Britain at War – August 2019

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VALOUR IN THE AIR|AVRO LANCASTERS

LEFT

Flt Sgt Russ Yeulett

(left) and Flt Sgt

Bert Nundy of 582

Squadron. Both

were part of Flt Lt

Owen Milne's crew

on that fateful day.

LEFT

Bob Palmer's

navigator, Flt Lt

George Russell. George Russell.

to his name at that time and was a
feared opponent.
Many years later, survivors would
discuss whether Hackl had arrived
by chance, or whether the attack had
somehow been betrayed. They would
similarly discuss whether there’d been
a fighter escort. Few, if any, could
recall seeing friendly fighters, but
they were certainly there. Mustangs
from 19, 65 and 122 Squadrons were
fighting hard to keep the bomber boys
safe, but despite their best efforts, it
was still a slaughter.

HEROIC ENDEAVOUR
Despite his Lancaster being hit and
catching fire, Palmer courageously
flew on, believing that if he
broke formation the whole attack
would have to be abandoned. As
the signal for release arrived, he
dropped his bombs and almost
immediately the aircraft fell into a
spin, out of control. Palmer payed
for such courage with his life,
later receiving the Victoria Cross
for displaying ‘heroic endeavour
beyond praise’. Only one of
Owen Milne’s crew, Flt Sgt Russ
Yeulett, made it out alive. The
reserve Oboe Mosquito, with Eric
Carpenter at the controls, was
also hit, and plunged burning to
the ground.
With their leader downed, the
attack may have descended into
chaos, but it didn’t. There was

certainly plenty of confusion within all

three formations. Every captain made

their own decision. Some Lancasters

flew straight and level, others started

to weave. But while they did, the fight

for survival began.

Flak damaged many of the Lancs

and those that had avoided the initial

German response now came under

sustained fighter attack. The gin clear

sky was suddenly full of tracer fire,

burning aircraft and the odd white

speck and brown smudge of an open

parachute and its owner. Flt Lt Walt

Reif, an American whose father was

born in Germany, desperately dodged

and weaved the first of

these attacks as his gunners fought

an ultimately futile rearguard action.

As soon as it had begun it was over,

the stricken bomber (PB120 ‘P’ Peter)

falling from the sky as the surviving

crew struggled to clip on their ’chutes.

Fortunately, the Canadian rear gunner,

Flt Sgt Bob Pearce, was wearing a seat-

type parachute on the insistence of his

skipper. As such, he was able to turn

his turret so that the exit doors were

facing outside of the aircraft and he

could tumble out of the back. The mid-

upper also made it out.

Despite his Lancaster being hit and
catching fire, Palmer courageously

With their leader downed, the

attack may have descended into

chaos, but it didn’t. There was

and weaved the first of

