In for a Penny, in for a Pound: The Adventures and Misadventures of a Wireless Operator in Bomber Command

In for a Penny, in for a Pound: The Adventures and Misadventures of a Wireless Operator in Bomber Command

Howard Hewer

Language: English

Pages: 296

ISBN: 077373273X

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub


The gripping story of the twentieth century’s greatest struggle in the modest voice of a Canadian teenager in the RAF.

In 1940, nineteen-year-old Howard Hewer dreamed of being the next Billy Bishop, of piloting Spitfires or Hurricanes over Europe. His dream was shattered when he was selected instead for a career as a wireless operator in Bomber Command.

But he got all the adventure he signed on for. Hewer and his crews of 218 and 148 Squadrons flew important night operations over Germany and North Africa, dropping their deadly payloads and dodging enemy flak.

And he was not always much safer on the ground. He survived the Blitz in London, a U-boat attack in the South Atlantic, a fire-fight with Italian troops near el-Alamien, as well as chaste love affairs, fistfights, and beers with Boer rebels.

Self-deprecating, bittersweet, and alive to both the horrors of war and the friendships and courage of the men and women who fight it, In for a Penny, In for a Pound is the unforgettable story of a young Canadian’s experience of history’s greatest war.

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Gear in the cabin, we took off for the deck for some fresh air, and to look at all the activity in the big harbour of Bedford Basin. A great number of ships of all shapes and sizes were anchored or taking up positions in the basin as they formed up the convoys of freighters, oil tankers, and troopships. Grey shapes of destroyers and corvettes glided towards their stations, ready to shepherd their flocks through the U-boat infested waters in the continuing struggle to get food, fuel, and.

To settle in for what remained of the day. Inside was a lone pot-bellied stove at the end of a long, narrow room. Along each wall, under many windows, were odd-looking half bedsteads; the bottom half telescoped into the top half. Piled on top were three square, thin mattresses about three feet in width. These “biscuits” were laid end to end on the steel slats after the bottom half of the bed had been pulled out to full length. The cold, damp spring air rose up through the cracks in these biscuits.

Into Western Europe during the Second World War with 218 Squadron, RAF, flying Wellington aircraft from Marham, Norfolk. After several months, I became captain of his second crew, and we served together, primarily with 148 Squadron in the Middle East. Following training courses in Canada, a small but interesting convoy took Howard’s group to Greenock, Scotland. In London, he was exposed to the horror, the suffering, and the devastation of the “blitz.” His traumatic experiences during enemy air.

Our usual fuel expenditure, enabling us to make the long flight direct home from the target. I coded up the message and was able to give a quick confirmation of its transmission and receipt to our captain. We discovered that our commander was taking several of our squadron crews on raids to Benghazi or other targets. The reason for this became apparent before the end of the month. In the meantime, between ops, our group was making the best of living conditions in our tent village. The lake was.

Received. Our new engine finally arrived, and for the remainder of that day and most of the next we crossed the rolling hills and flat livestock farms of the South African veldt, to be received by British troops at Cape Town and whisked away to Camp Retreat on the northern outskirts of the city. We spent over two weeks in this camp, and were well fed and reasonably comfortable in concrete huts. Jack and I had ample time to look about this strategic port city with its extensive artificial.

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