Aircrew: The Story of the Men Who Flew the Bombers (25 page)

Focke Wulf FW190. Arguably even more deadly than the Messerschmitt 109, with similar armament configurations, but having over three times the endurance, at 3¼hours
(RAF Museum)
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The Consolidated Vultee Liberator B-24. The other ‘Heavy’ of the 8th AAF. Powered by four 1200 h.p. Pratt & Whitney radial engines, it was a rugged war machine
(RAF Museum)
.

The North American P-51 Mustang. The best of a group of three escort fighters which in 1944 ensured success at last for the 8th AAF
(RAF Museum)
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Sergeant Leslie Biddlecombe

Sergeant John Roberts DFM

Flight/Sergeant Reg Scarth

Reg Scarth as a seasoned Kriegie

Flight Lieutenant Harold Chadwick, DFC, as a trainee pilot in Canada. He is seated in a Steerman PT17 biplane trainer

Flying Officer Francis Kelsey and crew in front of their Lancaster of 625 Squadron, Kelstern, July, 1944

Francis Kelsey as a Pilot Cadet

F/O ‘Ben’ Bennett, navigator, (aged 21), with his pilot, F/Sgt John Hollander, (aged 20), under the nose of their Halifax Mk 111 bomber, MH-R, of 51 Squadron, Snaith

Flt/Sgt Douglas Parkinson, flight engineer, (aged 20) perched alongside the astrodome

Flt/Sgt Thomas Tommy’ McCarthy, bomb aimer, (aged 19), posing with the crew mascot, Thumper Rabbit. The bomb sight can be seen through the perspex nose.