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1. I have a small thread inspired by @acatfromgreece & his threads.
Sometime in July 1944 a Bernard Humphries was attached to 854 Squadron FAA, one morning he was checking his Grumman Avenger in the hanger between raids. As he went through his checks he heard an awful sound..
Sometime in July 1944 a Bernard Humphries was attached to 854 Squadron FAA, one morning he was checking his Grumman Avenger in the hanger between raids. As he went through his checks he heard an awful sound..
2. Overhead he heard the noise of the awful doodlebug. He had seen many come over his airfield at Hawkinge. Being of stout heart and very little spacial awareness he slid into the turret gripping the controls of the two .50 cal guns he traversed and tracked the distinctive noise
3. Immediately he saw the black familiar shape way beyond the effective range of the guns but in his head he was fighting back and as he made that “dugga dugga” noise boys do, he slowly and foolishly gripped the trigger of the gun. Amid the cacophony of noise, smoke and flame
4. he realised the guns were still loaded and as multiple rounds hit the hanger, hundreds of pieces of rusty metal cascaded down into men, open engines and delicate equipment below. He legged it.
He Barely made it to the perimeter before the RAF MP’s detained him..
He Barely made it to the perimeter before the RAF MP’s detained him..
5. His CO said at any other time he’d be locked up for doing more damage than the Luftwaffe had done in about 6 months.
However as it was the invasion he was stopped leave & in his own words shouted at until VE Day. I miss you Gramp very much. He died today 6 years ago RIP
However as it was the invasion he was stopped leave & in his own words shouted at until VE Day. I miss you Gramp very much. He died today 6 years ago RIP
