- Author
- Bowden, D.M., PO (Telegraphist), RAN
- Subjects
- Biographies and personal histories
- Tags
- None noted.
- RAN Ships
- HMAS Perth I, HMAS Stuart I
- Publication
- December 1975 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
I recall a funny incident: during a raid. I was inside the aircraft and so I was the last off the kite when the bombs started dropping. I dived into the sandbagged enclosure in such a hurry I dislodged one of the sandbags which fell on top of Maclachlan crouched inside. The bag fell as a bomb exploded nearby, and poor old Mac thought he had copped it – things were serious, but they were the things we laughed about.
It was during this period when returning from a dawn patrol, we flew low round a point of land towards the entrance to Suda Bay (the recognized corridor) and flew into a mass of bombers fleeing after a raid on the harbour. Fortunately for us, they were being chased by Fleet Air Arm Fulmar fighters which had reinforced the old Swordfish at Maleme. It was not possible to take avoiding action apart from flattening out and making a crash landing on the water. We packed down and let the bombers go overhead. The result for me – one cut and bruised eye when I bumped into my gun.
After that close shave we kept a weather eye on the signal station on the headland and if we saw air raid red we stayed out until ‘all clear’ was signalled.
Just prior to this at Heraklion aerodrome we had the doubtful distinction of being the first aircraft shot up while sitting on the drome. The drome had no anti-aircraft protection, except a few dummy silhouette aircraft to distract the enemy. On this particular day, we had just landed and were about fifty feet away from our aircraft when two CR.42 Italian fighters arrived. Fortunately for us, they did not attack until they sized the situation up and by that time we were near one of the slit trenches and adjacent to the tin shack, the only building on the drome. One of the fighters went up to give cover while the other attacked. He made several passes at the trench which fortunately for us, was a zig zag type, but whatever .direction he came, we zigged and zagged accordingly and his bursts passed over. The pilot, realizing he had everything his own way, then attacked our Seagull. He did two attacks and then the second plane closed, she opened fire until eventually she positively joined company and the two aircraft then mizzled off back to Rhodes. The Italian aircraft were really beautiful looking fighters, just like the old British Bulldog fighter at Point Cook when I did my flying training.
Examining our aircraft later, we were surprised at the light damage, a few bullet holes, but no apparent major damage. However, when we arrived back at Suda Bay, the rigger discovered a wing root damaged and the aircraft was declared unserviceable for operational flying. Next day we took off with our normal crew and also rigger and fitter (Maclachlan and Mitchell) to fly to Alexandria to get a replacement aircraft.
Unknown to us Bardia was in German hands but as luck would have it we had a following wind and our petrol consumption was less than we expected, so the Pilot and Observer decided to go onto the next landing field closer to Alexandria. When we landed, the field was deserted except for one RAF Corporal on a motor bike. He saw us coming in and raced over to us as soon as we landed and he pointed towards a cloud of dust on the horizon and said ‘that’s the Jerries’.
Fortunately for us, we found some 40- gallon drums of petrol and with our own Zwickey pump we refuelled as quickly as possible and took off as the cloud of dust was becoming ominously larger. We did not sight any enemy aircraft and eventually arrived safely at Aboukir, Alexandria.
When the replacement aircraft was ready, we took off for Bug Bug where we had lunch next day with the RAAF No. 3 Squadron. To avoid going down the coast further and possibly running into trouble, we headed out over the Mediterranean and back to Suda Bay.
Some time later, during a dusk patrol, we were diverted to search for the crew of a Swordfish forced down at sea. By the time we arrived in the area, it was dark and we failed to see the crew in the raft. Unknown to us, Perth was also in the area. We soon became aware of her presence when she opened up on us; we sheered off, but every time we circled close, she opened fire until eventually she positively identified us. It was the only time we were not happy to see the ship.
Next day we were ordered to help a Fulmar fighter which had forced landed on a beach on one of the islands. Arriving at the beach we taxied ashore to the aircraft and found the engine had conked out. Between us we dismantled Fulmar’s guns and loaded them, the ammunition and the two crew on board our Walrus.
As we were about to take off, base signalled the location of the Swordfish. We located the crew in their raft and landed beside them. The crew were taken aboard and it was obvious the aircraft was overloaded. To add to our problems a sea had come up and it was quite choppy.
Flight Lieutenant Beaumont gave the engine full throttle but before the old Walrus became airborne disaster struck. The port wing tip floats broke.
The island was about ten miles distant and we taxied around to the lee side and anchored. We radioed our flight to base and a reply came back informing us that a caique would pick up our passengers. It arrived late in the afternoon, escorted by a Swordfish which dropped some gear to repair our plane.
When the passengers departed in the caique we taxied ashore and ran the Walrus up onto the beach. Some of the Greek inhabitants of the island found us and brought us a delightfully cooked meal.
Next day we carried out rough repairs with wire, and leaving the observer behind to be picked up by boat we flew to Suda Bay. The maintenance crew did not think much of our repair job but by next morning the aircraft was ready again for operational flying.
We took off for our usual dawn patrol but we did not get back that day. While flying near Anti Kyrethia, the same island we had visited earlier, I felt the pilot waggle the aircraft but I could not see anything astern. I sensed a shadow over head and there, quite close over my head, was an aircraft with Maltese crosses on the wings. As it passed over it was followed closely by another Jerry and I wondered why they had not opened up on us. Apparently we had run into each other around the island.
My adrenalin started pumping as they receded astern of us and Beau (our pilot) swooped low towards the water to stop the Jerries diving on us. I believe the enemy were Dorniers and they could fly rings around us for speed, and outgun us with cannon. Our armament was one Lewis gun forward with the Observer and I had another in the rear cockpit. At first I thought the Jerries had given us away as they receded into the distance, but then I saw them turning. I thought to myself ‘Cripes – this is it‘. Our pilot had a rear vision mirror in which he could see me standing up in the rear cockpit which was completely open and I was exposed from the waist upwards. Our Walrus was slow but very manoeuverable and by comparison with the Dorniers we could turn on a threepenny bit. We had previously worked out a drill on what we should do if attacked. The observer in the front cockpit and myself in the rear cockpit would signal a turn to the pilot by raising an arm to show the attacking aircraft had turned and was lining up on attack.