Wartime Brothers 1944

January 1944

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Hugh

Keith

Joan

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January 1944

Logbook of Flight sergeant Hugh "Tommy" Thomas December '43 to January '44
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1st January 1944

The 1st of January saw Bomber Command's ninth mission of the Battle of Berlin. 421 Lancasters were tasked to attack the city, 8 from 576 Squadron. Take off for the raid was delayed by over 4 hours due to bad weather.

Extract from the logbook of Flight Sergeant Hugh ("Tommy") Thomas. 576 Squadron

Flying time for Hugh's plane on this raid was given as 7.50 hours

Extract from R.A.F. Combat Report 1/2 Jan. 1944

The position given, roughly 16 miles north west of Leipzig, and the time and course, suggest that Hugh's plane had already bombed Berlin and was on its return journey when they were attacked.

FOCKE WULF FW 190.

Keith's diary 3rd - 9th January 1944
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January 1944

Keith's first diary entry of the year tells of him being sacked on his first day at the British Thermostat Company Limited. During the Second World War the company's work included the production of thermostats for Merlin engines, used in both the Lancaster bomber and Spitfire.
It is not clear why Keith's employment there only lasted one day.

The 1939 Register describes Hugh and Keith's widowed mother as a bording house proprietor. Keith's diary includes mention of the residents from time to time, and Peter may have been one of them.

4th January 1944

Hugh's logbook entry for the 4th January

The trip with Squadron Leader Attwater to Binbrook, only some 14 miles away, and the return to Elsham Wolds in a different aircraft, is explained in Hugh's letter to Joan of that day.
Hugh records 30 minutes as second pilot on the outward trip, and 1 hour and 5 minutes as first pilot on the return journey, including the F.A. - presumably Fighter Affiliation.

Extract of letter from Hugh to Joan 4th January 1944

We had quite a pleasant afternoon today - flew down to pick up a new kite. She was absolutely brand new and was a real peach. It made a bit of a change and I quite enjoyed myself.

The "new kite" that Hugh went to collect "T2" - LL796, was the plane that he flew for most of the remainder of his tour with 576 Squadron.

Logbook of Flight sergeant Hugh "Tommy" Thomas 5th - 21st January 1944
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Hugh's logbook entry for 5th January

Total flight time for the abortive trip to Stettin is given in the logbook as 2hours and 30 minutes. It seems that an unserviceable rear gun turret was the cause of the early return.

Keith's diary entry

JANUARY 1944

Fri. 7th

Peter goes back

Sat.8th

Hugh on leave unexpectedly. 48
out twice both Berlin. Last raid a couple of fighters. 1st fired before seen but rotten shooting. The other followed them for 15 mins. no shots.
Nick did not come back from Stettin raid.

Saturday 8th 1944
Hugh was home on leave on a 48 hour pass. Keith recorded in his diary the events of the night of 1st/2nd January, as related to him by Hugh.

It seems clear that the Nick referred to was Flight Sergeant Edwin Nicholls of 103 Squadron, whose Lancaster was recorded as having crashed near the target on the Stettin raid of the 5th January. The same raid on which Hugh's plane had to return early due to a defective rear gun turret.

Hugh referred to Nick in a number of his letters to Joan.

11th August 1943 - R.A.F. Lindholme
I thought you must have known Nick but anyway there’s not much to tell about him except that his home’s in Cornwall; I met him in Canada and we’ve knocked around together quite a bit since. I like him despite the way he’s apt to wander off without notice after some wench he’s spotted. And he can always laugh at himself over his various mishaps and affairs.

31st August 1943 - R.A.F. Blyton
Nick and I brushed our buttons boots and teeth and sallied forth to see what Gainsborough had to offer. This didn’t take very long...

17th September 1943 - R.A.F. Blyton
I haven’t seen quite as much of Nick lately, as he seems to have got himself organised with a WAAF - a thing I’d never do. Not again, anyhow.

9th October 1943 - R.A.F. Elsham Wolds
We were very pleased to find several crews here that we knew, Nick’s crowd being one lot. They preceded us by a couple of days and are in the next hut but one, so I feel rather pleased about it.

26th October 1943 - R.A.F. Elsham Wolds
You might be interested to know that Nick has seen and fully approved of your photograph. I’m afraid i can’t quote his exact words, as they might - just possibly - make you blush......

7th December 1943 - R.A.F. Elsham Wolds
Nick has been in hospital for a few days with ‘flu, coming out just in time to go on leave — having spent the previous evening sewing on his 1939-43 ribbons, so that he can shoot a line in the local!

Keith's diary entry 9th January 1944

9th January

"Joan comes" - from Muswell Hill to Surbiton to see Hugh on his 48 hour pass

Keith's diary 10th - 16th January 1944
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Keith did not actually buy the diary until the 18th, which probably explains the absence of any entries for this week, other than "wrote to Milly" on the 16th,

Logbook extract 14th January 1944

Flying time to Brunswick is given as 5 hours 30 minutes, 4 hours of which was in cloud.

On Sunday 16th Hugh writes to Joan

It’s colder than the proverbial charity up here today and I’m sitting practically on top of a roaring fire in the flight office as the mess is both too crowded and too cold for anything. Everything is white with frost and there’s quite a breeze blowing - despite which there’s bags of fog and mist and everybody is quite happy.

Keith's diary 17th - 23rd January 1944
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Keith's diary entry

JANUARY 1944

Mon. 17th

Did a bit of the 'Halifax'> Went to Jeans in the afternoon. Played 'Monopoly' with Jean & Mrs. Manning. Mrs. M. & I beat Jean up after we had done a deal. I came out best.

Tues. 18th

Got up early - rather, early for me - and went to Luke's the dentist to have my teeth scaled. After a bit of talking I found he was Staff Officer to 4th Brigade of Guards & had won M.C. Bought this diary and 'Malta' by Ian Hay with book token. Went to club.

Wed. 19

Did hardly anything all day. Miss Heather in because she has a chill blain!
Mum says its gout as its swelling up to the ankle. Went to Stott's to see if it is O.K. for Luke to inject Sterlochain.
He says it is. Bath & early to bed.

Thur. 20

Went & told Luke it was O.K. for him to give me an injection. Made an appointment for Monday. Mum went to Miss Beyants for afternoon. I went to flicks, Odean. Watch packed up at 10.30p.m. short alert.

Logbook extract 20th & 21st January 1944

Flying time to Berlin and back on the 20th January was 7 hours and 20 minutes, and for the Magdeburg trip on the 21st January it was 6 hours and 40 minutes. In both missions Hugh's logbook records 6 hours in cloud.

JANUARY 1944

Fri. 21

Read most of the day. Looked in'Aeroplane' R.A.F. casualties lists. Can only find a W/O Nicoll 'Killed in Action'. Nick was a F/S. So i don't know if it is right one. Raid. Went out on roof. 12 groups of searchlights, flames. Two 217s caught in lights. Went out to accident between m/c and p/cyclist, nothing much. Mum caught me on roof - 1 hour alert.

"Two 217s caught in lights" - Dornier DO 217.

_{By U.S. Navy - U.S. Navy Naval Aviation News 15 July 1943}

JANUARY 1944

Sat. 22

Another alert 4.20 0 5.30. Bit noisy - not much, fell asleep before all clear.Landings made by 5th on coast 80 miles from Rome. Heavy raid ib Magdeburg 52 planes missing. Read most of the day. Ian came at 10.20 p.m. goes back sometime tomorrow. Dam silly coming all that way from Ripon. Letter from Hugh, not much in it.

Sun. 23 _{3rd after Epiphany}

Did hardly anything this morning. Changed my room around a bit stamped some of my books. Kept out of Ian's way as much as poss. Very dreamy. Ian caughthe 8 fast to Waterloo.

Memo.

Dentist Monday 24th 11.30.

Elsham Wolds
23rd January 1944
In the midst of a long and essentially private letter to Joan, Hugh breaks off to write...

One of the lads has just been brought into the hut very tight and I've managed to put him to bed while the bloke who brought him down has gone back to cover up for him. Apparently he was in a fight and socked someone in the eye - and he thinks the S.P.s are after him...

Keith's diary 24th - 30th January 1944
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Keith's diary 24th - 27th January

JANUARY 1944

Mon. 24

Went to dentist, had a couple of teeth filled; hurt like the blazes. Luke is anti Churchill and violent in his opinions. Went to Kinema, not bad. We are still holding Italian landings 30m. S. of Rome.

Tues. 25

Woke up with a swollen cheek, must have caught a chill in it yesterday. Read most of the day. Made a cardboard tank in the evening. Hugh comes home on a six day leave. He has visited Brunswick, Berlin & Magdeburg. He got home 1st on Brunswick raid out of 2 Sqs & 5th in Magdeburg.
Consolidated Wop landings.

Wed. 26

Rang up Luke's to see if I ought to go with a swollen cheek. He said yes. Went. It was only injections that made it swell. Hugh went to Joan's house as she has got a cold. Bought a pipe. Looks as if we are having difficulty with wop landings although our tanks have crossed Mussolini's canal.

Thur. 27

Mucked about all morning. Went with Hugh and Joan to the Odeon Surbiton. Pretty good show. cheek gone down a bit. The Nettuno bridgehead still being enlarged.
16 Hun planes shot down after Friday's raid. Hugh had 3/4 of an hour on the 'phone to Joan.

JANUARY 1944

Fri. 28

Nothing much. Sawed some wood and chopped it into firewood. Hugh brought Joan here for the weekend. Short alert 10.30 to 11.15. Felt sick after smoking a pipe - but I think it was a combination of a hot room & flat beer as well.

Sat. 29

Went to Lukes, made an appointment for Wednesday. Went to the Odeon. Joan borrowed my bike & Mum's trousers and went for a bike ride with Hugh, she fell off in some mud. Had some beer to-night. Short alert quite heavy gunfire at times. H & J tried one of my Xwords, I won my 1 clue. Heavy raid on Berlin last night.

Sun. 30 _{4th after Epiphany}

Went riding with Hugh & Joan. Did a good cross country trip to Oxshott Common. Made up a crossword for Hugh & Joan & they mad up one for me. Was sick about 5.30. Had a fit about 8.30 and was packed off to bed. Joan was sick.

Memo.

Dentist. Wed 26th 11.0 ✓
Dentist. Fri 28th 11.50 X
" " Sat 29th 11.0 ✓

JANUARY 1944

Mon. 31

Got up late. Hugh and I finished each others crosswords. I think his was the best. Saw Hugh off, he caught the 2.5 to Waterloo. Made up a crossword for Miss Lucas.

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The story will be added to throughout 2024, where possible on the 80th anniversary of the original events. Follow on Facebook for updates - Wartime Brothers 1944