210739 Flt.Lt. Derrick Stuart Fuller Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 18 Squadron Contemporary Account of a Night Time Bombing Raid in a Blenheim as written by Flight Sergeant Derrick Stuart Fuller (63069). For some reason it is marked ‘Extract’. Presumably sent to his parents since they were living in Bristol although he was married. The contents are not exactly drafted in a manner calculated to allay fears about his personal safety, especially if intended for his wife.
Derek was awarded his ‘Wings’ as a Sergeant Pilot on 11th July 1940 and posted to Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Bicester where he was converted to Blenheims. Crewed up with Air Observer ‘Topsy’ Ford and Wireless Operator/Air Gunner ‘Polly’ Pollard. All three made up the crew of a Blenheim. It seems it was these two who formed his crew during the sortie below. He was promoted Flight-Lieutenant in August 1942.
Extract 18.11.40
I had a very exciting trip the other evening. I was detailed to raid an enemy aerodrome in order to try and prevent Jerry bombers from taking off. I thought it would be a good chance to show the Germans that they are not the only ones who can carry out a low flying attack. So we went whistling over the aerodrome at some 200 feet only and machine-gunned the men on the gun posts. But suddenly about 9 searchlights sprang up and caught me at point blank range and then they let us have it. I’ve never seen concentrated fire thrown up anywhere. Two shells burst in the aeroplane carrying away half of the tail and rudder and blowing away my bomb compartment (my bombs were still in it but were not affected).
The aeroplane was riddled with holes, an oil-feed pipe was severed and one engine started to play tricks. We turned around and dropped our bombs on some aeroplanes that were taking off and then decided to make for ‘home’ (assumed word).
You can imagine my shock when looking to my right I could see 6 fighters in formation with bright yellow headlights on and 6 more to my left without headlights. I could see these very clearly because there was a full moon and it was very light. I escaped these by throttling back and sliding under them and I don’t think they saw me. Then to cap everything three more sat on our tail and chased us. I ..(two or three illegible words).. down to the deck and legged it for the French coast as best I could. We reached some cloud and evaded the fighters. When we got back home we couldn’t find our flare path. It was actually extinguished as a raid was in progress. Our wireless was shot up and wouldn’t work. After some fruitless searching around I saw a dim flare path. I flew over that and flashed S.O.S. on ..two or three illegible words.. and landed. This was an aerodrome called S…. M.. (presumably unnamed for security but possibly Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire?). We stayed the night there and went back to West Raynham in the morning by car. The authorities would not let me fly my plane back as they said it was too dangerous. It is still being repaired.
None of us was injured except that Polly’s eyes were burned with the explosion of the shell that damaged our tail and wireless. We were very lucky ..two illegible words.. definitely the best trip I’ve ever had for excitement.
I’m glad to hear that things are more or less quiet in Bristol still. Poor old Coventry has suffered hasn’t it? Still we went over the next night and knocked hell out of Hamburg.
Note: He once told me that he crash landed in an airfield, other than his own, and was recommended for an award by the commander of that field. This had to be ratified by his own CO. Father’s plane was out of action so he was allowed to fly the CO’s personal plane for the raid. The CO was not well pleased with the state of it and, consequently, vetoed the award. As far as is known father only had two crash landings with the other being in Blida, Algeria in North Africa in November 1942, and that still had a full bomb load. Unfortunately I do not know to which of these events he referred but suspect it is the one above.
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