On returning to base aircraft encountered bad visibility over England and the Squadron had a disastrous night in aircraft losses and 28 aircrew being killed. The following is a brief summary of the return. 8 aircraft landed safely at Bourn and 3 at Graveley. One aircraft landed at Wyton.
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NEW BOOK EXTRACTS
The latest round of extracts from recently published books includes a comprehensive study of spying in World War II, including an account of how Rommel read the U.S. diplomatic signals about British military strength in the Desert. A G.I.'s diary of combat from France through to the Battle of the Bulge forms the foundation of Finding Foxholes. Jim Ring has produced a highly readable and comprehensive study of Hitler's War in the Alps.There is the also the welcome re-issue of Barbed Wire Surgeon which won acclaim when it was first published in 1948.LAST YEAR IN THE WAR …
Indian and Gurkha troops attack Germans in Tunisia
I was challenged in a foreign language. I felt it was not the British language or I would have recognised it. To make quite sure I crept up and found myself looking into the face of a German. I recognised him by his helmet. He was fumbling with his weapon so I cut off his head with my kukri. Another appeared from a slit trench and I cut him down also. I was able to do the same to two others, but one made a great deal of noise, which raised the alarm.
The first Warsaw uprising – a desperate Jewish rebellion
I wait at my post anxiously but not for long. I cock my ears and hear the heavy tread of the uniformed killers. A detachment of murderers is marching down Zelazna toward Leszno, into the ghetto: one-two, one-two, more blood, more blood. But then comes the most beautiful moment in my life. A tremendous explosion rends the air. Crash! They’re falling to the ground. Again, Crash! All of a sudden the Ukrainians are rolling in puddles of blood. Blood for blood! The murderers disperse in a wild panic, seeking shelter in the entranceways.
An English girl’s love letter for the Gestapo
Bill darling, do let me know as soon as you get fixed and can make some more plans, and don’t please let them send you off into the blue the horrible way they do nowadays – now that we’ve found each other out of the whole world, I don’t think I could bear it.