Battle Order 204 (5)
Put on Parachutes!

Coming round seconds later, revived by the rush of cold air, David realised the danger. He struggled desperately with his left hand to pull the aircraft up and get Dog on an even keel.

Then he checked that all his men were unhurt.

‘Rear gunner OK?’

‘Mid upper gunner OK?’

‘Wireless operator OK?’

‘Navigator OK?’

‘Flight engineer OK?’

‘Bomb aimer OK?’

Satisfied that none of his crew was injured, David gave the order they dreaded, ‘Put on parachutes and stand by!’

•••••••••••••••••

From his bomb aimer’s compartment in the nose of the plane Drew could see the holes torn by the shrapnel and David’s hand dripping blood. ‘God, what if we have to bale out here!’ he thought in dismay as he put on his parachute.

•••••••••••••••••

David asked his flight engineer, Cyril, to bandage his hand, which was now bleeding profusely.

Cyril had just done this, when Dog was hit again.

This time Cyril also was hit. In the chest. Luckily for him the shrapnel struck his escape aids, deflecting it and saving him from a more serious wound.

David also copped it again. More in his shoulder. More in his right knee. More in his right thigh.

Resolutely, he refused to have the emergency morphine injection. Although it would ease his pain it would also slow his reflexes. He knew he needed every atom of concentration to bring his badly damaged aircraft and his precious crew to safety.

Because of the damage, David had to drop below the main stream. This made them more vulnerable than ever.

•••••••••••••••••

As they crossed the Rhine, limping Dog was hit for the third time.

Crew and ground crew beside J Jig. L-R back: David in Mae West, Reg Murr in parachute harness, Cyril Bailey, Noel Ferguson.Front: Curly, Lofty, Drew Fisher, Bill, and Reg Watson in parachute harness. Note entry door with ladder.