by John Nichol
Goebbels, Joseph 291–2
Goodman, Lawrence ‘Benny’
apprehensiveness of 173
aware of human cost of bombing 321
comment on vandalism to Memorial and Harris’s statue 320
difficulty taking off with Grand Slam bombs 296
forced to abort Bremen op 309–10, 311
memories of VE Day 315
safely lands his plane in thick fog 278
takes part in Berghof op 313
takes part in Hamburg op 311–12
takes part in Tirpitz op 235
under fire 175
visits Arnberg after the War 301
volunteers for the RAF 174
Göring, Hermann 83
Grand Slam bomb (‘Ten-Ton Tess’) 61, 294–300, 307–11, 316
Grantham 10, 20
Great War see First World War
Grimes, Iris 238–40, 305, 306
Grimes, Sydney
aware of human cost of bombing and war 320–1
background 236–7
becomes an instructor 244
believed to be dead by his mother 305
celebrates sinking of the Tirpitz 273
deals with death of crew 237–8, 240
joins 617 Squadron 244, 246
joins RAF 237
meets and marries Iris 238–9
relives wartime experiences 239–40
saddened at death of his crew 305–6
stands down reluctantly after Bielefeld 301
takes part in Bielefeld op 297
takes part in Politz op 277
takes part in Tirpitz op 236, 246
Group Headquarters (Swinderby) 99
Grüner (executioner of Wyness’s crew) 231
Gueydon (French cruiser) 185
Gumbley, Bernard ‘Barney’
background 244–5
comment on Fauquier 274
death of 304
discusses future plans with Grimes 302–3
joins RNZAF 245
receives award at Buckingham Palace 245–6
takes part in Politz op 284
Haakøy Island 214, 260, 265, 267
Hamburg, 35, 65, 81–2, 115, 311, 316
Hamilton, Malcolm ‘Mac’
comment on bombing technique 77
deals with death of crewmen 238
joins 617 Squadron 67, 88
survives Le Havre op 133–6
takes part in Saumur tunnel op 130
takes part in Tirpitz op 198, 200, 250
told to increase his accuracy by Leonard Cheshire 57–8
Hanover 316
Harris, Air Chief Marshal Arthur ‘Bomber’ 3, 11, 223
argues against the Dams raid 20
assured of Tallboy’s penetrative abilities 129
astonished that Bomber Command not acknowledged by Churchill 319
comment on flying bombs 143
doubts concerning low-level marking technique 104
euphoria and pessimism 21
recommends 617 Squadron to solve simulation problem 114
reluctantly agrees to Operation Argument 87
statue defaced 319
suggests using 617 Squadron to assassinate Mussolini 33
writes note of commendation to 617 Squadron 326–7
Hawks, Howard 25
Hay, Squadron Bombing Leader Bob
charged with ensuring high degree of accuracy 26
death of 85, 86, 92
grave visited by Larry Curtis 326
Hayward, Tony 252
Heavy Conversion Unit 80
Hebbard, Loftus ‘Lofty’ 258, 276
High Capacity (HC) bombs 36
Hill, Nelson 253
Hitler, Adolf 20, 62, 171, 186, 195, 267, 275, 312, 313, 314, 321
HMS London 246
HMS Seanymph 55
Hobbs, Gerry 151–6
Hobday, Sydney
bales out of stricken aircraft 43, 44
marathon escape back to UK 48–54
Holden, Squadron Leader George
appointed CO 26
character and description 26
death of 40–1, 56
takes part in Dortmund–Ems Canal op 40, 46
Home Guard 78, 245, 275
Hopgood, John ‘Hoppy’ 8–9
Hosie, Bruce
character and description 224–5
executed by Grüner 230–1
presumed to have perished 230
takes part in Kembs op 224
Howard, Christopher ‘Kit’ 228, 232
Humphries, Squadron Adjutant Harry ‘Humph’ 22–3, 86
Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system 123
Ijmuiden 316
Ingelby, Flying Officer Phil 147–8, 184–5
Intelligence Section, Woodhall Spa 100, 109, 112, 158
Isherwood, Flight Sergeant Samuel 155
Isle of Sylt 241
Iveson, Squadron Leader Tony
at forefront of Memorial campaign 321
background 144
comment on Berghof op 313–14
comment on necessity of bombing campaigns 321
death of 321
joins 616 Squadron and survives ditching in the sea 145
joins 617 Squadron 146–8
joins RAF Volunteer Reserve 144
meets German fighter pilot many years later 269
off-duty informality 147
promoted Flight Commander 144
returns safely from long operation 269
sadness at death of Wyness 232
safely lands his crippled plane 290–1
takes part in Politz op 286, 288
takes part in Tirpitz op 197–8, 199–200, 202, 204, 209, 210, 235, 255
visits grave of fallen crew at Nesbyen 212
watches newsreels on Ardennes op 284–5
Jimmy (Scottish mechanic) 89–90
‘Johnny Walker’ magnetic mines 108
Johns, W.E. 144
Johnson, Edward ‘Johnny’ 42, 43
Johnson, George ‘Johnny’
agrees to join special squadron 6
award and celebrations 23–4
becomes a bomb-aimer 32–3
character and description 5, 33
comment on Dortmund–Ems Canal op 39, 45, 46
comment on dropping bombs wide or aborting missions 243
comment on Gibson 19
comment on squadron relationships 18–19
comment on the thrill of low-flying 28
comment on V-weapons 137
(Johnson, George ‘Johnny’ cont.)
comments on Leonard Cheshire 57, 58
deals with loss of comrades 17, 18, 48
family background 31–2
joins the RAF 32
meets and marries Gwyn 5–7
post-war work 322
proud of his part in Dams raid 325–6
stops flying combat ops 104
takes part in Dams raid 7, 14, 16
takes part in Limoges op 77
training 32
unaware of impact of Dams raid 20–1
Johnson, Gwyn 4–7, 16, 31, 104, 325–6
Johnson, Vic 269
Johnston, J.I. 153, 154
Joplin, Arthur ‘Joppy’
crashes his plane in thick fog 278–82
learns of the death of some of his crew 283
posted to 617 Squadron 220, 276
recovers in Louth County Infirmary 282–3
reprimanded and given red endorsement 284
takes part in Politz op 276–9
takes part in Tirpitz op 234, 251, 258, 261
Juvisy railway marshalling yard 104–6, 127, 247
Kaa Fjord 196
Kassel (1943) 56, 65
Kell, Arthur 234, 251
Kellow, Bob 43
Kembs barrage 224–31
Kennedy, John F. 141
Kennedy, Joseph P. Jr 141
Kergostrov Island 200
Kinema in the Woods (The Flicks in the Sticks) 69
King, Flying Officer W.J. 155
Knell, Les 176
Knight, Les
character 37
saves his crew but dies in the process 42–4
successful bomb-drop on Eder dam 12–13
superstitions 39
takes part in Dortmund–Ems Canal op 40
Knights, Bob
awarded the DSO 273
christens his aircraft ‘Thumper’ 81
comment on bombing civilians 67
meets his crew 80
praise for markers at Munich 108
takes part in destruction
of V-weapons sites 158
takes part in Hamburg op 81
takes part in Leipzig op 241–2
takes part in Limoges op 74
takes part in Tirpitz op 199, 210, 250, 260
Knilans, Hubert ‘Nicky Nylons’
agrees to second tour with 617 Squadron 100–1
begins to suffer from combat fatigue 130–2
bravery of 65–6
comment on bombing civilians 67
comment on life and death 69
death of 322
flight-tests aircraft 148
joins 617 Squadron 64–5, 67–8
joins 619 Squadron 65
learns of African-American discrimination 131
nearly courtmartialed for low-flying 68
post-war work 322
as practical joker 65
practises escape and evasion exercise 176
practises fuel-consumption tests and short-landings 187–8, 192
safely returns to England 212–13
successfully completes fifty ops before standing down 213
survives Le Havre op 132–3
takes part in Anthéor op 85
takes part in destruction of V-weapons sites 158, 167, 209
takes part in Tirpitz op 199, 201–2, 204, 205, 206, 208
tests Tallboy bomb 127
witnesses impact of buzz-bombs 138
Krupp steel-works 196
Ku Klux Klan 131
Kursk, Battle of (1943) 35
La Pallice 187
lack of moral fibre (LMF) 241–3
Lancaster Finishing School 146
Langston, John 295
Lappland 249, 256, 273
Le Havre 122, 124, 132–4, 136
Leavitt, John 253
Leipzig 241
Levy, Flying Officer Frank 212, 217
Lippman, Else 304–5
Littlehampton 126
Lloyd, Squadron Leader Tommy 87
London 137–9, 142, 143, 148–9, 171, 186
BBC Bush House, Aldwych 137–8
Bomber Command Memorial 319, 320, 321
Chez Cup 186
Chez Moi 186
Coal Hole, Strand 24
Hungaria Restaurant, Regent Street 24–5
Madame Tussaud’s 191
Mayfair Hotel 24
Milroy Club 273
Palladium 273
Savoy Hotel 273
Louth 282, 283
Luftwaffe 267, 276, 292
Lüneburg Heath 314
McCarthy, Pilot Officer Joe
asked to join special squadron 5, 6
character and description 18
compulsorily retired from 617 Squadron 143
not involved in Dortmund–Ems Canal op 46
post-war work 322
takes part in Dams raid 13, 14
takes part in Toulouse factory op 103
McKie, Alex 247
McLean, Don 18
McLean, Flight Sergeant Tom ‘Killer’
character and description 92
joins 617 Squadron 94
practices with his crew evasion and counter-attack tactics 94–5
shoots down several enemy aircraft 95–9
studies operational gunnery techniques 92–3
success in air combat 92, 93–4, 99
survives fifty-one operations 99
McLennan, Don 247–8
McNally, Barbara 148–9
McRostie, ‘Mac’ 161
Madrid 54
Mailly-le-Camp 116–20
Majdanek concentration camp 171
Malta, Siege of 2
Maltby, Squadron Leader David
character and description 37–8
death of 38, 39, 45, 55
takes part in Dams raid 10–11, 12, 37
Maltby, Ettrick 55
Maltby, Nina 38
Mannheim 93
Maquis see French Resistance
Marseille 193
Martin, Flight Lieutenant Harold ‘Mick’
always carries a toy koala bear 177
considered greatest bomber pilot of the war 74
leaves 617 Squadron and joins 515 Squadron 86
makes emergency landing on Sardinia 85–6
opinion on reasons for loss of life 22
replaced as CO 25–6, 56
suggests low level marking 63–4
takes part in Dams raid 9, 10, 12
takes part in Dortmund–Ems Canal op 39, 40, 41–2, 44, 46
uses low-level marking technique 73–4, 76, 77, 84–5, 103
Martin, Flight Lieutenant Phil
awards given to 225, 231
drops Grand Slam bomb on Arnsberg 300
joins 617 Squadron 225
safely flies his plane back to England 228–9
survives direct hit on his plane 286
Maudslay, Henry 12
May, Bernie 17
Maydslay, Henry 12
Melville, Colonel Chris 225, 232
Metz 95
Michelin rubber factory (Clermont-Ferrand) 99–100
Military Intelligence 173, 190, 307, 312
Military Police (MPs) 112–13, 189
Mimoyecques 139–43, 170
Möhne dam 316
Möller, Anneliese 299
Molotovsk 201
Mönchengladbach 216
Monica radar warning equipment 95–6
Montgomery, General Sir Bernard 314
Mulheim 25
Munich 107–10
Munro, Les ‘Happy’ (or ‘Smiler’)
acceptance of death 39, 243
celebrates Dams raid success 23
comment on 617 Squadron 28–9
comment on Tallboys 129
compulsorily retired from 617 Squadron 143
memories of VE Day 314
not involved in Dortmund–Ems Canal op 46
reasons for enlisting 29
takes part in escape and evasion exercise 176–7
takes part in Le Havre op 133
takes part in Operation Taxable 123
takes part in Toulouse factory op 103
unable to complete Dams raid 13–14
Murmansk 199, 285
Mussolini, Benito 33, 35
NAAFI 120
National-Zeitung (Swiss newspaper) 229
Nesbyen 212
Nicholson, Elizabeth 55
Nicholson, Vivian 55
Nienburg 307
NKVD 207–8
Nordhorn 40
Normandy 104, 122, 125–6, 163–4, 193
Norris, Sergeant James 168, 169, 170
Norwegian Resistance 289
Nuremberg 102, 316
Oboe (bombing system) 63
O’Brien, Harry ‘Obie’ 42–3
Oder River 291
Okel 304
Onega Bay (White Sea) 199–200, 201–2, 206
Operation Argument (1944: ‘Big Week’ attacks on aircraft-manufacturing plants) 87
Operation Chastise (1943: Ruhr dams) 15
see also Dambusters
Operation Crossbow (1944: destruction of V-weapon sites) 150–60
Operation Dragoon (1944: invasion of southern France) 186–8
Operation Garlic (1943: Dortmund–Ems Canal bombing) 35–46
&nb
sp; Operation Glimmer (1944: radar counter-measures) 125
Operation Gomorrah (1943: destruction of Hamburg) 35, 65, 81–2, 115
Operation Mandrel (1944: radar counter-measures) 125–6
Operation Market Garden (1944: seizing the bridge at Arnhem) 223
Operation Moonshine (1944: radar counter-measures) 125
Operation Obviate (1944: 2nd Bomber Command attack on Tirpitz) 215
Operation Overlord (1944: invasion of France) 68, 122–6
Operation Taxable (1944: D-Day diversionary tactics) 114–20, 123–5, 175
Operation Tiger (1944: D-Day rehearsal) 112–13
Operation Titanic (1944: dropping of dummy parachutists) 125
Operational Training Unit (OTU) 44, 79–80
Orbaizeta 53
Ostend 193
Ottley, Bill 15
Pamplona 54
Paris 52, 99, 104, 122, 127, 186
Paris Gun 142
Pas de Calais 62, 73, 126
Pat O’Leary organisation 154
Pathfinder Force 63, 102–3, 106, 110
Patton, General George 189
Pau 52
Pearl Harbor (1941) 32
Pesme, Pes 185–6
Peterborough 24
Petwood Hotel Officers’ Mess 68, 69–70, 72, 120–1, 172, 176, 213, 270, 305
Phillips, Flight Engineer John ‘Taff’ 288
Philpott, Group Captain ‘Monty’ 234, 270
Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) 206
Politz 276-9, 284
Pool, Reg 161, 179, 180, 184, 323
Popular Flying magazine 144
Portefaix, Raymond 307
Porter, Ken 191
Portland Bill 126
post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 131–2, 242, 323
PQ17 convoy 195
Pritchard, Lorne 154
Project Ruby (evaluation of bomb penetration) 311
propaganda 1, 21, 25, 76–7, 192, 208, 217, 218
Pryor, John
becomes a POW 289–90
joins 617 Squadron 88
suggests ‘gaggle’ system 151
survives plane crash 288–90
takes part in Brest op 185–6
takes part in Mimoyecques op 140
takes part in Tirpitz op 209
takes part in Toulouse op 105
Pyrenees 52, 53, 54
Québriac, Aristide 183, 188
Queen Elizabeth 65, 89, 195
R-Roger (Jolly Roger) (Knilans’ plane) 68
R100 airship 60
radar 113–16, 123–4, 198, 256
Radcliffe, Bill 18
Rauceby RAF hospital 136, 282–3
RCAF see Royal Canadian Air Force
Red Army 202, 203, 291
Red Cross 54
Reid, Flight Lieutenant William
becomes a POW 168–9
character and description 164–5
courageous attack on Düsseldorf 164–6
joins 617 Squadron 166
takes part in attacks on V-weapon sites 166–9
Remagen 292
Rennes 189, 190
Rhine 224, 227, 292
Rhude, Harry 80
Rice, Pilot Officer Geoff 13
Rilly-la-Montagne 164–5, 166–9, 170