By Frank Reeve
People in story;- Myself and Norman Glahome dec;
Location of story;- WIGSLEY Lincolnshire
The next part of my stories takes you back into Lincolnshire; to 1654 Conversion Unit at Wigsley, a lot of things happen at these units. It is here where all new Air-crew meet each other for the first time, about 140 of us in the main assembly hall just chatting and trying to find six other airmen you would like to fly with. This task was soon settled for me when Norman Glaholm walked over and introduced himself and asked if I had found a crew yet? I replied No! he then said you had better come into my crew, every-one seemed happy and we were soon shown our crew room and told that we would be first up for take-off in the morning weather permiting. It was endless take-off and landings, practice over-shoots- under shoots all on twin engine Manchester bombers. This lasted until 19th Dec when we were told the good news that we were listed to go to a Lancaster Squadron and would start flying Lancaster the next day.That is the moment when a bond between Pilot and Engineer begins to form. The take-off and landings was so precise that you came to know each others movments and thoughts. The flicker of a guage a slightest change in engine sound registered with both of us instantly. But when you are using a total power of 6,600hp this was as it had to be. On the 30th December 1942 we were told that we were going to join a Lancaster Bomber Squadron. |
