Most Memorable Operation

Most memorble operation was viewing of ships crossing the Channel and battleships shelling the coast of Normandy on D-Day “when eight of us attacked and dive-bombed eight enemy tanks near Caen” John relates the most satisfying op was bottling up a railway gun which had been shelling the beach-head at night: “ six of us each carrying two 1000 lb. bombs attacked mouths of the tunnel by skip-bombing at low level”

Most frightening was taking off in a Miles Master at AFU at night when the controls stiffened. It was pitch black there was no radio on board and fear that the aircraft would roll at low level before bale-out could be achieved. “Fortunately control freed itself and I was able to find airfield in the black-out”.
John also reports having to make a precautionary landing on an advanced landing ground in Normandy on June 29, 1944 after his aircraft had been hit on two propeller blades and magneto by cannon shells from an ME109. Ten allied aircraft had been on a recce near Rouen when they encountered 30 enemy 109s. Two allied aircraft were forced to land after being attacked by three or four of the enemy. The enemy suffered losses of five destroyed and two damaged in the encounter. One of John’s colleagues had shrapnel wounds in the leg but was not seriously hurt. Both returned to base in England within hours of the encounter.