Flew 13 operations with the OTU crew except for the Irish BA, who was killed night on April 14th on Stuttgart, when we were attacked by 2 night fighters. Four other members of the crew slightly wounded. Navigator and self only ones not injured. That was our 8th trip together.
BA replaced by English RAF chap and we carried on after a short layoff.
May 18th transported to Hospital to treat internal bleeding problem. There until June 28th, on sick leave for two weeks, and then reported back to 76 Squadron on July 14, 1943.
My original crew had gone missing June 22nd on Mulheim, so I became a spare gunner. The night they were shot down, the Station Commander, Group Captain Wilson, RAAF went along for the ride. Bad idea, even tho the crew was the most experienced on the squadron at that time, with 15 OPS.
The Pilot - P/O Jim Carrie and WOP Sgt. Elliot McVittie (both Scots) and the GC were 3 months in the underground, but were betrayed and picked up in Paris.
Meanwhile I flew when needed with 6 different crews on 11 OPS before being shot down by a Night Fighter on October 3, 1943, on Kassel.
I was not well acquainted with members of the last crew, although I had met the Pilot, P/O Arthur Thorpe and the Navigator P/O Phillip Suzor in the mess. I replaced their RG who was wounded. They had done 10 or 12 OPS. They were all RAF. The Nav. Suzor, was the first person I had ever met from Mauritius. In fact I didn’t know there was such a place. He was a bit older than most of us. Very French and most interesting.
Hit by night fighter on way to target - Kassel, Germany. My 24th OP, October 3, 1943. The pilot and mid upper gunner killed. 8 in crew(second dickie). 6 members were captured and became POW’s.