“H for Harry” (R5620, 83 Squadron) lines up for a strike against Bremen, Germany on 25 June 1942. She does not return.
Avro Lancaster JB459 OL-T (“T for Tommy”)
3 April 1943
Essen, Germany
No. 83 Squadron, No. 8 Group, RAF Bomber Command
Pilot: Flt Lt Walter Harry Shaw, RAF
Bomb Aimer: Flt Lt S. J. B. Snowden, RAF
Navigator: Flt Lt John Hubert Dunk, RAF
Engineer: Flt Sgt George Dunmore, RAF
Wireless Operator: Flt Sgt John Arthur Bott, RAF
Mid-Upper Gunner: Flt Sgt Francis Mark Tutton, RCAF
Rear Gunner: Flt Sgt Robert Ernest Morgan, RAF
Sound Engineer: Flt Lt Alfred Edward Sweeney, RAF
“T for Tommy” is later lost over Berlin, flying with another crew on the night of 26 November 1943.
Transcript
Okay, bombs gone.
Okay.
Was that bombs gone?
Yes.
Okay.
Bomb doors closed.
Well, I can read my watch in the searchlights. That’s 21:54.
Flak coming awful close!
Heading 100.
21:54. Now, get us out of this lot as best you can.
Okay. Speed’s the answer, now.
The idea is to steer about 020.
Put 020 on over.
020, okay.
Flak directly beneath us.
Right.
And, searchlights underneath us, too.
Come on, “T-for-Tommy,” get cracking!
Watch your height.
I’m watching everything.
Okay.
How many searchlights would you call them?
Too many, I reckon.
A couple thousand.
Yeah, they’re searching for us. You bastards. Oh, hell.
It certainly illuminates things, doesn’t it?
It sure does. Could do with a pint.
Keep your eyes peeled.
Yeah.
They’re firing at us now.
Are they?
Yeah.
Flak coming close at the back!
Okay.
Flak’s close.
Well, it’s coming close, I can feel it.
Yes, I can see it.
Round to port a bit this heading, Skipper.
Okay.
If we press on a bit this way, we might get out.
Yep.
My God!
You could light your fag on any of those.
Steady up a bit.
Christ!
Oh!
That was a bit close.
Yeah.
I think we’ve been hit, personally.
We have?
Yeah.
Lose a bit of height, Skipper.
Yeah.
That was close.
Yes.
Searchlights looking for us now.
Okay, I’m pressing on more or less on course.
Righty-o.
It’s gone out now.
We better press on north until we’re clear of this issue.
Yeah, that’s what I’m doing.
Hello, Skipper.
Hello.
We’ve been holed in the front here.
Okay.
Oil is leaking out of the front turret, still it’s nothing to worry about.
Okay.
Okay, boy. Duncy, could you glance over the temperatures on the engines?
Could I what?
Glance over the temperatures?
Look then, Duncy, I’ve been weaving on your course. I shall be heading a little to the east.
Okay, I’ll give a course to steer if you reckon you’ll go through it.
Yeah, it’s-
Okay, right.
Only there’s a few searchlights ahead. About a hundred.
Yeah.
By God, I’ve never seen anything like this before.
Neither have I.
Four-thousand pounder just gone off.
Oh, good show.
Ah, that’s not bad at all.
Yeah, it’s not a bad prang.
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