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 06.45 Date 2 Oct 1943.
Clingholme: So young man, only 3 engines again and an undercarriage blow out on landing?
Far: Piece of cake old boy.
Clingholme: Can you expand on that? Want a cigarette?
Far: Thanks. Well it was a damned crappy night weather wise all the way out and back, and 10 tenths cloud over the Big City horrendous bombing conditions. Enemy activity all the way from the coast to the TI’s. The weather seemed to work in our favour too. Despite the fact we were under continues attack the clouds were so thick and high the Hun never had us long enough in his sights to really pour fire into us.
Clingholme: So what happened to your number 2 engine?
Far: We were north of Magdeburg when another of those twin engine jobs appeared from no where out of the clouds. They must have pretty good DF gear to find us in that stuff. His first pass missed but around he came again and the duelling began, I was throwing her all over the sky. Tail guns pulled a bead on him but not before he got off a lucky burst from above with his nose guns. Ripped off cowling the lot. The engineer got her shut off and feathered pronto just as the blighter exploded right above us, by jingo I thought he was going to take us with him. Poor Chalky White the wireless oppo got an awful fright when a Hun prop blade passed right through our fuselage between his legs. Doc had to drive him straight over to the latrines when we disembarked.
Clingholme: And so over the target zone?
Far: On the run up another twin engined Hun chappie tried his luck but we used clouds to our advantage and he never got a clean shot, caused some superficial damage and hit the rudder. Weather was hopeless for any visual sightings to get orientated on the target so we dropped pretty well on the yellow TI’s - visible for miles.
Clingholme: Well your bomb run looks passable; your drop photo looks good, about 40% on target.
Far: Ripper sir, wait till I tell the chaps!
Clingholme: Target Flak? Wild Boars?
Far: Surprising by their absence - no flak, we could see the searchlights glowing under the clouds and the Boars were nowhere to be seen.
Clingholme: Good news, we had a diversionary show on tonight, I think that led them astray. When did you bag the second Hun?
Far: We got off the target and saw neither hide nor hair of the Hun until believe it or not we were well out to sea on the home leg. Another surprise jump from port and low. He got a good burst into the wing; I’ll say that’s when the tyre was popped on the U C. The determined fellow wouldn’t leave it at that though, and he reappeared dead ahead, right into young Billy Williams’s sights. Well Billy let rip, I could see the Hun cockpit fill with sparks and away he dived, a sure kill.
Clingholme: We’ll try and get confirmation.
Far: Oh it was a definite kill, I watched him all the way down.
Clingholme: Like I say, we’ll try and get confirmation.
Far: I see.
Clingholme: Well, and what about that landing of yours, a bit heavy what?
Far: Heavy, you don’t think I burst the tyre? Good old Jerry riddled it full of cannon holes.
Clingholme: Hmm yes, I dare say the ground crew will confirm that. It was another lucky mission for you I should say.
Far: Nah, piece of cake sir.