Roly served on 39 Sqn, one of two RAF Squadrons (39 and 14) flying the Martin B26 Marauder as a wirless operator/air gunner (WOP/AG). Roly has been an active artist for many years and is a member of the 39 Sqn B26 Mauauder Association. One of his pictures shown here recounts a particular raid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The story behind the picture is as follows:

 

Pula-Eastern Adriatic 21st February 1945

 

B26 Martin Marauder "0" FOR oboe of 39 Squadron, piloted by Fg. Off. Ross RCAF and based at Biferno, Italy beats a hasty retreat from a box barrage after attacking the harbour installations at the port of Pula.

 

The Aircraft was severly damaged and was out of action for some time. The tail gunner Leslie Charteris (The Saint) was badly wounded and was subsequently invalided out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F.Sgt John Seccombe RAF Retd

Royal Air Force 1946 - 1977

MT Fitter

John joined the RAF as a Wireless Operator Aircrew but due to a surplus of aircrew returning from the war his course was cancelled and he was forced to remuster to the trade of teleprinter operator. Further remustering included Aircraft Handler General Duties, MT Driver, MT Mechanic and finally MT Fitter.

 

Postings following basic training included Hawarden, Kidlington, Weeton, Kenley, Waddington with USAF, Gutersloh, Nordhorn, Sundern, Wunsdorf, Coltishall, Stanmore Park, Wattisham, Nicosia, Norton, El Adem, Wyton, Hameln Fairford, Salalah, Chessington and the RAF Staff College Bracknell.

 

John received a CinC's Commendation whilst serving at RAF Fairford.

 

John recalls the following account of his tour in Nicosia, Cyprus:

 

I took my turn as a corporal doing foot patrol in the centre of Nicosia, armed with a Sten gun with 28 bullets and controlling four airmen armed with 303 rifles each with five bullets. I had to walk down the centre of Ledra Street, known at that time as ‘murder mile’ and the four airmen would walk down under the overhanging verandas.

 

On one occasion I was walking down the road and just ahead in the middle of the road was an object that looked like a home made bomb, with two wires coming from the centre. My heart missed a beat and I halted my patrol, and told them to take cover in shop doorways. I then went gingerly forward with perspiration streaming down my face with fear, to investigate the object. I radioed back to base to inform them of the situation, and the action I was taking. As I got closer to the sinister looking object I found it was a hoax, a large black wooden cotton reel made to look like a harmful bomb. I was not quite sure that it was harmless, as the bomb makers used all kinds of unusual items. It turned out to be just a child’s prank.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AC(W) 1 Ruth Gaskin RAF Retd

Royal Air Force 1943 - 1947

Radar Mechanic

 

Ruth joined the Royal Air Force on reaching her 18th birthday against her mothers wishes.

 

Following basic and trade training Ruth was posted to the ground radar station  at Rose Hearty. One of her jobs was to clean the radar dish some 200 feet up. Because Ruth was small she couldn't reach the dish so had to stand on the safety rail much to the concern of her corporal.

 

Ruth recalls V.E Day. My sister and I went to London on the trolley-bus and train and stood near the Victoria Memorial. I couldn't see a thing and two Welsh Guardsmen realising my plight lifted me up on their shoulders so I could see the tiny dots that were the royal family on the balcony.

 

 

If you have a story to tell then I would like to hear from you. Please email or telephone Ray, contact details at the General Office.