Transcript of De-brief Interview with Fl. Lt. D. Far c/o a/c no.23 314 Sqn RAF Wyton, Cambs. Interviewing Officer Lt. S. Clingholme Intelligence Branch RAF.
Time 05.30 Date 30 Sept 1943.
Clingholme: So your the chap who lost an engine on your first deep mission, how did it go? Far: Piece of cake old boy.
Clingholme: Can you expand on that? Want a cigarette? Far: Thanks. Well it was a fine night good weather all the way out and back, and no moon, ideal bombing conditions. No enemy activity until well into Germany. We were suddenly attacked by an Me110 - one of those with the upward cannon mount behind his cockpit. The first I knew was a stream of vertical tracer rising up from behind my left shoulder.
Clingholme: Yes we are seeing more of these damned beastly machines. Where about do you reckon you were? Far: Nav says just East of the belgian border, near Bitburg. Tail guns opened up but reckoned he missed as I threw the crate into a wild corkscrew. This Hun new his stuff though because we couldn't shake hime so easy. He held on, trading bursts with Tail Guns - who hit him but still he kept on us. Mid-Upper got in a few bursts too and eventually we shook him without him ever getting a hit. The next attack came very near Ludwigshavn. However Tail Guns had his eyes peeled - WHAM - he blew him out of the sky with his first burst! One Me110 spread over 4 counties.
Clingholme: I'll see if anyone can coroborate. Far: Oh it was a definate kill, definately. But the fireball must have attracted his mate because Tail spotted yet another dead astern. More wild corkscrewing and gun duelling without anyone scoring hits - or so we thought. When I did my ground inspection our Port wing root was peppered! We shook him eventually.
Clingholme: Okay - so you must have been near the target by then? Far: Yes, on the run in to the aiming point all was quiet, very little flak - so Groups repeat attack strategy seemed to work. The red markers were hanging right above the cathedral. We had just began the bomb run and opened the doors when Tail guns shouted out a Wild Boar warning. I was determined to hold her steady, conditions were good for an accurate drop and I didn't want to waste the opportunity. The Hun missed on his first pass but the blighter came around again from dead ahead. Do you think he knew the bombardier would have left the front turret? Anyway he popped a few control cables along our port fuselage and caused some other superficial damage before buzzing off.
Clingholme: Hmm, here's your bomb release photo - it looks good, I'd say 30%. Far: Ah top hole! - can't wait to tell the chaps.
Clingholme: So what happened on the way home, how did you loose the engine? Far: Yes, that could've been nasty, if it wasn't for yours truly here. That Hun new his onions alright. Another sneak attack from below, port side. But Tail guns spotted him sliding into position. But by jolly he was a tough nut. We hit him straight away but he took it right down the throat without blinking and just kept on coming. Well talk about evasive corkscrewing! They're still cleaning the radio op's position - old Chalky hasn't quite got his sea legs yet!
On his last pass he ripped up the starboard wing and K.O.'d number three. Luckily the engineer and I got it feathered. Then he was gone, just vanished. I think he was out of ammo. Clingholme: So all in all a good mission. A lucky one too I think son.
Far: Nah, piece of cake sir.
100 Peckham Damage Points