Page 59 - John George Blair

formation next to Jack’s exploded and disappeared and Jack’s aircraft was ordered
to move up in the formation to replace the lost aircraft. At 12.09 a radio message
was received from Jack’s aircraft that two engines were out of action due to anti-
aircraft fire. One of Jack’s jobs, as the flight engineer, was to put out the fire which
he did and the aircraft turned for home losing height from 19,000 feet down to about
2,000 feet over the Dutch coast when it was hit again by anti-aircraft fire. With only
one engine the aircraft continued to lose height and was confirmed as ditched at
12.40 in the North Sea about 10 miles from the Dutch coast. The crew were seen
getting into a dinghy and fighters were called up to protect them. At 13.15, only the
tail of the aircraft was showing above the surface. Their exact position was known
and they were rescued by a high speed launch, unharmed, two hours later. Jack’s
pilot was from the Royal Australian Air Force and was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross for ‘his fine leadership, high courage and great determination in saving
his crew.’ Jack’s other crew members included airmen from the South African and
Rhodesian air forces.”

Many of Jack’s colleagues were very young airmen and he was 18 years old when
he joined the RAF. He can be seen in the photograph taken soon after joining the
RAF. He served in three Lancaster squadrons from bases in Lincolnshire. Copies of
Jack’s memorabilia have been sent to several aviation history organisations
including the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirby which was Jack’s
first operational base in 1944.

Jack’s widow Jenny said, “I was delighted when Nigel Dunnill told me that it would be
possible to apply for the award posthumously. I know that Jack would have been
very proud to have been honoured in this way, not only for himself but for the many
colleagues he knew who lost their lives. I am pleased to accept the Bomber
Command Clasp on his behalf. Jack spoke about his experiences and was very
proud, especially of the humanitarian work he and his colleagues carried out.”