On the evening of 7th February, 1944, 6 Boston aircraft left airbase Pomigliano for raids over Anzio. The evening was very clear a lot of snow on the ground, and a full moon. Visibility was very good. 5 of the aircraft returned. This puzzled the other crews and personnel at the base as there were no reports of anyone seeing enemy aircraft that evening.
What actually took place, my father, who was the only survivor of the 4-man bomber crew, you can read below. These are his own written words:
"Anyway we took off one night, to bomb German transport etc near Anzio. I think it was January 3rd 1944. In our aircraft (Boston) the observer (me) was situated in a compartment at the nose of the aircraft surrounded by Perspex or glass so that we could see the ground etc. Dixie the pilot was also in a single cockpit behind and slightly above me and Ronnie and Wally were in a compartment about the middle of the aircraft. These compartments were isolated and there was no way of getting from one to the other. Our only means of communication was through our intercom. We had a microphone and headphones incorporated into our flying helmets.
This particular night it had been snowing very heavily and the ground was covered in snow but it was a full moon and quite bright for night flying. When we spotted a train which was obviously carrying tanks and no doubt other armaments I decided to drop a couple of bombs on it. We were carrying 2 x 500lbs and several smaller anti tank bombs and anti personal bombs.
Just at that time Wally shouted through the intercom that he had spotted a Beaufighter aircraft just below us. Ronnie had also seen it. I looked down through the glass floor panel in my cockpit and I also saw this British Beaufighter with American markings. It was very easy to see what it was because of the moonlight. Dixie (our pilot) flashed them the recognition Signal on our lights and then we decided to carry on with our mission. I was guiding Dixie over our target when all of a sudden Ronnie shouted over the intercom. "That Beaufighter is right on our tail". As he said this there was an almighty noise of gunfire hitting our plane and cannon shells exploding.
Both our engines were on fire and one wing had been practically cut in two. In other words we were in a bit of a mess. Our plane went into a steep dive and we were completely out of control. I could hear Dixie shouting to bale out but seconds later the intercom went dead. I think Ronnie and Wally had been killed because they received the direct fire from six machine guns and four cannons which was the firepower of the Beaufighter. In any event no sound came from them over the intercom when I tried to contact them. We were flying at about 10.000 feet above the ground when we were hit. I quickly realised that I had to get out because the plane was completely out of control and was heading for the ground in a dive and spinning. I think Dixie was also hit and I hoped that he would be able to get out. All this happened in a matter of seconds and I decided to jettison the door to my compartment which was under my feet and bale out. I already had my parachute clipped on so this is what I did. I had never had any parachute training as we never had time for this. I tried a last desperate attempt to contact Dixie and Wally and Ronnie over the intercom but got no response. I presume they were probably dead although I hoped that Dixie was ok after hearing his voice right after being hit. By this time my cockpit was full of smoke and flames were beginning to come in from the sides of the plane. I realised that if I didn´t get out now I would be trapped in. I had to force myself through the hole in the floor where the door had been before I jettisoned it after unplugging my intercom.
Never having experienced this before it was quite a shock when I got free of the aeroplane. I don´t remember pulling the rip-cord to open my parachute but I must have done because all of a sudden I experienced a tremendous pull as my parachute opened. At first I thought I had got entangled on the plane and was reluctant to look up, but fortunately all was well and I was dangling on the end of my parachute. I saw our aircraft which by now was well below me and heading for the ground. It was just a ball of fire. I watched it hit the ground with a terrible explosion. This was the worst few seconds of my life watching that plane on fire and hopelessly out of control with my three best friends inside it. I was praying that maybe one or two of them would be able to get out but this was not to be. Perhaps you can imagine how I was feeling. I realised that after the explosion when it hit the ground nobody was going to survive that."
I have the operations record book for the night in question and also a description of the aftermath (from a local newspaper) and impact the aircraft, loaded with bombs, had on hitting the ground.
I am asking if anyone has any knowledge or data regarding the American crew. It would appear the pilot made a fatal mistake. Not only was it a clear night but more important P/O George Dean flashed a recognition signal which the American pilot for some reason didn't pick up,
I seem to remember my father telling me he had to attend a court hearing but no charges or guilt were put on the American crew,
I can attach relevant documents if needed.
Some details:
Father's name: Gordon R Crawford
Rank: Flight Seargent
Service no: 1450886
other crew members: P/O George Dean, Sgt S.W. Clarke, Sgt R.S Conroy (all buried at the Beach Head War Cemetry in Anzio, Italy
Ken Crawford (son)
What actually took place, my father, who was the only survivor of the 4-man bomber crew, you can read below. These are his own written words:
"Anyway we took off one night, to bomb German transport etc near Anzio. I think it was January 3rd 1944. In our aircraft (Boston) the observer (me) was situated in a compartment at the nose of the aircraft surrounded by Perspex or glass so that we could see the ground etc. Dixie the pilot was also in a single cockpit behind and slightly above me and Ronnie and Wally were in a compartment about the middle of the aircraft. These compartments were isolated and there was no way of getting from one to the other. Our only means of communication was through our intercom. We had a microphone and headphones incorporated into our flying helmets.
This particular night it had been snowing very heavily and the ground was covered in snow but it was a full moon and quite bright for night flying. When we spotted a train which was obviously carrying tanks and no doubt other armaments I decided to drop a couple of bombs on it. We were carrying 2 x 500lbs and several smaller anti tank bombs and anti personal bombs.
Just at that time Wally shouted through the intercom that he had spotted a Beaufighter aircraft just below us. Ronnie had also seen it. I looked down through the glass floor panel in my cockpit and I also saw this British Beaufighter with American markings. It was very easy to see what it was because of the moonlight. Dixie (our pilot) flashed them the recognition Signal on our lights and then we decided to carry on with our mission. I was guiding Dixie over our target when all of a sudden Ronnie shouted over the intercom. "That Beaufighter is right on our tail". As he said this there was an almighty noise of gunfire hitting our plane and cannon shells exploding.
Both our engines were on fire and one wing had been practically cut in two. In other words we were in a bit of a mess. Our plane went into a steep dive and we were completely out of control. I could hear Dixie shouting to bale out but seconds later the intercom went dead. I think Ronnie and Wally had been killed because they received the direct fire from six machine guns and four cannons which was the firepower of the Beaufighter. In any event no sound came from them over the intercom when I tried to contact them. We were flying at about 10.000 feet above the ground when we were hit. I quickly realised that I had to get out because the plane was completely out of control and was heading for the ground in a dive and spinning. I think Dixie was also hit and I hoped that he would be able to get out. All this happened in a matter of seconds and I decided to jettison the door to my compartment which was under my feet and bale out. I already had my parachute clipped on so this is what I did. I had never had any parachute training as we never had time for this. I tried a last desperate attempt to contact Dixie and Wally and Ronnie over the intercom but got no response. I presume they were probably dead although I hoped that Dixie was ok after hearing his voice right after being hit. By this time my cockpit was full of smoke and flames were beginning to come in from the sides of the plane. I realised that if I didn´t get out now I would be trapped in. I had to force myself through the hole in the floor where the door had been before I jettisoned it after unplugging my intercom.
Never having experienced this before it was quite a shock when I got free of the aeroplane. I don´t remember pulling the rip-cord to open my parachute but I must have done because all of a sudden I experienced a tremendous pull as my parachute opened. At first I thought I had got entangled on the plane and was reluctant to look up, but fortunately all was well and I was dangling on the end of my parachute. I saw our aircraft which by now was well below me and heading for the ground. It was just a ball of fire. I watched it hit the ground with a terrible explosion. This was the worst few seconds of my life watching that plane on fire and hopelessly out of control with my three best friends inside it. I was praying that maybe one or two of them would be able to get out but this was not to be. Perhaps you can imagine how I was feeling. I realised that after the explosion when it hit the ground nobody was going to survive that."
I have the operations record book for the night in question and also a description of the aftermath (from a local newspaper) and impact the aircraft, loaded with bombs, had on hitting the ground.
I am asking if anyone has any knowledge or data regarding the American crew. It would appear the pilot made a fatal mistake. Not only was it a clear night but more important P/O George Dean flashed a recognition signal which the American pilot for some reason didn't pick up,
I seem to remember my father telling me he had to attend a court hearing but no charges or guilt were put on the American crew,
I can attach relevant documents if needed.
Some details:
Father's name: Gordon R Crawford
Rank: Flight Seargent
Service no: 1450886
other crew members: P/O George Dean, Sgt S.W. Clarke, Sgt R.S Conroy (all buried at the Beach Head War Cemetry in Anzio, Italy
Ken Crawford (son)
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