Operation BodenPlatte - 1st January 1945
This account by
Hugh Tudor
(140
Squadron) is quoted in
The Battle of the
Airfields
, Norman Franks, Grub Street,
2nd Edition, 1994
"Ian and I had breakfast in the Mess and were just getting into a jeep to travel
to the airfield, which was on the other side of the road from the Officer's Mess,
when Ian, who was a pipe smoker, said he'd forgotten his pipe. He went back for it
which delayed us for about ten to fifteen minutes. While he was getting it, a crowd
of the squadron boys were standing around. It was a lovely clear morning, and one of
the boys said, 'Christ! look at those three Hurricanes.' These were aircraft, low flying,
coming across the airfield, and I yelled, 'Hurricanes be buggered-- they're 109s.'
"When the strafing started, the 109s were attacking the airfield, going back up
in climbing turns, then diving down back on the airfield. Smoke started to build up
from the airfield as aircraft were shot-up, then the Germans disappeared.
"As far as myself was concerned, Ian Ewing and I went across to the airfield
when the attack ended. A number of our aircraft had been shot-up. My own aircraft,
in which my helmet was hanging over the control column, and the parachute in the seat,
had been riddled. The Mosquito was a write-off (NS567). The helmet had two bullet
holes through it, the parachute pack shredded. There was no doubt in my mind that had
Ian not forgotten his pipe, if we hadn't been in the aeroplane we'd have been pretty
close to getting in it, and of course, our dispersal was in the middle of the airfield,
with tents for our crew room, etc. It was really a lucky escape for us both."
Flight Lieutenant H.M.H. Tudor, 140 Squadron
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