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Into The Dust – A True Story From World War 2
“Have you anything for Cairo, George?” George was the RAF officer responsible for the dispatch of replacement aircraft from Rabat, on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, to squadrons and units in North Africa, Malta, Sicily, and Italy. Mainly twin engined types, they had been flown out to Morocco by United Kingdom based ferry crews. A large blackboard on the wall of George’s office listed the various aircraft ready for dispatch, together with their destinations. I eyed his blackboard hopefully. “What about that Mark XIII Wimpy, MR211?” I asked. The Vickers Wellington bomber was affectionately known as a Wimpy after the cartoon character, J Wellington Wimpy in Popeye the Sailorman. “Okay if you head off today,” George replied.
It was early afternoon and Oujda, nearly 300 nautical miles (555km) to the east and headquarters of our No 3 Aircraft Delivery Unit, was the logical place for us to spend our first night on the 2000nm (3700km) run along the Mediterranean coast to Cairo. Stopovers at Oujda were generally forbidden, but as three unit pilots waiting at Rabat were required back at our Oujda base, we obtained permission to take them with us, so giving us the excuse. This decision had a vital bearing on what was to follow. My navigator was Dan Christensen, in civil life a member of staff at the Hotel Russell in London. Unflappable, reliable and skilled, Chris inspired confidence – and his expertise in recognising drinkable wines made him invaluable. He once told me he was amazed how tyres could remain on their rims while aircraft travelled sideways on the ground. This remark had followed one particularly hairy takeoff – but my excuse was that Beaufighters had a tendency to swing!
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