207562 Sergeant Alfred Lewis "Derek" Mapledoram Royal Air Force 57 Squadron from:North Curry, Somerset My Grandfather, Alfred Lewis Mapledoram (known as Derek), was a Flight Engineer on Lancasters with 57 Squadron. He flew a full tour of 30 missions with his crew on H-HOWE, affectionately known as HAPPY.
I have many happy memories of him telling me stories as a lad but one that really sticks in my mind relates to a mission over Cologne when his Lancaster was "coned", a term used when all of the searchlights around a city focused on one aeroplane. He told me that this was a sticky situation as many planes were shot down when this happened. As luck would have it, their pilot was an Australian who had done some stunt flying prior to the war. He pulled a few fancy moves (for a Lancaster) and got them out of the cone. That night they had an officer sitting in as rear gunner as their normal rear gunner had lost his fingers to frostbite having become oxygen drunk and failing to put on his gloves. As H-HOWE flew into the darkness, my grandfather said that there was a great silence among the crew as they counted their blessings. Over the intercom came the voice of the officer rear-gunner "I say chaps, that reminds me - I must get a new battery for my torch!"
This story has always made me think of the great attitude these men had. My grandfather, his comrades and all who have fought for our country are true heroes and deserved to be remembered.
If anyone can help me fill in any names for his crew I would be really grateful to hear from you.
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