Evening star., 1942-08-02
Big Dusseldorf Raid
A Regular 'Co|ogner,
British Flyers Say
There's Lot Of Future
In Attack Like Thot,'
Pilot Declares
By DREW MIDDLETON,


: Assosatei Press War Correspondent.
WITH THE RAF BOMBER CON-
MAND, Aug This is bad mo-
ment. Outside in the moonlight you
can hear bombers long way away.
But you don't know whether they
are units of this squadron returning
from the attack on Dusseldorf or
Jerry on the prowl. The throbbing
silence is oppressive.
Inside the control tower they are
waiting for the first radio signal
from the homing planes No one
says very much. The, squadron
leaders pipe sputters. Then a crisp
young voice speaks from the re-
ceiver:
% for Donald. D for Donald -"
Every one listens and grins. Then
q red headed girl gives d for Donald
instructions for landing
The huge wings of the Lancaster
bomber that is D for Donald are
across the field and glides majesti-
cally to perfect landing A few
moments later, the blond pilot as
sures you:
This was big one for Duessel-
dorf. regular 'Colonger' We just
went in there and 'pranged EN- and
got away. There is lot of future
in a raid like that"
"A lot of future" is the highest
praise in the Raj for a well done
bombing job.
Hellish Big Fires,
A sergeant gunner chimed in:
There were hellish big fires. They
were still burning when we re-
crossed the coast on the way home.
Every time we dropped two -tonner
into them, the fires seemed to jump
ut you"
The station commander looked at
his watch.
Those chaps were just one minute
late on their return after 6O0-mile
flight and q heavy attack" he said,
there come some other chaps now"
In they Gomez for Freddy, B
for Beer -. That's the way the
Raj identifies their planes. They
are big black planes manned by
grinning youngsters who fly into the
teeth of the German defenses-to-
night. tomorrow. any night.
Inside the control room, they wor-
ried. G for Charlie isn't answering
calls. Something is wrong with his
radio. Working delicately, the con-
troll of1cer brings in the other planes
while c for Charlie keeps circling,
repairing his radio.
Every plane in the squadron ex-
eept H for Harry landed within an
hour. The group captain walks to
the receiver and stands looking at
It. The silence is broken by the
happy voice OF H for Harry. The
captains shoulders rise little and
he says:
mo casualties, thank God"
Flames Run Through Plants.
{, serst. Eugene Chouiniere of Wa
terford, N. Y. was the rear gunner
on one Of the planes. He is q 49,
year-old freckle-face with steel
trimmed glasses and a mild man.
ner.
I'VE did okay," he said. "Dus-
cCaAOAA "dc IOaSJlAS WIlcH we al =
rived and we gave it plenty more.
We straddled the target from every
direction. You could see flames
running through the factories. Nav,
I didn't see Jerry night fighter
on the whole trip. Not much fax
either. I must be unlucky. 1 amt
seen one yet"
Chouiniere and Sergt Alfred Par
,kyn Of Palisades Park, N. j., were
the only Americans in the squad
ron. Both expect to be transferred
to the United States Air Forces
soon.
The British are okay, though, !"
said Parkyn. who was the airdrome
control pilot last night and didn't
fly to Dusseldorf They are hard
to get next to some times, but they
have nerve and horse sense. These
guys know their racket"
While the air crews groused con-
tentedly over their breakfast and
yelled choice insults at the last
bomber crew to land, the Lam
casters outside were being over
hauled by ground crews.
They stopped work to watch q
formation Of Spitfires heading fol
France in bright daylight in the
RATS unending battle against Ger.
many.