My Dad’s name was Albert George Alley, but he was always known as George. He was born in Trowbridge in 1922 and volunteered for the RAF at the earliest opportunity.
He initially worked in Motor Transport, but always wanted to get into Aircrew. He really wanted to be a Radio Operator – as he loved radio and used to build crystal sets. However, when he got his Bomber Command chance, it was as an Air Gunner (quite appropriate for someone with the initials A.G.)
His first posting was to 15 Squadron, based at Mildenhall. He preferred being the rear gunner, but was sometimes mid-upper. I remember him telling me that after they had crewed-up and were issued with their flying kit, the ‘comedian’ of their crew proceeded to put on all of his kit, including flying helmet and then climbed onto a table, spread his arms and fell flat on the floor. He got up and with dead-pan face said “There, I told you it wouldn’t fly”. Talking of flying kit, Dad was only 5 ft 4, so when he had his full kit and parachute on, his chute was almost on the floor, so the crew nick-named him “Drag-ass” as they said he could wipe out his own foot prints!
He completed 7 ops with his first crew, led by Flying Officer Collins. His first was on 26/08/44 to Kiel. His diary states “Today’s the day. We are on the battle order for tonight’s op!” But on his seventh mission to Wilhelmshaven in October, he flew with a severe head-cold and should really have gone sick, but as he would say, “If you could go with your crew, you went”. Unfortunately, they were attacked and had to take evasive action. This was the “famous” corkscrew manoeuvre. The sudden change in air pressure burst Dad’s blocked ear-drums! He passed out and his oxygen mask had fallen off. He was only saved by one the other crew checking him out, because his intercom had gone silent.
He was hospitalised and the Doctors decided to remove his infected tonsils – but after the operation these carried on bleeding throughout the night! When he was found he’d lost so much blood they didn’t think he would survive and they brought in a padre. His Dad travelled all the way from Wiltshire to be by his bedside. He was given a blood transfusion – and he then developed jaundice!
It took him a while to recover and by the time he was fit for duty again in March ’45, his crew had finished their tour of 30 ops and all gone their separate ways. So Dad flew as a “spare” with various crews until VE day, completing another 6 ops and also taking part in Operation Manna.
Following the end of the European conflict, he had the chance of a posting to 49 Squadron at Mepal, with another permanent crew, led by his pilot F/Lt (later Squadron Leader) Rupert “Chick” Woodcraft. They were preparing to move to the far-east as part of Tiger Force, but before they were fully-operational the dropping of the atomic bombs ended the war. Their crew did take part in Operation Dodge, bringing back members of the Eighth Army from Italy. At the end of August they tested Lancaster LSB, with Dad noting in his log book “Testing the White Lanc to be used by Bomber Harris on his Middle East tour”.
