Library Reference Number: 060
Last Flight of 'S' for Sugar
The 'aircrew bond' was a well-known factor in aerial warfare, where crew members would take risks for each other without question . A good example of this phenomenon is expressed here by Bill Taylor.
'S' for Sugar was a Wellington bomber Mk.10 attached to No.70 Squadron based at Tortorella airstrip, Foggia, Italy. The time was Friday 13th July, 1944. The target was the station and marshalling yards at Milan. At this time Milan was a very important distribution centre for war supplies coming from Germany through the Bremner Pass, and down to the front line. The bomb load was one four thousand bomb (Cookie). To carry the Cookie, the Wellington bomb-bay had to be altered. The bomb-bay doors were removed, and the bomb-bay was an open space, with a single hook to suspend the bomb. The bomb itself resembled three 40-gallon oil drums welded together. The ends being flat, it gave a level blast on impact. The crew had been to Milan before, so they knew what to expect from the considerable opposition. This was the crew's 34th operation, and they were quietly confident that they would reach their goal of 40 operations when they would be rested for six months.
It was a moonlight night and the ground details were clear. They were briefed to attack on a westerly heading, and then turn south to keep clear of the incoming bombers. The Pilot decided to attack at 4,000 feet for greater accuracy. The timing was good, 'S' for Sugar was running up on the target when the flares and target indicators went down. The Cookie scored a direct hit. After the photograph had been taken, the Bomb-Aimer took his position beside the Pilot, who communicated that he was going to climb to 10,000 feet. At 9,500 feet'S' for Sugar emerging from a cloud collided with another Wellington. The aircraft separated, and 'S' for Sugar with both engines silenced, was falling out of the sky.
The Pilot gave the order to bail out!! The Bomb-Aimer's job was to open the door in the nose of the aircraft for the crew to escape. To his horror, the door had been jammed with the impact. He picked up his and the Pilot's parachute from the rack. The Pilot threw his away - and ordered his crew to escape by the emergency hatch in the rear of the aeroplane. He said "I'll hold it in a dive and stop the aircraft from going into a spiral corkscrew" had he not done so, none of the crew would have escaped.
The Navigator Steve Godden, decided to stay and assist the Pilot. The Rear Gunner Paddy Roberts had to collect his parachute from inside the fuselage, then manually rotate the turret onto the beam, open the doors and fall out. By this time the Bomb-Aimer reached the emergency hatch, the Wireless-Operator Jackie Broad had kicked open the hatch and dropped out. The Bomb-Aimer quickly followed, hoping there was enough altitude for the 'chute to open. As his 'chute opened, the two aircraft crashed into the ground and burst into flames. The Bomb-Aimer realised that the Pilot and Navigator were killed. They had sacrificed their lives so the rest of the crew might live.
The Pilot was Harry Pollard - The Navigator was Steve Godden - "Greater love hath no man . ." And the Bomb-Aimer? His name was Bill Taylor.