This book is not the official history of 49 Squadron. It would be pretentious of me to make such a claim; that task must be left to those much more qualified than myself. What I have attempted to achieve in compiling this study is hopefully to provide a 'bridge' between those who served on the squadron, and succeeding generations.
As the years slip by and World War II recedes into history, it becomes even more imperative that we retain links with our Nation’s past. Not one of those lives lost defending our freedom should have been in vain... nor their sacrifice go unrecorded or forgotten.
49 Squadron was just one of many bomber squadrons that carried the war to a relentless and ruthless enemy. It must be remembered that each member of an aircrew had to be a volunteer. They were nearly all in their teens or early twenties, some were still at school when war was declared in 1939. Most had just been starting out on the path of life when Hitler interrupted. They came from various backgrounds, occupations and countries. None of them wanted to be at war with Germany, but when duty called, it fell upon their generation to come forward, to do their bit... and to pay the price.
Night after night, in some windswept corner of a desolate Lincolnshire field, youthfully they clambered aboard their dormant weapons of war. Each man extremely conscious that he faced the possibility of a horrific death. Not for them a military band or bugle charge, just a lonely vigil in a hostile black sky, where their all too brief lives could be violently terminated in the stark bright flash of a sudden explosion, or with inert limbs... but able minds, transfixed to the walls of a rapidly spinning, doomed bomber... how long does it take to spiral down from 20,000 feet? Then there are the unforgiving clutches of the North Sea... just minutes to live in the middle of winter... days in the summer.
Recognition of the role played by the ground staff could never be overstated. Without exception, every former 49er aircrew member that I interviewed, at some stage requested of me 'don't forget the ground lads and WAAFs - without them we could never have carried out our tasks'. For many, work on a bomber station was extremely hard and exacting, but they never faltered in their given duties. Ground staff also suffered their share of casualties; during the war no less than 1,479 and 91 W.A.A.F.s died whilst serving with Bomber Command. A further 52 male ground staff became prisoners of war.
If you are of the post war generation and after reading this book, you, and perhaps your children, have a better understanding of what came to pass during the war years, if the next time you hear the name Scampton mentioned on your television or read the name Fulbeck on a signpost that flashes by, or you happen to travel the road between Reepham and Fiskerton and stop at the simple stone that bears testimony to the location of the old airfield... and if you happen to say; "Oh yes, this is where 49 Squadron flew from...and died from... I REMEMBER, I read about them in a book!"
Then, and only then....... will I have perhaps repaid a little of the
enormous debt we all owe to those who once proudly served with
49 SQUADRON, ROYAL AIR FORCE, BOMBER COMMAND.
During the research for this book I have had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people and as a result numerous lifelong friendships have been established. To all those who so kindly took the time to help and contribute, I offer my sincere and grateful thanks.
|
