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This story is submitted by Helen Hughes of the People's War team in Wales on behalf of Frederick Jones, and is added with his permission.

The Lancaster was a big bomber, but looking at the present day 747s it’s a baby - you could almost fit it on the wing of a 747 — but it was a big one at the time. It was a marvellous aeroplane at the time - everybody worshipped the Lancaster…She was a wonderful aircraft. Even the pilots who flew the thing, thought they were marvellous aeroplane. Because they were forgiving….you could make a mistake with them and she would forgive you….and of course they carried the bombload — 22,000lbs of bomb which is high explosive at times, and at other times could be incendiary or armour piercing bombs. I have a photograph of our crew underneath the aircraft and you can see the bombs in the rack. It was Christmas Day 1944 when we were ready to go to Essen in the Ruhr….this was Christmas Day and we were ready to go. The usual day for us would be we’d be shook and someone would say “ Come on, you’re on the battle order” and the battle order was a list of all the crews that were flying that night. And they’d give you a briefing time and all this….and then you’d go and get your kit, your parachute from the parachute section from the Waafs, and you’d put your own gear on. Get your gear out of your locker, then you’d go to briefing. They’d tell you your target, what they thought was the weather…and then you were ready for take-off and away you’d go. You’d do the mission, and then you’d come back and be de-briefed. They’d say how did this go on, how did that go on….and did you see this, did you see that….and then you’d have bacon and eggs which was the most wonderful meal that you’d ever had in your life! Everytime you came back it was nothing but bacon and eggs….and everytime the meal went down wonderful… and that really was our life. That was a daily occurrence ….we’re not talking about say three or four days in between. In 24 hours I can mention we went to a place called the Dolenze canal — twice — in 24 hours. And at 18 years old …well 18, 19 it was an adventure to us. Some people say “You must have been brave” - We weren’t brave …because you didn’t realise! At the time, being as young as we were, you didn’t realise it was so damn dangerous, and it was damn dangerous you must admit. At the time you don’t realise how scary it is….you do now! That was our day really….and I did thirty of those, down the datteln canal ….three on the canal, the rest I went to places like Dortmund, Essen down the Ruhr valley because that’s where most of the machinery was made for Germany. At our age now you can remember it vividly, whereas twenty years ago I never really thought about it.

(see also Good and bad memories from 30 bombing missions)

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