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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2021 15:02:55 GMT 12
DRAMATIC STORY TOLD
AUCKLANDER’S EXPLOIT
PLANE SET ON FIRE
(United Press Assn.- -Elec Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 23, noon) LONDON, Dec. 22
Mr W. J. Jordan, High Commissioner, upon visiting New Zealand members of the Stirling Squadron which participated on the Duisburg raid on December 20, heard a dramatic story of the adventures of a Stirling captained by Squadron-Leader G. M. Allcock, of Auckland.
A Junkers 88 attacked the Stirling when it was almost over the target. The bomber was silhouetted against flares and searchlights, but the rear gunner got in the first burst. Bits fell from the Junkers but the enemy raked the Stirling with cannon and machine-gun: holed the starboard tailplane elevator, and set fire to the dinghy storage hold and starboard tank, from which petrol flooded into the fuselage.
A shell burst against the window of the rear turret, temporarily blinding the gunner. The second pilot was wounded in the knee, and a shell-burst scorched the face of the flight engineer. A bullet struck the radio operator in the left hand, but he continued to repair the damaged radio. Eventually the mid-upper gunner got in a burst and the Junkers went down in a vertical dive.
The Stirling located and bombed the target. The fire burned on the dinghy storage and everyone got ready to bale out, but the fire did not spread, although it remained alight until near the English coast.
When the base was reached the under-carriage was found to be jammed, whereupon Squadron-Leader Allcock safely belly-landed the plane clear of the runway, so it would not endanger the following aircraft.
WAIKATO TIMES, 23 DECEMBER 1942
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Post by alanw on Jun 15, 2021 16:04:01 GMT 12
Wow, That was riveting reading, though only a short piece
I wonder if the crew were given the DFC at least? (pretty close to Victoria Cross type heroism)
Thanks for sharing this story Dave, I really enjoy these nuggets of Heroism or just plain line of duty stuff - these men/women certainly the greatest generation in my book
Thanks/Regards
Alan
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2021 16:07:46 GMT 12
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Post by McFly on Jun 15, 2021 17:46:27 GMT 12
MUS0301212 - Group. Members of number 6 Pilots course, Number 1 Service Flying Training School, Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Wigram. L-R: Back; A.E. 'Bert' Wickham, H.L. 'Daddy' Oakley, F.W. 'Ted' Hall-Jones, D.L. Pritchard, W. Smilie, F.J. Gavin. Front; W.I. Anstey, G.M. Allcock, T.F. Gill, W.G. Brooks, R.J. McCrorie. Date: 1939.MUS03024 - Group. Members of number 6 pilots course after receiving their brevets. Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Wigram. L-R: J.E. Hull, T.F. Gill, W.I. Anstey, A.E. Wickham, V.A. Cunningham, R.M. Stewart, R.W. Roots, W.A. Foster, B.W. Perryman, A.K. Round, W. Smillie, G.M. Allcock, F.J. Gavin, D.L. Pritchard, V.B. DeLa Perelle, J.C.F. Hayter, H.L. Oakley, D.W.S. Clark. Date: 23 June 1939.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From the 214 Squadron RAF history - Here "Stirling BF318 (20 December 1942)
The most successful of the autumn attacks on Germany was the raid against Duisberg towards the end of December, when crews found unusually good visibility and were able to deliver a concentrated attack. German police records reveal that many industrial buildings were damaged, the railway hit in many places, and over twenty acres of the town almost completely devastated by fire. In the clear weather, however, the German defences were very active and many crews reported combats with night fighters. The Stirling captained by Squadron Leader Allcock encountered a Junkers 88 when approaching Duisberg in the later stages of the raid. The bomber, silhouetted against flares and searchlights, was a clear target, but the rear gunner got in a first burst and pieces were seen to fall away from the enemy machine. However, the Junkers replied with cannon and machine-gun fire, scoring repeated hits. The starboard tail plane and fin of the Stirling were damaged, a burst behind the inner port engine set the dinghy storage alight, a starboard fuel tank was holed and petrol flowed into the fuselage.
Both the second pilot and wireless operator were wounded, the rear gunner was blinded by a shell which hit the rear turret and exploded on impact, while the flight engineer was folded up in his seat suffering intense pain. His face had been badly scorched by a shell which burst inside the aircraft. Eventually the mid-upper gunner was able to get in an accurate burst and the Junkers fell away, going down in what appeared to be a vertical dive. Wounds were attended to while Allcock continued his run to the target and dropped the bombs. His second pilot, Sergeant Murray, a 20-year- old Londoner, displayed remarkable fortitude. Although his left ankle was shattered, he hobbled to the rear turret and got the injured gunner out. Then he attended to the wireless operator, stopping his bleeding and treating his wounds. It was only when the navigator noticed pools of blood on the floor that the crew discovered that Murray was wounded himself and had collapsed from loss of blood. Meanwhile the fire in the port wing continued to burn so Allcock ordered the crew to be ready to bale out. Fortunately the fire did not spread, and he was able to fly his charred and battered Stirling back across the North Sea only to discover, as he made a landing circuit, that the undercarriage was jammed. He then succeeded in making a belly landing clear of the runway.
Squadron ORB reports: " On 20 December 1942 at 18:18 hrs this aircraft left to attack Duisburg on a clear moonlit night with very good visibility and dropped several bombs at 19:42 hrs from 15,800 feet. Duisburg was identified visually by pinpoints on docks. Bombs were dropped East of the aimimg point and good fires were seen around the aiming points. Just as the aircraft was about to bomb it was attacked by an enemy fighter JU88 and sustained damage to the starboard tail plane, starboard aileron and elevator and fin and mid upper and rear turrets. Also the port wing was on fire behind the port inner engine from Duisburg to the English coastline. The aircraft crash landed at Chedburgh at 22:09 hrs as the under-carriage had jammed. The 2nd pilot (Sgt JCD Murray), wireless operator and engineer were wounded. The captain wishes to commend the conduct of his crew, especially those who were wounded.".
Crew of Stirling (model unknown) BF318 (20 December 1942) consisted of :
Wg/Cdr Gilbert Meston Allcock (aka Attwood) DFC and Bar, 36215, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand Sgt H J Bourgeois Sgt C G Fox Sgt A W Lane Sgt J A Lawson Sgt J C D Murray, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom Sgt W A Owens Sgt H A Stevens" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And also from the Sqn history - Here"Wg/Cdr Gilbert Meston Allcock (aka Attwood) DFC and Bar, 36215, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) BF318 (20 December 1942) SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) BF318 (28 November 1942) SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) BK600 SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) R9186 (15 December 1942) SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) R9186 (8 December 1942) SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) W7631 Born 14 December 1916 Born in Wellington, New Zealand
Son of Gilbert Ernest Allcock. Husband of Betty Pearce. Father of Di and Jill.
Joined RAF August 1939 Promoted to Pilot Officer 16 August 1939 Suffered from several bouts of malaria whilst serving in the Middle East Promoted to Flying Officer 3 September 1940 52 Squadron August 1939 to November 1940 15 OTU November 1940 214 Squadron 20 November 1940 216 Squadron 26 November 1940 39 Squadron 4 August 1941 Promoted to Flight Lieutenant 3 September 1941 223 Squadron 25 September 1941 44 Squadron 29 July 1942 214 Squadron on 16 October 1942 1651 Conversion Unit 10 November 1942 Promoted to Assistant Squadron Leader on 16 November 1942
Awarded DFC and noted in the London Gazette dated 1 January 1943 : Acting Squadron Leader Gilbert Meston ALLCOCK (36215), No. 214 Squadron. This flight commander served with a transport squadron in the Middle East and since his return to this country has taken part in a number of night sorties against Germany and Italy. - One night in December, 1942, he was detailed to attack Duisberg. While over the target area his aircraft was attacked by a Junkers 88. During the ensuing engagement the bomber sustained damage and 3 members of the crew were wounded. Undaunted Squadron Leader Allcock continued and bombed the target. On the return flight the port inner engine caught fire. Despite the crippled state of his aircraft, the grave possibility of the fire spreading and with both rear guns out of action, Squadron Leader Allcock flew the bomber safely back to base. This officer's courage, determination and skill set an example of the highest order.
One of the most successful of the autumn 1942 attacks on Germany was the raid against Duisberg on 20 December 1942, when crews found unusually good visibility and were able to deliver a concentrated attack. Allcock was at this time serving as flight commander with No. 214 Squadron in Bomber Command. He had previously completed bombing missions in the Middle East and had also flown with a transport squadron, carrying troops and stores to the front line and evacuating wounded. Also see www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-1RAF-c13.html 75 Squadron 15 January 1943 214 Squadron on 29 January 1943. His title is now Squadron Leader Allcock DFC Married Betty Pearce on 8th April 1943 at the Parish Church in Hinckley, Leicester. Her address was 3 Swans Hotel, Market Harborough Northants. This is noted on his medical boards listing, where his surname Allcock has been crossed out and replaced with Attwood. 84 OTU 10 November 1943 OATS 17 May 1944 Transferred to the Reserve and retired from active list 16 August 1944 7 Squadron 30 January 1945 Promoted to Squadron Leader (W) 3 June 1945 South Filton 19 September 1945 Awarded Bar to DFC which was recorded in FLIGHT dated 31 January 1946 Selected for extended service commission. Commission relinqueshed 1 July 1959, retaining the rank of Squadron Leader.
He survived the war and moved back to New Zealand when Philip and Steve Trease's mother was very young, so she never got to know him or know anything about out his service career.
From London Gazette 30 October 1964: Notice is hereby given that GILBERT MESTON ATTWOOD, D.F.C. Of Flintstones Brockenhurst Road, South Ascot, Berkshire, a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by birth lately called Gilbert Meston Allcock, has assumed on behalf of himself, his wife and his two infant daughters Joanne and Karen and intends henceforth upon all occasions and at all times to sign and use and to be called and known by the name of Attwood in lieu of and in substitution for their former name of Allcock and that such change of name is formally declared and evidenced by a Deed under his hand and seal dated the 29th day of September 1964, duly executed and attested and enrolled in the Central Office of the Supreme Court of Judicature on the 29th day of October 1964.
He is mentioned in several books: The Fire Was Bright by Leslie Kark, MacMillan, 1943 Forever Strong: The Story of 75 Squadron RNZAF 1916-1990 by Norman Franks, 1991, ISBN 1-86941-102-1 Avenging in the Shadows by Ron James, 1992, ISBN 1-900604-26-4
He remarried when he returned to New Zealand and is believed to have died in the mid 1980's."
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Post by davidd on Jun 15, 2021 18:31:48 GMT 12
The T F (Frank) Gill who appears in the photographs of NO. 6 Course at Wigram, was of course later a member of the National Party, and was (from memory) the Minister of Defence in late 1960s or early 1970s. David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2021 22:28:00 GMT 12
A lot of people reckon the plot of the film Memphis Belle is far fetched because too much happened to the crew in that one op, but this story proves there were indeed genuine ops with multiple incidents and huge amounts of bravery involved in real life.
I was intrigued by Marty's mention of " Flintstones Brockenhurst Road" and had to look it up. In fact it seems Flintstones is the name of the house, and it is on Brockenhurst Road, so there's a comma missing.
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