ALFRED FRENCH, 187481, FLIGHT ENGINEER,
HALIFAX HEAVY BOMBERS.
Alf was called up June 1941 and became 1387992 A C 2 French and was posted to
RAF Melksmam for square bashing and an introduction to RAF life. He was then posted to RAF
Cosford on a Flight Mechanics course before serving with various squadrons as an AC 2 -
airframe mechanic working on Beaufighters, Spitfires, and Havoc's. Posted back to RAF
Cosford on a Fitters course and passed as A C 2 Fitter Air Frames and was posted to RAF
Ford in Sussex working on Beaufighters. He was then posted to RAF North Weald Essex and
worked on high altitude Spitfires. Alf was on the verge of being posted to Canada when it
was discovered that he was awaiting Flight Engineer training so the posting was cancelled.
He then found himself posted to St Athans in Wales on a Flight Engineers course. Having
passed this course he was posted to 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit Riccall for crewing.
On 14th April 1944 Alf commenced flying training as 2nd Flight Engineer on
Halifax MK 2 'V' Victor piloted by F/O Hatworth. It was during this training that on the
15th May Alf's pilot was an Australian named P/O Hagstrom from Sydney with whom Alf was to
fly 35 missions. On 17th May 1944 Alf flew his first flight as Flight Engineer with P/O
Hagstrom. The crews were flying almost every day during the month of May practicing
instrument flying, cross country and bombing, completing 39:30 hours of daylight training
and 14:15 of night training up to 6th June 1944 before being posted to No 10 Squadron
Melbourne Yorkshire England.
On 13th June 1944 the crew commenced training on Halifax MK 3 X
"Xray" completing circuits, landings, a light climb to 20,000 feet and
completing crew trials and cross country on 16th June 1944. This training was done at
night. On the night of 19th June 1944 in Halifax MK 3 'W' Alf's crew took off on their
first mission but were recalled and landed safely after a 1 hour 50 minute flight. On the
night of 22nd June 1944 Alf's crew took off for Laon, France and successfully completed
their first mission.
Alf then received his first leave for some time and went home to Kennington
London. Call it ironic but it was here that the Germans retaliated for the first time
against Alf. Luckily he was alone in the house when it was blown up by a flying bomb
dumping our new Flight Engineer out of bed and wondering if this was a taste of things to
come? From July 4th 1944 to 28th July 1944 they flew 11 more missions 5 daylight and 6
night missions, the longest being to Stuttgart taking 8 hours 15 minutes. August 1st to
the 17th August 1944 saw another 8 missions mostly daylight raids. Upon being posted, 7th
September 1944 saw Alf’s crew on their familiarisation flight flying Halifax MK 3 'D'
from their new drome at Driffield Yorkshire with 466 Squadron RAAF.
They flew 7 more OP's during the month of September including 3 to the Ruhr.
During the raid on 13th September flying Halifax 'V' Victor they had a very narrow escape.
During the bomb run the Halifax behind and below received a direct hit and blew up. The
resulting blast ripped the bomb doors off 'V' Victor damaging the tail fins and puncturing
a tyre. They completed the raid and returned home after being diverted to Carnaby, a
'drome used for landing battle damaged aircraft where a safe but presumably 'hairy'
landing was made.
One memorable mission was flown in Halifax G "George"
which upon having taken off refused to be trimmed for level flight and flew the whole
mission with the port wing low. Alf recollects P/O Hagstrom’s arms being rather tired
after that particular trip. At the end of his tour Alf took a conversion course to fly
Liberators but luckily was not needed as the Americans dropped the Atom bomb and the war
ended. They were then posted on indefinite leave until recalled to fly Liberators on the
Python leave scheme returning troops based in the Far East returning to the UK.
This is the story of one man's war. Quite remarkable.
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