s book “Canadians on Radar in S E Asia 1941-1945” and from www.warlinks.com
(Arthur James Humphreys’ memories) and www.allatsea.co.za.
From
‘AIRFLOW’ Magazine: June 1945:
This item advises that the following correspondence
actually occurred in Colombo. Accommodation was extremely hard to get as can be
gathered from this advertisement:
APARTMENTS:
Wanted
Desperate European T.W.A.
will soon be compelled to camp out on the Galle Face if no better accommodation
near Fort offered. Roof essential. Food immaterial. Write c/o……
A letter in reply was sent by:
Sgt.Snooker, R A F Colombo 22.November, 1944.
Dear Miss (?) Mrs (??),
Having read of your
desperate condition in the local newspaper, I feel that your appeal merits
considerable sympathy although I am not in a position to offer you
accommodation.
I trust that your efforts to
find a roof will meet with success. Should, however, your valiant attempt fail,
I am prepared to express my sympathy in a practical manner and will be very
pleased to join you on the Galle Face. I suggest, however, we wait until the
end of the monsoon season.
I would like to add that I
have had considerable experience of sleeping out and hope that my services will
be accepted.
Yours sincerely, Cuthbert
Snooker.
The lady replied:
C/o (Removed by Censor) Office, Colombo, 24th November 1944
To: Sgt Snooker:
Dear Friend,
Your sympathy has touched me
deeply. In gratitude I am sending you a
small snapshot, taken by the office peon, as I read and re-read your gracious
note.
I shall indeed look out for
you at the Galle Face at the change of the monsoon.
Cordially, (Signed) Maggie
Bagworthy.
The AIRFLOW editor writes: ‘We reproduce this correspondence
because we have found that few women have a sense of humour and we are glad to
find that one of the few is here in Colombo T W A…we take off our hats to you’.
This editor writes. How come
we never saw life as portrayed here but of course we were in the back of beyond?
And, for our lady readers, YES the Airflow Editor was perhaps slightly
chauvinistic!
FROM
CANADIANS ON RADAR: Ed Bastedo.Pt.1.
We pick up Ed Bastedo’s story at:-
On 25 February, 1943, one month after arriving at
Koggala, Bob Oliver and I were posted again - to 160, a Liberator Squadron,
then at Ratmalana, on the outskirts of Colombo. At 160 there were a number of
Canadian mechanics from 240 Squadron and others I had known on the McGill
course. The radar officer was also a Canadian: Mike Finegood. Our work on the
Liberators was rewarding, and, more importantly, our equipment provided the
aircrew with an excellent all-weather, all-seeing eye. I remember my first
flight with the Mark V 10cm radar and how well coastline, islands, etc, showed
up - just like a relief map. The Liberator was a wonderful aircraft.
On fighter affiliation with Hurricanes at low level I
recall watching aircraft 'F' turn inside a Hurricane. This couldn't have been
done at high altitude, but it was something to watch. Generally our planes
carried two bays of stacked depth charges with extra fuel tanks in the other
bays. This enabled them to do patrols to the Andaman Islands, a thousand miles
from base. Although this capability had nothing directly to do with radar
mechs, it was important to us, and to all the ground trades, to know that our
efforts did indeed contribute to the effectiveness of our squadron and to the
crews that flew the planes. Both 240 Squadron and 160 Squadron had field hockey
teams that played against military and civilian teams - including teams from
girls' schools. Although the rules are completely different, for example only
one side of the stick can be used to strike the ball, those of us who had
played ice hockey caught on quickly. Sammy Davis of Montreal played as a
forward and I was a goalkeeper.
In mid-1943 the Squadron moved up to Sigiriya, an
airfield newly carved out of the jungle in the centre of Ceylon. It was at
Sigiriya that one of my most memorable events of the war occurred.
On 15 May 1944, our Squadron was visited by the
Commander-in-Chief, South East Asia Command, Lord Louis Mountbatten. I don't
know why but I was one of those chosen to be inspected by Mountbatten. On his
way past me, he stopped and said: "I see you are from Canada, when did you
leave home?" On being told, he then spoke of his recent visit to Quebec
with Churchill and expressed his appreciation for all the Canadians who had
been away from home for such a long time. He was a very impressive personality,
and the experience was one I have never forgotten.
Sometime in September 1944 the squadron moved again,
this time to Kankesanturai, known as KKS, near the northern tip of Ceylon, not
far from the city of Jaffna. Again there were all new runways and a few
thatched palm buildings, but most of us slept in tents. Several times the
torrential rains caused our tents to collapse—usually at night. Also in
September I was promoted to Sergeant (RAF) and told I would be moving shortly
but before moving I was being sent on a course at the radar school in
Bangalore.
Reproduced by permission of
Angus Hamilton.
Does anyone remember Ed
Bastedo or any of the other 20 or so Radar Mechs from Canada? More in next
issue.
PLEASE CUT
OUT AND USE TO SEND YOUR SUBS TO:
Mr E H Daines,
45 Randolf Road,
Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 2RU
I enclose payment in respect of subs due on 1st
September, 2004.
Amount: £5
(plus £3 if AD LIB taken)
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