Page 102 - John Francis Ryan

Flight Sergeant Mervyn A. Hall R.A.F.V.R, the crews rear gunner was the only crew member to
survive the loss of the Lancaster. Mervyn post war having returned to the UK from German
captivity, informed the RAF at the de-briefing interview that he never saw the attacking German
fighter approach the crews Lancaster. Mervyn commented on returning to the UK from captivity.

ʽOn the approach, flares were dropped each side of the route. It was like daylight. We were sitting
ducks. Fighter flares marked a corridor from behind me, straight to, I assume, the target. I broke
radio silence to say, ‘We'll be lucky to get out of here'. Next thing there was a great thumping in
the fuselage and Johnny shouted, ‘Get out!’ Opening my doors, I saw the inside of the aircraft was
full of flames. Having retrieved my parachute (my harness had my oxygen, heating, and intercom
tubes in one clip), I turned the turret and just fell out backwards. It's not the best way to come
down on one strap. The rest is another storyʼ

Picture courtesy: David Fell