62 FLYPAST 62 FLYPAST May 2018May 2018
WINGS OVER THE EAST RAF THUNDERBOLTS
Squadron, under Sqn Ldr Jack Rose,
also converted to Thunderbolts. It
joined 34 at Kwetnge, to the south of
Meiktila, by the end of the month.
Thunderbolts played a key part in
the capture of Mandalay after an epic
advance of 400 miles that, along with
the defeat at Meiktila a little earlier,
shattered the Japanese in central
Burma.
Near Meiktila, Sgt Andy Key of
261 was shot down and captured by
a Japanese patrol but escaped. He
eventually reached British lines with
much vital information for which he
received the Military Medal.Race to Rangoon
On reaching the outskirts of
Mandalay on March 13 the
advancing column was confronted
by the massive ancient citadel of Fort
Dufferin and by the 20th the enemy
had withdrawn within its walls.
That day the commander of 910
Wing, Gp Capt Bernard Chacksfield,
oversaw the destruction of the fort’s
mighty walls. Acting as master bomber
he orbited the target directing the
pilots of 79 and 261 Squadrons by
radio as they shallow dived with 500lb
bombs.and then sliced down to our level.
Thunderbolts met them and not
one was able to concentrate on our
squadron. Some of the ‘Libs’ in
front seemed to be [fighting back],
for a ‘Jap’ was shot down almost
immediately. The pilot baled out and
floated by as we progressed.”
Cameron initially only claimed the
Tony as a possible as he thought it
might have been hit by the bombers’
gunners, but he was credited with a
half share in its destruction with W/O
J McCredie – a Liberator gunner of
99 Squadron. The half share made
the Scotsman an ‘ace’ and was the
Thunderbolt’s final victory in British
colours.
Neil Cameron later rose to become
Chief of the Air Staff and Chief of
the Defence Staff before retiring as
Marshal of the Royal Air Force.Cab rank
Cameron’s victory marked the end of
the Thunderbolt’s career as an escort
fighter in Burma. Thereafter it flew
solely on ground attack duties against
Japanese transport and logistics
targets. A good deal of close support
work employed the ‘cab rank’ method
under call by radio from a ground-based Tactical Air Control Party.
This system involved a flight of three
aircraft, each of which would be at a
different state of readiness during a
mission. One would be directed to
action by ground-based controllers
via radio, a second aircraft would be
in flight, heading towards the target,
while the third would be refuelled
and prepared at the unit’s home base
for potential dispatch. If aircraft one
failed to destroy the objective, the
machine already in flight would be
directed in, while the first returned
to base to refuel. The sequence
continued until the target had been
neutralised.
In early March the squadrons of 905
Wing concentrated on targets around
Meiktila and the area was cleared by
the beginning of April. There were
still losses: 22-year-old W/O Dennis
Whiskin of 135 Squadron was shot
down by ground fire on March 28.
Earlier, on March 6, 1945 ‘B’
Flight of Sqn Ldr John Busbridge’s
34 Squadron moved to Wanjing for
a short conversion from Hurricanes
to Thunderbolt IIs to the relief of
its pilots. ‘A’ Flight completed the
transition by the end of the month.
At the beginning of April, 113Above
A bubble-canopied
Thunderbolt II KL849
of 261 Squadron, fl own
by Sqn Ldr R H Fletcher,
May 1945. S SAKALASBelow
Aircraft of 79 Squadron,
such as HD235,
breached the walls of
Fort Dufferin to enable
the capture of Mandalay
on March 20, 1945.
VIA G J THOMAS