Joey Jacobson's War

by Peter J. Usher

  Bomber Command was ordered forthwith to reduce its strategic air offensive to a bare minimum over the winter, and conserve its resources in order to build a strong force by the following spring. The directive acknowledged that while heavy losses must be faced in vital operations, it was

  undesirable in present circumstances and in the course of normal operations that attacks should be pressed unduly especially if weather conditions were unfavourable or if aircraft were to be exposed to extreme hazard.3

  Sorties and bomb tonnage fell to about half the daily rate of the fall campaign. There were many nights with no operations, due largely to adverse weather. Operations were restricted mainly to naval targets on the French and German coasts, with only a few raids on the Ruhr and Hamburg. Bomber Command would not revisit Berlin until 1943. Over the next two months, there were only thirteen nights when over a hundred aircraft were dispatched, and only seven on which over a hundred were directed to the same target. Wellingtons, Whitleys, and Hampdens still constituted the main striking force, and the men flying them still relied on the same old inadequate methods and instruments for navigation and bombing. The old policy of dispersal to multiple targets continued, as did the practice of each aircraft finding its own way there. Yet even if sorties were fewer, loss rates continued to run at about 4 percent. The available night bombing force on any given night had declined by over a tenth since Joe Jacobson had begun operations in August, and the Hampden force by even more. The number of new heavy bombers coming into service could not yet compensate. It would not be possible to maintain the morale of flying crews indefinitely in the circumstances. The situation, as measured in both losses and results, was unsustainable. In the short term, the prospects for the bombing campaign were dismal, but as the authors of its official history observed:

  it was not possible to withdraw the force from the line. The war in the air was necessarily continuous and through the dreary winter of 1941–42 Bomber Command continued to engage the enemy as best it could.4

  The failure of the Berlin operation marked the end of the fall campaign, although Joe did not know that right away. He thought he would have to fly again on Monday the 10th before going on leave the following day. But as he told Monty, getting through the remainder of his tour of operations would be difficult:

  Since this station started on operations about six months ago twelve Canadians have been here – no one has ever finished – three are left – Roger, myself, and old Pop Miller who is not flying any more – He is station adjutant. Roger and I are defying the fates – Gods and Germans – I need ten more trips to finish but it is a long ten trips as my pilot needs but one more so that I shall have to fly with a new inexperienced pilot – No new pilot has lasted more than a dozen trips since July – Boy I sure have to do some red hot navigating to pull thru. But those are figures and facts – not fictions – I merely employ them to urge upon you the necessity of taking advantage of every chance we get to see one another. The trip today was out of the question otherwise I should have been there – but make sure you click next weekend – Incidentally Roger is still asleep from his Norway trip – they flew through everything that the heavens could produce. (JJL 9 November 1941)

  On a somewhat more optimistic note he wrote the Pony Club about his situation:

  when and if you finish your 35 trips – approx 200 hours you go on what is called a “rest” – that is you are posted as an instructor at a training centre. Since I can’t do too much damage to the Germans to suit me and also since I hate inactivity which is what an instructor’s job is, I am pulling every string I know to keep on operations. … I am trying the impossible – to get on a pilot’s course and learn something new and go back as either a fighter or bomber pilot – preferably the former but depending on what I am best suited for. It might be trying to stretch your luck too far but both Roger and I are doing that if we get thru alright. If that is impossible we shall apply to go on Coastal Command, the Middle East or Russia. When I get started on a job I like seeing it thru and from the driver’s front seat – but any thought of remustering is purely to keep in the thick of it – not because of any dissatisfaction with being an observer – that is the best job in the crew – the key man on a squadron – you probably still hear only about pilots but speak to bomber pilots and you will hear only about observers – so you see the old maestro is still very much in the thick of everything and intends to remain in the thick until the end. (JJL 9 November 1941)

  On that same day after the Berlin raid, Joe reflected in his diary:

  One tragedy of the war – the young vigorous fellows of top notch calibre like Keswick, McIntyre, McIver, Erly, Carmichael, Dunn etc. who would be the leaders have been killed – since I am one of them my task must be twofold – first to take over their share of responsibility – second – to try & find others to do as they would have done – that is work & struggle to give equal opportunity to as many as possible because there are more of that calibre & they must be found & given a chance. (JJD 9 November 1941)

  Spent a lot of time reading about & thinking of the big problems of the day – social – economic, religious – they all hinge around capitalism – which has definitely outlived its usefulness – it is going to be a tough battle to convince the winners of that fact but it will be done.

  (JJD 8 November 1941)

  Joe had survived the autumn campaign, beating the odds by completing twenty operations in three months. At that rate, he might have finished his first tour by the end of the year. Now he and many others would have to wait. During the coming winter, Bomber Command would bring the new generation of heavy bombers, and new radio navigation aids, into service, and adopt new bombing tactics. This would augur well for the future. But the airmen who had come through the intensity of the autumn campaign would have little operational flying to do in the meantime. The coming winter lull would be hard on morale.

  Joe then left for London on his third week-long crew leave. He was relieved to go, but the next day, Armistice Day, provided a sombre reminder of all those who had failed to return during the previous three months.

  Hopped down to London with Hodge & Harding5 – had a few drinks in the Cavalier club before retiring. Feel free & pleasant & relaxed & secure for one whole week – which is the whole value of the leave. (JJD 10 November 1941)

  Armistice day – thoughts are with McIntyre, Keswick, McIver, Davis & all the other boys I know & do not know who have “had it” …

  (JJD 11 November 1941)

  Met good old Everett Littlefield and started another binge … – I strolled back to the hideout rather mellow.

  (JJD 12 November 1941)

  Spent the day with Ev – a good sound head – thinks like me – smart boy – went to all our clubs – felt bang on all day – poor weather kept us indoors with no chance to scout around – brought Ev home to sleep with me – I sure make my place my pals home – met Jim Whelan who has 3 planes shot down – Massey Beveridge6 amongst others around town. (JJD 13 November 1941)

  That morning he wrote his family:

  I saw “Jupiter Laughs” by A. J. Cronin. It was one of the finest plays I have seen anywhere and staged superbly. I could almost see it again – it is significant that serious drama plays concerning faith and God and other such phenomena of life are starting to creep back into peoples’ consciousness.

  I meet more people that I know in London than I would in Montreal – army – air force – civvies – a lot of fellows talk about wanting to go back to Canada – few would until after the war – what’s good enough for your pals is good enough for you. …

  Roger, Dave and I not one of the 37 – and going like a million.7

  (JJL 13 November 1941)

  Joe left London on Friday for Midfield, where he spent the remainder of his leave.

  Janine and I went to the “Yeoman of the Guard” & met Monty at the Midland Hotel … Great to see dependable – good old Mub again – nice to be with Janine whom I have stopped falling for and se
ttled down to a solid friendship based on mutual likes – Mub of course fitted right in per usual and the old duo talked far into the wee hours of morn.

  A hectic – binging rather dissipated few days in London with old pals, liquor & women – then a magnificent homecoming at Midfield with Dan & Henriette and Janine & Susanne & finally Monty & Sammy [Janine’s cousin] which warmed the heart, stirred the soul and stimulated the mind as a spirit of family comradeship and warmth developed – (JJD 15 November 1941)

  A truly marvelous day – an enlightened fireside discussion on Zionism about which Dan & Henriette are thoroughly immersed and then the four boys went out to the pub for a few and came back high to find the three women putting on a better act with an empty whisky bottle to everyone’s thorough enjoyment. (JJD 16 November 1941)

  The real Dan – under the annoying traits that show up when living with Dan is an honest, kind, generous, good natured, sporty, loyal man – next to Pop – Dan is my closest friend – I look upon him as a father in many ways – I am really fond of him despite what I have seen & said & felt at times. (JJD 18 November 1941)

  Joe wrote to Monty a couple of days later that Dan regarded him

  as the “Jewish White Hope” – Dan is a real Jew at heart – your Jewish feeling struck deep and true with him – He is developing another ambition – to launch you in Palestine.

  He knows every big shot and important person worth knowing – your own family are probably pretty well connected on that score – but more important – Dan has or wants to take you under his wing he will do everything and anything to help you with regards [to] your desires in Palestine – That is important – it should be a comforting feeling to know that you will at least have a first class launching when setting out – They all think that you are first rate – I had to boost at least one of my friends up after all the other drunks. … Until the moon period we fly on a regular schedule – every third night weather permitting – so I would like to see you a bit more often which should be feasible with intelligent handling, even though we are supposed to start lectures again at 915 every morning. … (JJL 18 November 1941)

  He wrote to Dan the same day to express his gratitude.

  Next to my father you are the one man to whom I can look upon as a father and feel that in return I am considered and treated and made to feel as a son. … I say this because not knowing me as well as my father [does] you might take my breezy ways and frequent sorties as a sign of disrespect or ingratitude which they are not.

  … Without a home to go to about once a month I shudder to think what would become of me. To say that I should have already “gone to the dogs” and have been digested by them is a model of understatement. That I expect and desire to see you whenever possible goes without saying it again. (JJL 18 November 1941)

  Joe was indeed fortunate to have two homes away from home, even if of very different sorts. He and Roger were by now calling Mrs. Lettice “Maw.” As he described the scene to his parents, he was

  cosily seated before the fireplace … Maw … is sitting opposite me reading one of my books … and telling me odd bits of the day’s gossip. My pipe … is filling the room with its delightful if slightly musty smoke and soot. (JJL 21 November 1941)

  Of other news, he added:

  The King visited our station – and had a chat with Roger – I was on leave – so I will have to drop in on the palace and pay my respects.

  … Whoever told you I was coming back to Canada soon was cockeyed – I would not go back if I had the chance – I have gone this far and would not miss the rest of it from the driver’s seat for the world …

  (JJL 21 November 1941)

  106 Squadron had, as Joe told Monty,

  been on ops every night last week. Every trip has in turn been scrubbed because of bad weather. Since the moon is in full fettle for the next couple of weeks I will be on call every second night at least – possibly more.

  (JJL 28 November 1941)

  Bomber Command carried out its first major operation since Berlin on Sunday night, 30 November, and 106 Squadron took part.

  Going to Hamburg – on a good sized blitz. Should be interesting for all concerned … (JJD 30 November 1941)

  This was Robby’s last trip so we were pretty careful – the weather was lovely for a change and the searchlights around and in Hamburg virtually lit up the sky – we met no fighters and did not get caught – except coming back over Lubeck. We were floating calmly along when a couple of close woomphs indicated the beggars had the range – we wasted no time hurrying along, nineteen planes were lost – around 10% but the moon was bright enough to make it easy picking for any fighters – and so I look for a new pilot to finish off with. (JJOD 30 November 1941)

  They arrived back safely a half-hour after midnight, after an eight-hour trip. They reported that they had bombed the Blohm und Voss yards from twelve thousand feet, but could not observe results owing to haze. They were among the lucky ones. 106 Squadron had dispatched fourteen aircraft, of which ten reached and bombed Hamburg. Two aircraft returned early and two were lost without trace. Hamburg recorded significant damage and casualties. But Bomber Command also suffered significant losses: thirteen of 181 crews dispatched, roughly matching the sixty-five Germans killed on the ground.

  Gerry Roberts, having flown as second pilot on seven sorties before getting his own crew, had now completed his first tour of operations, for which he would soon be awarded a Distinguished Flying Medal. He left 106 Squadron to become a flying instructor. He later received a commission, survived a second tour of operations in 1943, and after the war became a career officer in the Royal Air Force.

  Part Four

  Holding the Line

  Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.

  — Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, 1776

  Imagination … when allowed to run riot … becomes a menace to the soldier, but when controlled by character it blossoms …

  — Lord Moran, The Anatomy of Courage, 1945

  Twenty-Six

  New Ideas

  The immediate effect of the November directive on Bomber Command was a sharp drop in nightly sorties. Operations occurred on average every second night during the next three months, but amounted to only a small proportion of the force, mostly for the purpose of coastal attacks, warships, or nuisance raids. The industrial heartland of the Ruhr was attacked on only six nights. Bomber Command was not idle, however. Attention now turned to experimentation in tactics and accelerated conversion to heavy bombers. Both of these involved significant hazards to crews.

  For Joe Jacobson, there would be a change of crew, a change of aircraft, and a change of regime at the squadron. All of these would test his resolve in new ways. Without the distraction of frequent operational flying, and without the company of most of the men he had begun with three months before. Joe’s imagination now had time to work. Imagination could be the warrior’s enemy; the lurking dangers and the stress of an operational tour could more easily come to the fore, and the prospect of death could not be submerged and avoided. Joe, fired by new ideas, was well armed to imagine life, to imagine the world of the future and his own place in it. His band of brothers much diminished, he became more solitary, relying on Roger and Dave for company on his station, and on Monty, who was for the time being stationed at nearby Cranwell, for companionship on leave or short passes. Reading became his main refuge, the study of civilization and politics a means confirming what mattered to him and why he was fighting.

  Reading “The Socialist One Sixth of the World” by the Dean of Canterbury – the reading I am doing is 1. stimulating me to delve deeper into social problems and possible solutions 2. make me feel my colossal ignorance & the tremendous task ahead to make up for lost time or I should say partially wasted time – 3. I am unsettled –
neither risky trips, liquor or women can rid me of it – I feel something stirring & pushing me to do something – I have not discovered what yet.

  (JJD 2 November 1941)

  Sitting alone in Letwood plutocratically smoking a cigar, listening to the radio & musing after a day’s reading … my entire outlook on our social system is undergoing rapid changes in the light of my studies altho not my outlook on life or people. (JJD 6 November 1941)

  Joe began writing home about his emerging political views. Feeling out of touch with Canadian and American thinking, he asked his family to send Canadian news magazines, especially Saturday Night, while again praising how the British papers bolstered his confidence because they attack all problems “frankly, honestly, and constructively.” He returned to the views he had propounded in the summer about the urgent need for change, and then turned his guns on the United States.

  When you see the tasks that confront us you realize what has to be done – we have the resources we have the capacity and ability and above all the cause – but by gum a colossal shake-up in organization and leadership must take place. We can win this war but it is going to take more imagination and intelligence on our part and the active – and I mean active aid of the U.S. I wish I could say a few things about U.S. aid – the censors would probably not let it pass – but they should because this is the United States’ battle as much as ours and they have [to] make the same sacrifices and effort as the British and Russians and other nations are making – or else.

  It is amazing – absolutely astounding that a nation such as the U.S. which prides herself on her practicalness should be so unpractical and wishful as they are.

  They vote funds for war aid and think that is all that is needed to stop and beat the Germans – but dollar bills never will beat Hitler and since the money god reigns supreme the necessary tools and men are lacking – Canada is in the amazing position of really playing a vital part in this war in every conceivable way and not knowing it. Canadians can well be proud of what they are doing in the front and back lines – yet they are not particularly.