Low level bombing instruction

Heroes Remember

Low level bombing instruction

Transcript

The Americans had sent over a flight of fourteen Liberators which were a beautiful airplane except they didn't have any armament in the front. It took the Japanese zeros about two passes to realize that there was no armor in front so they shot them all down in one. And so the Americans said, “Okay we should be trying to fly under this stuff.” So they said, “Does anyone have experience in low level bombing?” “I do!” And we showed them about low level bombing which in the area is that high. None of this fifty feet stuff. The most accurate is low level when you're down here you can't miss and you got about eleven seconds to get the hell out of the way. We had one guy when we were in, first in Burma, there was a.... Japs were pushing pretty well and this air vice marshall offered my pilot a VC, posthumus VC if he would bomb a bridge instantaneous. My pilot told him to go to hell because I would have gone too.

Description

Mr. Campbell describes volunteering to teach American pilots low-level flying after a US Liberator squadron is decimated by the Japanese air force. He then describes his pilot being offered a Victoria Cross in exchange for his (and his crew's) life.

William Campbell

William Campbell was born on March 14, 1920 in Almont, Ontario. His father was a First World War veteran, and his brother had enlisted when World War Two broke out. Mr. Campbell enlisted in the Haldeman Rifles, but after not being called up he switched to the Air Force. After training in Canada, he went to England and joined a Blenheim crew. Mr. Campbell was deployed to Middle East Command, where he took part in successful bombing raids against Rommel's fuel and ammunition stores. He was then sent to the Far East to participate in the bombing runs to Burma and China. Mr. Campbell was fortunate to survive a crash landing after an engine failure. While still stationed in India he also instructed American pilots in low-level bombing techniques.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 1:52
Person Interviewed:: William Campbell
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Battle/Campaign:: Burma
Branch:: Air Force
Units/Ship:: 159 Squadron
Rank:: Sergeant
Occupation:: Navigator

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Mr. Campbell describes being constantly afraid while in the air.

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Mr. Campbell describes being sent from Egypt to the Burma theater to assist the Americans against the Japanese. After arriving in Rangoon, and with no rest, he immediately goes on a bombing run to Singapore. After returning to Rangoon, and still not having rested, his crew is sent to a safer airfield in Lashio, Burma. Finally, after a stiff tot of rum, he sleeps around the clock.

Political instability and fear

Mr. Campbell describes feeling uneasy due to the anti-British sentiments prevalent in India. When his aircraft is forced to crash land he and his crew mates decide to take drastic measures if threatened by the locals.

Date modified:: 2019-06-20