Sound engineer Reginald Pidsley and BBC correspondent Wynford V. Thomas pose with “F for Freddy” (ED586, 207 Squadron). “F for Freddy” is later lost on the night of 5 January 1944 over Stettin, Germany.
Avro Lancaster ED586 EM-F (“F for Freddy”)
3 September 1943
Berlin, Germany
No. 207 Squadron, No. 5 Group, RAF Bomber Command
Pilot: Flt Lt Kenneth H. F. Letford, RAF
Bomb Aimer: Fg Off William C. T. Bray, RAF
Navigator: WO Harold F. Connelly, RAF
Engineer: Flt Sgt Charles E. D. Stewart, RAF
Wireless Operator: Flt Sgt William Sparkes, RAF
Mid-Upper Gunner: WO James Fieldhouse, RAF
Rear Gunner: Flt Sgt Henry Devenish, RAF
Sound Engineer: Reginald Pidsley
BBC Correspondent: Wynford V. Thomas
Transcript
Hello, Skipper.
Hello, Navigator.
Half a minute to go.
Okay, thanks very much-
Okay, keep weaving, Ken.
There is quite a lot of bad stuff coming up as well, falling off a bit low.
Hello, Engineer, Skipper here.
Yeah?
Will you put the revs up, please?
Yeah.
Okay, keep weaving.
A lot of search lights and fighter flares, Skipper, over there.
Yeah, just keep on.
Okay, boys, okay.
Left. Left. That’s okay, Skipper.
Bomb doors open.
Hello, Bombardier. Okay when you are.
Bomb doors open.
Bomb doors open, Bombardier.
Right. Steady. Steady. Bombs going in a minute. Bombs-
Hey, Jerry tracer behind us, boys.
Bombs jettisoned.
<Unintelligible>
Where is he, Rear Gunner? Can you see him?
Down! Down!
Down?
He’s shot down. He’s shot down.
Did you shoot him down?
Yeah, he got him boys, right in the middle!
Bloody good show!
Photograph taken. Keep weaving. There’s some flak coming up, mate.
Okay, don’t shout all at once.
Alright.
Photograph taken.
Okay, photograph taken.
Hey-
Hello Skipper, will you turn onto 081?
Alright 081, Navigator. Don’t all speak at once now, keep quiet it’s okay.
Okay, Ken.
Hello, Mid-Gunner. Did you recognize that fighter you shot down?
No, I didn’t recognize it but it’s definitely going down now.
Good, Jimmy. I can see him, boys. Good show. I can see him now.
Yeah.
Bloody burning, doesn’t he look lovely?
Good show, lads. Now keep your eyes open.
Okay, Ken.