ONE OF 105

摘要

Starting these tales of flying training, Roger Coverley recalls a very close shave at Riccall, but then notes he got the 'chop' on the Nuremburg raid of March 30/31,1944. He was not alone on that disastrous night when Luftwaffe night-fighters had a feeding frenzy within the 700-plus bomber stream. In all 537 aircrew were killed that night, 157 became prisoners of war, 11 men evaded. A staggering 105 bombers were destroyed, 11 crashing on take-off or returning, 94 missing in action. For Nuremberg, Roger was a pilot with 76 Sguadron at Holme-on-Spalding Moor in Yorkshire. Flying Halifax Ⅲ LK705 P-for-Peter was shot down by a Bf 110, crashing near Hamm. Roger and five of his crew became prisoners; Sgt G E Motts was killed. Another to perish that night was Christopher Panton aboard 433 Squadron RCAF Halifax Ⅲ HX272 N-for-Nun; the victim of a night-fighter. In honour of their elder brother, Fred and Harold Panton established the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby and acquired Lancaster Just Jane.