Target Dortmund Halifax “V”
Bomb Load 55,180
ANOTHER NIGHT TO REMEMBER
“I’ve Never Been So Frightened In all My Life”
This newspaper headline was my reply to a reporter who asked for my reaction to the first operational dropping of the still secret Airborne Lifeboat on the 5th May 1943.
Hit by flack as we headed away from our target, Dortmund, we lost our two starboard engines. Losing height, as we crossed the Dutch coast, the port inner engine failed. Our one remaining power unit brought us to within 50 miles of the English coast at 500 feet giving us no option but to prepare for ditching.
Just before 3am with nil visibility due to a thick sea mist, a smoothish ditching was made keeping the aircraft in one piece. First out on to the port wing I was dismayed to see that the dinghy release had not responded to our ministrations and there was a moment of reflection with vivid pictures of family, friends and loved ones, for all seven of our crew as we stood on a rapidly sinking wing in a cold North Sea. We, as a crew, had won a Squadron ditching competition exercise just a few days before. I remembered a Perspex panel which, when broken, led to a manual release cable. Diving down, the cable was located, and to shouts of relief, the inflating dinghy shot up with me inside it.
Piling into the bright yellow dinghy, we paddled around staying close to our Halifax, feeling horribly seasick, wet and cold. The sun rose and started to burn off the mist and around 6am we heard an aircraft approaching. It was a Hudson on its way to report on weather conditions over Scandinavia. Our flares and dinghy were spotted and they circled overhead for two hours until another oddly shaped Hudson appeared.
The aircraft dropped smoke floats to assess the wind, flew towards us and with a loud crack released a bulky object which descended attached to five large parachutes. Incredibly accurate aiming, we ducked as the lifeboat and parachutes passed over our heads, hence the remark to the newspaper report, “I’ve never been so frightened in all my life”.
Clambering into the lifeboat, we waved our thanks to our rescuers who flashed us with a course to steer for Grimsby. The engine was started and making around 6 knots we thought our troubles were over. A thick sea mist came down, one propeller’s spindle sheered after a couple of hours and we lost the other propeller soon after. Around 7pm, just as we were thinking of another night afloat, the mist cleared and a Hurricane, which had been searching for us, appeared, and gave our position to a RAF Air Sea Rescue launch, which braved the minefield on which we were apparently sitting, to pick us up.
On our return to base next day, Sir Arthur (Bomber) Harris joined our crew for a most prized photograph to mark the 1st Airborne lifeboat drop.
BOMBER AIRMEN RESCUED FROM THE NORTH SEA in conversation with their Commander-in Chief, Sir Arthur Harris, when he visited their station
They are Sergt. D. Galbraith (navigator), of Ayrshire; Sergt. G. C. Parry (wireless operator), of Tottenham; Sergt. J.J. Prinsoloo (gunner), of Rhodesia; Sergt. S. J. Tregunno (gunner), of Greenwich; Sergt. H.R.H. Mack (flight-engineer), of Withycombe, and Sergt. J.H. Loveless (bomb aimer) of Sutton, Surrey.
They told the Chief Marshal how they had spent 16 hours in their dinghy before they were picked up.
(Many of these newspaper articles came from a scrapbook compiled by Jim's mom. The articles were undated and no indication which publication they were clipped from)
Bomber Chief Greeted Durham Pilot
The crew of a Halifax bomber, piloted by Flight-Sergeant J. Bowman, of Durham, with Sergeant D. Galbraith, of Campbeltown, as navigator, were congratulated at their station on Friday by Sir Arthur Harris, C.-in-C. Bomber Command, after being rescued by a lifeboat when their plane crashed in the sea while returning from a raid on Germany.
When over the target area, the Halifax was hit by flak, putting the starboard inner engine out of action. Bombs were dropped on the target and a course set for home. When crossing the Dutch coast, the starboard outer engine stopped.
The Flight-Engineer, Sergeant R. H. Mack, said: "Although we had only port engines working it looked as if we would get back all right. We flew steadily for about an hour, but then the port outer engine packed up, and we had only one left. Even with one engine, we kept going for about six minutes. We were losing height rapidly and soon we hit the sea. It was a good landing.”
One "Casualty"
An SOS was sent out when it became obvious that the aircraft would have to come down. The exact position was given, just before the Halifax hit the water.
The dinghy, stored in one of the wings, did not inflate immediately and some of the crew had to scramble on the wing which was under water.
The dinghy was eventually floated and the crew paddled away from the aircraft, which floated for an hour.
The SOS was received by the Air/Sea Rescue Service and at dawn a Hudson found the flyers 90 miles away from the English coast.
Another Hudson arrived later to drop smoke flares to gauge the wind. Presently the Hudson was replaced by an Anson, and then a Walrus, and these guided to the Air/Sea Rescue launch to the dinghy.
By that time the crew had been in the sea for 16 hours.
Only casualty was the bomb aimer, who got a black eye when he banged himself getting out of the Halifax as she floated in the water.
Mrs. ME Bowman Nevilles Cross, DurhamRegret to inform you that your son 1180438 F/Sgt J Bowman is missing as a result of air
operations on night of 4/5th May 1943 Letter follows any further information will be immediately communicated to you. 102 Squadron
The Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America
· Flight Sergeant J. Bowman – Pilot
· Sergeant (subsequently Flight Sergeant) G. C. Parry - Wireless Operator
· Sergeant (subsequently Flight Sergeant) J. J. Prinsloo - Air Gunner
· Sergeant (subsequently Warrant Officer) S. J. Tregunno - Air Gunner
· Sergeant H. R. H. Mock - Engineer
· Sergeant J. H. Loveless - Master Bomber
The Halifax successfully reached the target, only to be engaged by hostile enemy fighters and pounded by heavy flak. The combined fighter action and flak resulted in severe engine damage, but the tenacious Bowman managed to steer the crippled Halifax out towards the North Sea despite the damage incurred. By the time the aircraft reached the coast, however, it was barely flying, with only one engine still serviceable.
On this mission, Tregunno, with the rank of Sergeant, was serving as air gunner in a Halifax II (W-7820, call sign "V") piloted by Flight Sergeant J. Bowman. This aircraft and sixteen others from 4 Group’s Pocklington base were detailed to attack Dortmund at the height of the battle of the Ruhr. In all, 596 aircraft participated in the attack on 4 May, including 255 Lancasters, 110 Wellingtons, 80 Stirlings, 10 Mosquitoes, and 141 Halifaxes. Of these, 31 aircraft failed to return, and a further 7 aircraft crashed during takeoff in bad weather at the bomber bases. Of the seventeen aircraft that left Pocklington that night, one was scrubbed due to an unserviceable compass, and two failed to return.
0315 hours, the pilot and crew were forced to ditch into the North Sea approximately 75 miles off Flamborough Head. They were first spotted at 0815 hours that morning (5 May 1943) by a Lockheed Hudson from 279 Squadron piloted by Flight Sergeant A. H. Mogridge, who reported the crews’ position. Tregunno and the rest of the crew subsequently had the dubious honor of being the first airmen in the war to be rescued by the “airborne lifeboat’ method, which meant that they had to transfer from their battered dinghy to a lifeboat that had been dropped by parachute from Mogridge’s Hudson flying some 700 feet above. There were some glitches, as could be expected from such an innovative rescue method, but despite the setbacks, the drop was a success. At approximately 4 o’clock that afternoon, after more than twelve hours in the water, they were picked up by a high-speed launch and taken to Grimsby. The final pick-up was closely monitored by two Anson Mk 652As on patrol from 280 Squadron. The dramatic rescue of 5 May was described, appropriately, as “The Day of Days” in the Operations Record Book of 279 Squadron.
Like so many RAF air crew at the height of the air war in Europe during WWII, they were prepared through bitter experience to meet the challenges to survive head on, despite the often desperate odds.
Bowman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in October 1943. The 4-5 May 1943 mission was the only occasion that Bowman did not manage to fly his aircraft safely back to base.
The incident is mentioned by Goss in lt’s Suicide But It’s Fun, pp. 88-89.
See also Alan W. Cooper, Air Battle of the Ruhr, Airlife Publishing, Ltd., Shrewsbury, 1992, p. 62. On the fate of Halifax W-7820 and the many other aircraft and crew that were lost on this mission,
see also W. R. Chorley, Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, 6 Vols., Midland Publishing, Ltd., Leicester, 1996, Vol. IV, pp. 135-38, esp. p. 136.
LIFEBOAT
DROPPED BY PARACHUTE
BOMBER CREW'S AMAZING NORTH SEA RESCUE
SEVEN members of the crew of a giant Halifax bomber forced down in the North Sea after raiding Dortmund have just been rescued by a motor lifeboat dropped by parachute from a specially-converted air-sea rescue aircraft.
In releasing the details early this morning of this amazing rescue—the first of its kind by airborne lifeboat—the Air Ministry revealed that the rescue craft is fitted with engines, sails, wireless, food, and a change of clothes—and that it cannot capsize.
"I've never been so frightened in my life as when this great boat came sailing down towards us in our rubber dinghy," said Flight-Sergeant James Bowman, of Durham, the captain of the Halifax bomber, when the crew reached land.”
"We were sure it was going to hit us, it dropped so close. However, it landed all right, and we soon scrambled in.
"I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw it had engines. We got them going in a few minutes and they carried us forward for several hours at about six knots."
"The Hudson aircraft which dropped the boat flashed us our course, and we had got within about ten miles of England when we were met by a Naval vessel. We were given air protection nearly the whole way back."
FIFTY MILES FROM LAND
According to the Air Ministry News Service, the Halifax crew came down in the North Sea, and were 50 miles from land when the rockets fired from their dinghy were first spotted by a Coastal Command Hudson on patrol.
The Hudson signalled their position to base, and soon a specially-adapted Coastal Command air-sea rescue Hudson was setting off on the first operational attempt to use an airborne lifeboat.
"We kept circling the dinghy until the air-sea rescue Hudson arrived," said Sergeant D. A. Workman, of Birmingham, the pilot of the plane which first spotted the "ditched" airmen.
"I watched the launching of the lifeboat from the air, and it was an amazing job of work. The boat was dropped from about 1000 feet, and it floated gently down, landing less than 20 yards from the dinghy."
Said Flight-Sergeant Hugh Kirk, of Glasgow, who knew the lifeboat release:
"We flew over the thing and carefully estimated the direction and strength of the wind. Then we released the boat.”
“I hardly dared breathe as it went for this was the first time that it had been used except on trials. However, the parachute blossomed out beautifully, and the boat settled in the water as neatly as could be. We all whooped with delight."
Flight-Sergeant Bowman said that seven were making their maiden bombing trip. "We were badly shot up over the target," he added, "and three of our engines put out of action. We 'ditched' successfully and waited for help, but we never expected such a surprise."
Sergeant Harold Mock, of Exmouth, the flight engineer of the Halifax, said that the crew of the air-sea rescue Hudson came to see them in the hospital the next morning.
"Imagine my surprise," he added, "when I found that the pilot (Flight-Sergt. Albert Harry Mogridge, of Exmouth) was a man I knew well. That's what I call a pal."
HOW IT FALLS
Designed to be dropped to "ditched" air crews too far at sea to be rescued by enemy action or too close to the enemy coast to be reached by air-sea rescue or Royal Navy ships, the airborne lifeboat is a compact motor-boat carried under the fuselage of an aircraft.
Its development is largely due to the research work of Group Captain E. F. Waring, D.F.C., A.F,C., Deputy Director of Air-Sea Rescue.
When dropped, the parachute opens up and the lifeboat floats to the water inop faster than a man falling with a parachute. The boat can be very accurately aimed so that it strikes the sea within a few feet of the dinghy’s occupants.
No matter how high the waves, the boat will right itself. Special buoyancy tanks keep it afloat and uncapsizable even in the roughest weather.
In compartments inside are stowed away the two specially converted motors, and full changes of clothes, medical supplies, food, and pyrotechnics.
There is sufficient petrol to enable the boat to travel a considerable distance, and it can carry several persons.
A portable wireless set is also on board, as well as sails and oars in case the engines break down.
Flight-Sergeant Jim Bowman middle at back
Lifeboat by
Parachute
Bomber crew saved
An airborne lifeboat used in operations for the first time was dropped by parachute from a Coastal Command air-sea rescue Hudson plane and brought the crew of a Bomber Command Halifax, which had "ditched" to safety, across more than 90 miles of the North Sea.
Rockets fired from the dinghy by the Halifax's crew were spotted at six in the morning by a Hudson on patrol.
"We signalled the position back to base," said Sergeant D. A. Workman, of Birmingham, the pilot, "and then circled round until the air-sea rescue Hudson arrived."
"AMAZING JOB"
"I watched the launching of the lifeboat from the air, and it was an amazing job of work. The boat was dropped from about 1000 feet, and it floated gently down, landing fewer than 20 yards from the dinghy."
"We flew over the dinghy and carefully estimated the direction and strength of the wind," said Flight-Sergeant Hugh McGregor, of Glasgow, navigator of the Hudson, who pressed the lifeboat release. "Then we released the boat."
"The parachute blossomed out beautifully and the boat settled in the water as neatly as could be," said Flight-Sergeant Bowman. "We all whooped with delight."
The bomber was returning from a run to Dortmund, and five of the crew were on a maiden bombing trip.
LIFEBOAT DROPPED PARACHUTE
NEW AIR-SEA RESCUE DEVICE
FROM OUR AERONAUTICAL CORRESPONDENT
An airborne lifeboat, dropped by parachute from an air-sea rescue aircraft of R.A.F. Coastal Command, recently saved the lives of the crew of a Bomber Command Halifax who were drifting in their dinghy in the North Sea.
The lifeboat was dropped from about 1000 feet, and it came to rest on the water about 20 yards from the bomber crew's dinghy. The lifeboat was fitted with engines, and the airmen were travelling towards England at six knots. The course to steer was signalled by the Hudson, and for most of the journey the crew had an air escort. Ten miles from the English coast the airmen were picked up by a naval vessel. The Halifax had been forced to "ditch" the water after it had been damaged in the recent raid on Dortmund.
The new type of airborne lifeboat, specially designed for dropping by parachute, is carried under the fuselage of the aircraft. Its development is largely due to the research work of Group Captain E. F. Waring, D.F.C., A.F.C., Deputy Director of Air-Sea Rescue, When dropped by the aircraft it falls as gently as a man descending by parachute, and no matter how it strikes the water, it will right itself. Special buoyancy tanks keep it afloat and prevent it from capsizing in the roughest weather. In compartments inside the hull are stowed two motors, changes of clothes, medical supplies, food, and pyrotechnics. There is also a good supply of petrol, The lifeboat, which can carry seven persons, also has a portable wireless radio as well as sails and oars in case of engine failure.
Lifeboat Dropped From Plane Saves Airmen
Used operationally for the first time an airborne lifeboat dropped by parachute from a Coastal Command air/sea rescue Hudson recently carried to safety across more than 50 miles of the North Sea the crew of a Bomber Command Halifax which had "ditched." Rockets fired from their dinghy by the Halifax's crew were spotted at 6 a.m. by another Hudson on patrol.
"We signalled the position back to base," said Sgt. D. A. Workman, of Birmingham, the pilot of the aircraft. "Then we circled the dinghy until the air-sea rescue Hudson arrived. The launching of the lifeboat from the air was an amazing job of work.”
"The boat was dropped from about 1000ft, and it floated gently down, landing less than 20 yards from the dinghy."
Flt.-Sgt. Hugh Kirk McGregor, of Glasgow, navigator of the Hudson, who pressed the lifeboat release, said: "We flew over the dinghy and carefully estimated the direction and strength of the wind. Then we released the boat. I hardly dared breathe as it went down for this was the first time it had been used except on trials."
"However the parachute blossomed out beautifully and the boat settled in the water as neatly as could be, we all whooped with delight."
The captain of the Halifax bomber, Flight-Sgt. James Bowman, of Durham, said that the raid they had made over Dortmund was the first they had ever been on as a crew – and five of the seven were making their maiden bombing trip.
“We were badly shot up over the target,” he said, “and three of our engines put out of action. We ditched successfully, and waited for help. Then the Hudson came over and dropped the airborne lifeboat.
“I’ve never been so frightened in my life as when this great boat came sailing down towards us from the air – we were sure it was going to hit us it dropped so close.”
“However, it landed all right and we soon scrambled in.”
Designed to be dropped to "ditched" air crews too far at sea to be rescued by enemy action or too close to the enemy coast to be reached by air-sea rescue or Royal Navy ships, the airborne lifeboat is a compact motor-boat carried under the fuselage of an aircraft.
Sherburn
Airman's Ordeal
After Flight Over Enemy Territory
May 16th, 1943
Afloat in the sea for 16 hours was the experience of Flight-Sergeant James Bowman, Sherburn Village, after his plane had been hit by flak over the target area in Germany. He, with Sergt. D. Galbraith and the crew, have been congratulated Sir Arthur Harris, Commander in Chief of Bomber Command, following the narrow escape from drowning.
The first stroke of bad luck came when the starboard inner engine was put out of action. However, bombs were dropped on the objective and course set for home. When crossing the Dutch coast the starboard outer engine went “dead.”
The flight engineer (Segt. H. R.H. Mock) told afterwards that although they had only the port engines working it looked as if they would get back all right. They flew steadily for about an hour but then the port engine “packed up” leaving only one working. Even with the remaining engine boosted up they could only keep moving for about six minutes, all the time losing height rapidly. Soon they struck the sea making quite a good landing.
Soon, however, the air/Sea Rescue Service had picked up the S.O.S. and at dawn a Hudson found the men 90 miles away from the English coast. A second Hudson relieved and dropped smoke flares to gauge the wind speed. Relays of planes kept up constant patrol until a rescue launch arrived to bring the fliers back to shore and home.
A member of a highly esteemed Sherburn family, Flight-Sergeant Bowman was born and reared in the village. He is son of Mrs. Evelyn Bowman, Neville’s Cross, at present engaged in the Taxation Department, Shire Hall, Durham. And the late M. John Bowman, who was a fitter in the employ of Messrs Dorman, Long and Co., Sherburn Colliery.
Young “Jim” as he is popularly known studied at Sherburn School, at Hebburn-on-Tyne, and when his father moved to London to take up a post on the London Metropolitan Railway, he went along too, and was soon appointed to the civil service. He became a member of Lancaster Road Church, Kensington. Three year ago he joined the R.A.F. and had the honour of being able to fly while he was only 19 years of age.
Having finished his course he was posted to Cairo, and it was there he had a serious crash which necessitated 11 months treatment in a Durban (South Africa) Hospital. He returned home last November on a well-deserved leave. All through his active service he has been attached to Bomber Command.
Grandfather’s War Effort
Grandson of Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Lamb, 7 Harley Terrace, Sherburn, who have great admiration and affection for the young airman, he could tell many daring stories, but like most of his adventurous companions he is very reticent. During the week he had a short leave which he spent with his mother, grandparents and aunt. The grandfather, who is well over seventy years, still plays his part in the war effort in his capacity as a member of the Royal Observer Corps. A retired collier official, he was at one time a special constable. He holds the proud record of being the oldest member of the Parish Council. Mr. Lamb has one cherished possession which he never allows to leave his person, it is a picture of his gallant grandson in the uniform of the R.A.F., complete with “wings” and crown. We join in wishing the Flight-Sergt. every success and ”happy landings.”
Supplement to the London Gazette, 22 October, 1943
Pilot Officer James Bowman (148116), Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, No. 102 Squadron
This officer has completed a large number of sorties, many of them whilst
serving in the Middle East. He has executed his tasks with skill and
determination, and his excellent example has proved a source of inspiration. On
several occasions, his aircraft has sustained damage by enemy action, but each
time, except on one occasion when he was forced to come down on the sea, he has
flown his damaged bomber to base. He has displayed great courage and devotion
to duty.
______________________________________________________________________________
Neville’s Cross Man Gets D.F.C.
It is announced by the Air Ministry that Pilot Officer James Bowman, of Neville's Cross, Durham, has been awarded the D.F.C. On several occasions his aircraft has been badly damaged, but he has coolly brought it back to base. Once he was forced down on the sea.
(The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded for acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty while flying in active operations against the enemy.)
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Joyce & her mother Elsie Stephens Jim's Mom Mary, his wife Betty and sister Avril |
