Higgs Colin - Voices in Flight The Dambusters Squadron

First published in Great Britain in 2013 by
PEN & SWORD AVIATION
an imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2AS

Copyright Colin Higgs and Bruce Vigar, 2013

ISBN 978-1-84884-772-9
PRINT ISBN: 978-1-78159-371-4
EPUB ISBN: 978-1-47382-265-8
PRC ISBN: 978-1-47382-217-7

The right of Colin Higgs and Bruce Vigar to be identified as the authors of this
work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988.

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When we set out to conduct our first ever filmed interview many years ago little did we realise that by 2013 we would have spent so many wonderful days recording the stories of veterans from all over the world. Initially the interviews were arranged for inclusion in specific documentaries destined either for TV or home video release. After a while, we realised that these interviews were so enlightening, so valuable and so full of humour, anecdote and memory that we really had to get as many as possible in the can.

So our first thanks go to the many veterans who have allowed us into their homes to grill them on their wartime experiences. For this book in particular we would like to thank the men of 617 Squadron, and their families, for such insight into their lives at that time.

As the interviews were originally planned for inclusion in programmes we would like to thank Charles Hewitt of Pen & Sword for publishing a book that allows us to use almost all of each interview rather than just the short clips that would have been used for TV. Also thanks go to Paula Hurst, Laura Hirst and Richard Doherty for guiding us through the minefield of writing our first book.

There are many other people who deserve our thanks for their assistance in getting this book from an idea to reality: Gary Rush-brooke for his enthusiasm and support throughout the project; Tim Prince, and previously David Higham, from RIAT and the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, who helped us to contact many of the veterans; Colin Hudson and Caroline Fowler from Aces High Gallery in Wendover who have persuaded veterans that we are good guys and can be allowed into their homes; Mike Jowett for allowing us to use his photographs also courtesy of Aces High; Jo Ware for her expert indexing; and Beverley Higgs for accurately transcribing hours of recorded interview and providing excellent critical analysis.

Voices In Flight: The Dambuster Squadron is based on interviews with those who served on 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force, from its inception in March 1943 to the end of the Second World War. The accounts cover the big missions: the Dams raid, Tirpitz, Bielefeld Viaduct and others but they also paint a vivid picture of life in a front-line bomber squadron during the Second World War. Because these are personal accounts rather than cold histories, what and why certain events and details are recalled more vividly than others is down to how the individuals regarded them. The accounts are about what mattered to them.

All the accounts have been taken from recorded interviews. These interviews have then been transcribed and edited. Wherever possible, the historical accuracy of the accounts has been checked. But it may be that the passage of time means that some names, places or times are inaccurate. Apart from occasional interlinking sentences, the accounts are in their own words.

The rank given at the start of each chapter and on the contents page is the highest attained by the interviewee whilst on the squadron.

Each account is a chapter. Where possible, they have been arranged chronologically but there are inevitable overlaps.

In its seventieth anniversary year 617 Squadron is possibly the most famous squadron in the Royal Air Force because of the men and their comrades featured in this book. As their numbers dwindle to a handful of survivors these accounts reveal something of how that reputation was forged.

Colin Higgs

Bruce Vigar

2013

In March 1943 I was a bomb-aimer on Flight Lieutenant Joe McCarthys crew in 97 Squadron. We were just completing our first tour of operations and were about to go on leave. Later that month Joe called us together and said that he had been asked by Wing Commander Guy Gibson to join a special squadron he was forming for just one trip. We readily agreed to join him and on 27 March we transferred from Woodhall to Scampton to join Squadron X later to be renamed 617 Squadron.

A series of surprises presented themselves on arrival. A number of highly experienced crews were assembling. Clearly this was no ordinary gathering. All training was to be done at low level 100 feet was the prescribed level but it was seldom adhered to and 60 feet was a lot more interesting. We were not told what the target would be and there was the strictest security about everything we were doing. There were many guesses about the target but it was still not until the final briefing that we understood what the specific training had been for. One could not help but be impressed by the determination of all the crews and the ready acceptance of onerous security and rigorous training. All bomber crews were, and are, dependent upon strong relationships between the crew members. A belief that everyone would do their job. A reliance on each other to act with skill and discipline. Much is written about the importance of leadership and in this context I would like to endorse that view. I had supreme confidence in my pilot, Big Joe. It stayed with me throughout my time on his crew and blossomed into post-war friendship. Later I would serve under Wing Commander Cheshire and he was the finest commander I experienced in my operational career.

One of my abiding memories of the Dams raid was on our return from our target. We passed over what was left of the Mhne Dam. The sight of that inland sea, with water still pouring out of the Dam, gave us tremendous satisfaction as to what had been achieved. The personal disappointment was that only one other aircraft had got through to the Sorpe Dam and it had not been breached. There was also the sad fact that the raid cost the lives of so many of our colleagues, a fact which caused Sir Barnes Wallis great distress.

Writing this Foreword nearly seventy years after the event I am aware that a high level of interest in the raid remains. Much has been written, filmed and televised about the attack. I am equally aware that the reputation of the original squadron has been maintained by those who have followed in our footsteps. They too have made their mark in the best traditions of the Royal Air Force in many areas of conflict around the world and in some cases some have also made the supreme sacrifice.