BAILED OVER BELGIUM – PART 2
When he learned that the American Army was approaching Bill Robertson knew that his liberation was at hand. He could see Jerry troops passing through in trucks, by horse drawn wagon or by shanks mare as they withdrew. One of the most surprising occurances for Bill was to see the shocked expressions on the neighbour’s faces when they learned that Pierre, their Chief of Police, was not a collaborator; in fact he was hiding Allied airmen!
“I think it was the 7th of September when I was actually liberated by the Yanks,” said Bill. “It was a funny feeling to be able to open the door and just walk in or out.”
A Canadian Major working as a liaison officer with the U.S. Army, from Niagara Falls, promised, and sent, a post card home. It arrived the day “after my parents had received word I was alive,” said Bill.
Before he was permitted to travel Robertson had to get the “OK” from the U.S. Army which was concerned about spies, especially the Belgian Underground. There had been cases where a German, perhaps educated in England, would go to the extent of flying over, parachuting, and then pretend to be an Allied Airman.
Unknowingly, Bill was interrogated by a Sergeant during a casual conversation while supposedly waiting for an officer. They discussed baseball, the comics, Dick Tracey…and thus he was cleared. However, Bill had to hitch hike to Brussels as “all the gas was going forward.”
A major with the dental corps picked up Bill and an American travelling companion. He had trouble pegging Bill’s accent as it sounded part Canadian, British and French.
In Brussels the British Army put him up in a hotel. Bill does not remember how he made it to the airport but does recall the “marvellous feeling to be flying back to England in the old faithful Dakota DC3.”
The RAF put him up at a hotel in London where the first thing he decided was to have a bath, the first in four and a half months. And wouldn’t you know it but as he was luxuriously soaking in its hot fragrance “the damned air raid siren went off!” The V1s and V2s were coming over London. Following Bill’s mandatory medicals was a three week leave.
FLIGHT ENGINEER SGT. L.E. BOARD (LES) RAF
What follows is the Flight Engineer’s account of that fateful night of May 12/13 which was Sgt. Board’s 13th mission AND yes, he had a premonition that this would not be a return flight.
“We were given tablets to prevent us falling asleep due to the silence of speaking only when necessary order.” Board recalls a last minute visit by the Padre and remembers thinking, “My God is the same God that the German bomber crews also pray to. I never thought it right that God should be asked to take part in war.”
The Halifax bomber, Charlie, was waiting at the end of the runway. The brakes were hard on, engine revs were building and then the brakes were hard off to accelerate at the green signal. Board recalls racing along the runway, pushing hard on the throttles to gain all possible speed for liftoff. “We had just enough air speed for liftoff; the aircraft shudders and shakes under the bomb load and we just clear the control tower. There is a sigh of relief from all the crew.”
The starboard inner engine was overheating and the pilot was having trouble getting height to set course. Board was challenged to keep the engine functioning. He and the pilot decided to fly on regardless as to turn back (they were one of the first planes to lift off) would be considered “LMF” (Lack of Moral Fibre).
After dropping their bombs on target, Board remembers that ironically flack and an anti aircraft shell blew away the engine that he had nursed so well. The whole wing and fuselage were aflame and Board’s fire extinguisher was ineffective. Lacking communication and with the plane in a deep dive the Flight Engineer realized that everyone has bailed and he was all alone.
“My parachute was stored behind the bulkhead. While putting it on a night fighter sprayed the starboard side with bullets.” He struggled to reach the nose escape hatch and decided to exit head first. The slipstream crashed his head against the fuselage many times. Board found himself hanging upside down when the closing escape hatch door trapped his feet. “Luck was on my side.” He was wearing the “old type flying boots” and wiggled his feet free leaving his boots behind. Pulling the “D” ring Board realized that his 13th operation on the 12/13 May was in fact his lucky day and his premonition had come true!
Board evaded the Germans and was picked up by the Belgium Underground or Resistance Group which took care of him for the four months it took to return him to England. He recalled that they were very brave, many died or were tortured helping him escape and “I will never ever forget them or ever be able to thank them enough.”
Board suffered a nervous breakdown, was discharged and worked in the field of electronics until his retirement in September 1988.
THE ZIGGY MEYER SCAM
Wireless Operator Sgt. Doug Lloyd, RAF, wrote Bill Robertson in 1983 saying that he had visited his brother Peter at Manningtree in Essex where Princess Ann and Mark Phillips liked to visit. He also mentioned that his younger brother in Esher, Sussex “often had Prince Phillip and Prince Charles at his stately home.”
However, Lloyd said that he had gone out to dinner with Major Ziggy Meyer “the Luftwaffe pilot” who claimed to have shot them down May 13, 1944. After Lloyd’s wartime story was aired on the BBC Meyer had contacted him.
But, in April 2005, Robertson received an e-mail from an “air force type” stating that Charlie had actually been shot down by Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, the top-scoring Nachtjager (night fighter/hunter) of WW2, credited with 121 victories. His log records that Charlie was his 64th victory.
Robertson and his pilot Taffy Evans, RAF, agreed that Ziggy Meyer must be a hoax. Sadly, they were unable to inform Lloyd who passed away in 1988 and were never able to find Meyer to confront him with the facts.
AS an aside, Doug Lloyd also flew with pilot Ken Forster, or Forsker, “the only pilot in the RAF (apart from Douglas Bader) allowed to fly without any legs.”
Next – The conclusion – Pilot Taffy Evans’ Account.
Photos: Flight Crew – Left to Right – Back Row:
Dick (Mid Upper Gunner W.O. V.G. Colledge, RAAF)
Doug (Wireless Operator Sgt. D.A. Lloyd, RAF)
Danny (Navigator F/O J.B. Daniels. RAF)
Frank (Rear Gunner W.O. F.J. Tait, RAAF)
Front Row
Les (Flight Engineer Sgt. L.E. Board, RAF)
Taffy (Pilot F/Sgt. J.H. Evans, RAF)
Bill (Robbie – Air/Bombardier F/O W.A. Robertson RCAF)
Photo – Friday the 13th on display. Not sure where.