George Edward (Ted) Herod DFC 7th August 1920 – 16 th April 2003 1 Introduction This is the story of my father, George Edward (Ted) Herod, who was a Legal Executive by trade but spent the war years as a RAF wireless operator. The story is based on information taken from his service record 1, his RAF logbook 2 and RAF Operational Record Books. Information has been crossed referenced where possible, i.e. logbook to operational record books (from the National Archives at Kew.) Photographs are mainly from the family albums. It has been produced for family use and is not intended for general publication. Paul Herod 1 Appendix 1 contains a copy of his service record 2 Appendix 2 contains a copy of his log book 2 Section 1: The early years TED’S FAMILY George Edward (Ted) Herod was born on the 7th August 1920 to Robert Herod and his wife, Caroline. He had a sister, Madge, and 2 surviving brothers, Thomas and William, Sadly, another brother, Robert, had died at an infant age. Robert Herod Born: 08/11/1881 Died: 23/10/1958 and Caroline Herod (nee Bush) Born: 07/05/1888 Died: 21/04/1953 Madge Robert Thomas George William Born: 10/08/1908 Born: 02/09/1911 Born: 03/05/1915 Born: 07/08/1920 Born: 02/01/1925 Died: 12/10/1981 Died: 13/11/1911 Died: 1994 Died: 16/04/2003 Died: 02/04/1987 HIS EARLY YEARS There was nothing exceptional about the family. His father, Robert, seemed to make ends meet in various jobs, from house porter to salvage collector. The family lived in the Shoreditch area of London and then moved, firstly to 59 Yeomans Row, South Kensington and then to Sutton Way in Kensington. Ted received schooling, at the Holy Trinity Church School, Sloane Square and attended evening classes at a nearby technical college 3. He gained employment as an office boy, then as a solicitor’s clerk at Merrimans Solicitors, Lincolns’ Inn Fields. He regularly had his midday meal of egg and chips, for 6 old pence, at a Lyons teashop, which met with his limited finances. War broke out in 1939, when Ted was 19 years old. 3 Source: ERH 04/2010 3 Section 2: Enlisting ENLISTING AT RAF CARDINGTON On 5th / 6 th March 1941, Ted reported to 2RC (Reception Centre at RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire) where he was given a basic medical, took a series of aptitude tests and agreed that he was willing to serve his King and country. Extract from Service Record He was listed as 5ft 7 inches with a chest of 30½ inches, brown hair, grey eyes, of sallow complexion and with 3 vaccination scars on his left arm. At the end of this process, he was put on reserve and recommended “for training as a Wireless Operator”. 4 Section 3: Wireless Operator Training INDUCTION AT RAF BLACKPOOL The buff envelope advising him of his posting arrived and on 28 th August 1941, Ted set off for No 10 Signal School Recruitment Centre at RAF Blackpool. He would not be home again until he was in an operational squadron. On arrival, he was billeted in one of the local boarding houses which had been requisitioned by the Air Ministry. He was kitted out with his RAF Uniform and his civilian clothes were packed up and sent home; he was now Service No. 1245754, with a rank of Aircraftman 2 nd Class (AC2). At RAF Blackpool, he was introduced to the disciplines of service life (square bashing and fatigues), underwent further medicals and took further aptitude tests designed to identify his strengths and weaknesses. In parallel, he started his initial 3 months training as a wireless operator. Wireless Operators were trained at the Olympia Amusement Arcade and at Burton’s Ballroom, with Morse code also being taught in the converted Feldman’s Ballroom 4. The “dreaded” Morse code test was carried out above the Burton shop in Church Street 5. To pass the course, candidates needed to be able to send and receive at up to 12 words per minute. POSTING TO No 3 SIGNAL SCHOOL Ted successfully completed the first part of the course on 28 th November 1941 and was posted to No 3 Signal School, based at RAF Compton Bassett, Wiltshire. Here, he studied advanced training on equipment and increasing Morse speed to 18 words per minute. On 16 th February 1942, he qualified as a Wireless Operator, with a 50% pass rate in his exams and earned his “sparks” badge. POSTING TO RAF BIGGIN HILL On 26 th February 1942, he was posted to RAF Biggin Hill in Kent, where he undertook general duties whilst awaiting his next posting. 4 Source: Picture of Feldman’s from www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/information/6/266/Blackpool-Theatres.htm 5 Source: “Blackpool and District Now and Then (The Chronology of a Holiday Resort)” by Nick Moore 5 Section 4: Posting to India POSTING TO INDIA On 27 th July 1942, Ted was posted to India and it is believed that he left from Liverpool / Clyde on 29 th July 1942 (Convoy WS21B) and sailed via Freetown and Cape Town / Durban before arriving in Bombay on 19 th September 1942 6. The exact nature of the posting and his whereabouts are not fully documented in his service records but it is assumed that it was in support of the Burma Campaign. At the time of his posting, the RAF were establishing a number of airstrips on the eastern side of India, near the Burmese border, including one at Feni and one at Comilla, so it may have been linked to that operation 7. His records do show that he spent some time in hospital: • Admitted Feni Hospital: 16 th February 1943 • Transferred to Comilla: 20 th February 1943 • Returned to Feni: 22 nd February 1943 On the 17 th March 1943, he formed part of the refuelling and rearming party on the incoming convoy WS26B, which had left the UK on 23 January 1943. He embarked Bombay for the UK on 27 th March 1943, arriving back in the UK in mid, to late, May. PROMOTIONS / AWARDS DURING THIS PERIOD On 22 nd December 1942, Ted passed his trade board exams (70% pass rate) and on 1 st January 1943, he was promoted to Aircraftman First Class (AC1). 6Source: www.naval-history.net/xAH-WSConvoys05-1942B.htm 7 Source: www.113squadron.com/id144.htm 6 Section 5: Aircrew Training AIRCREW TRAINING Ted continued his Wireless Operator / Air Gunner training. His log book shows that training included bombing exercises, cross-country navigation, circuits and landings and fighter affiliation (dealing with fighter attacks). Throughout the various training exercises he performed the role of the Wireless Operator. The following table shows Ted’s postings during his aircrew training. SUMMARY OF AIRCREW TRAINING Date Posting Location Notes 30 th May 1943 4RS (No 4 Radio Signal School RAF Madley, Herefordshire 24 th August 1943 No.2 (Observer) Advanced RAF Millom, Cumbria Flying Unit 12 th October 1943 No 10 Operational Training Unit RAF Abingdon, Oxfordshire 15 th January 1944 His log book shows that he continued flying at 10 OTU up until 9 th January 1944, when he was granted leave to marry his childhood sweetheart, Edith Rose Street, at Notting Hill on 15 th January 1944. However, the honeymoon must have been short lived as he was back flying on 22 nd January 1944. 1st February 1944 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF 41 Base, Yorkshire Crewed up with: (Rufforth) which consisted of RAF Marston Moor and its satellite airfields • Stanley Gale Rufforth, Riccall and Acaster • Alan Card Malbis. • Lawrence Nicholson • Jimmy Leydon During April 1944 77 Squadron RAF Elvington, Yorkshire 21 st April 1944 78 Squadron RAF Breighton, East Yorkshire The 7 man Lancaster crew was completed by the addition of: • Eddy Edmondson • ‘Kiwi’ Lawson During June 1944 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF 41 Base, Yorkshire Marston Moor PROMOTIONS / AWARDS DURING AIRCREW TRAINING 21 ST August 1943 Qualified as a Wireless Operator / Airgunner and promoted to Temporary Sergeant 24/8/43 (Sergeant being the minimum aircrew rank). Awarded his Wireless Operator brevet. 8th November 1943 Discharged, under King’s Regulations “on appointment to a temporary commission” 9th November 1943 With his new commission, Ted was allocated Service No.158615 and rank of Pilot Officer ( the most junior commission) 9th May 1944 Promoted from Pilot Officer to Flying Officer (see London Gazette 13 th June 1944) 9th November 1945 Promoted from Flying Officer to Flight Lieutenant. 17 th July 1945 Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross 7 Section 5: Aircrew Training (continued) TED’S TRAINING LOG BOOK Ted was required to keep a log of his flying activity, which had to be countersigned by his commanding officer on a monthly basis. The following is a summary of his log, which shows the flight training hours prior to posting to his operational squadron. Summary of Log Book Information Posting Number of Flights Aircraft Type Total Flying Hours No4 Radio Signal 19 De Havilland Dominie 22 hours 55 minutes School Percival Proctor No.2 (Observer) 7 Avro Anson 22 hours 55 minutes Advanced Flying Unit No 10 Operational 53 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley 120 hours10 minutes Training Unit Avro Anson 1663 Heavy Conversion 19 Handley Page Halifax 23 hours 50 minutes Unit 77 Squadron 3 Handley Page Halifax 9 hours 40 minutes 78 Squadron 4 Handley Page Halifax 11 hours 5 minutes 1652 Heavy Conversion 15 Handley Page Halifax 38 hours 5 minutes Unit 8 Section 5: Aircrew Training (continued) AIRCRAFT TYPES USED DURING AIRCREW TRAINING Percival Proctor De Havilland Dominie Avro Anson Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Handley Page Halifax 9 Section 6: Operational Squadron POSTING TO 35 SQUADRON PATHFINDER FORCE (8 BOMBER COMMAND) On 2 nd July 1944, the crew were posted to 35 Squadron, Pathfinder Force, based at RAF Graveley, Cambridgeshire 8.