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Whilst undertaking my RAF training at the Service Flying Training School in Gimli, Manitoba, Canada, I learned to fly in the Avro Anson.

Two pilots would often fly together. The exercise meant that one pilot flew the aircraft on the outward journey, and the other navigated. On the return, the roles were reversed.

On one particular occasion, we flew to Saskatchewan, and I was the pilot on the return leg. My friend Jock was navigating. Our flying height was 6,000 feet, when we noticed a cloud formation that was over 10,000 feet high, with the base about 600 — 800 feet above the ground. Flying into the cloud, I asked Jock where we were and he pointed to an area on the map.

We descended to get below the cloud, get a fix and ascertain position, but at 600 feet, I remarked that we were still in cloud. Jock asked me to look through the side window but I couldn’t see anything. The freezing cloud had caused rime icing to form, and it looked to be 3 inches thick!

Flying east, Jock opened a small transom window at the bottom of the screen to see where we were going. He saw a railway running due north to South. Turning the aircraft south, I followed the railway track, decreasing height until we were flying at a mere 20 feet, and I was still unable to see through any window!

Continuing for some time at this height, Jock suddenly exclaimed, “Station coming up! Down a bit. Hold it!” I managed to take a quick glance through the open window and saw, in disbelief, the wing-tip pass very close to the station-master’s house.

Having got a fix, I changed course and we finally arrived back at Gimli. I flew low near the control tower, pumping the engines and moving the wings up and down.

We turned on the approach, and Jock guided me. The landing was decent. No need then for the ambulance and fire engine, both ready and waiting at the end of the runway.

Feeling strongly that Lady Luck had certainly been on our side, we reported to control tower the reason for our very low flying along the railway — just in case of complaint!!

FLIGHT SERGEANT S.L.MORRIS
61 SQUADRON, BOMBER COMMAND

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