Joe's Letters
by
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All pilots from 416 and 421 Squadrons assembled near the Int/Ops tent and waited for a truck to take them out to their aircraft. This was the last patrol of the day. 416 Squadron would leave their 90-gallon slip-tanks here at B.2 (the ALGs were short of them), fly in a clean configuration for one hour and land back at B.2 at 1745 hours. They would have an hour’s rest while their aircraft were being serviced and re-fuelled and then they would ferry the aircraft back across the Channel to Tangmere leaving at 1900 hours.
421 Squadron would retain their 90-gallon slip-tanks on this patrol, stay aloft for an hour-and-three-quarters to perform an additional couple of circuits of the Eastern Assault Area, land at 1830 hours, shed their fuel tanks, have forty-five minutes off and then ferry the aircraft across to Tangmere leaving at 1945 hours. Staggering the length of the patrols was more in keeping with the longer time it took all 20 aircraft to take off or land here in the advanced landing ground where they could only handle two at a time.
Strapping himself into the seat of his Spitfire, Frank found this moment always exhilarating. At Conrad’s signal the Merlins were fired up and at 1645 hours Chad led 416 Squadron up and out over the Channel, carefully keeping them away from the trigger-happy Royal Navy gunners concentrated at Arromanches. 421 Squadron followed. In fifteen minutes they had formed up with the 416 aircraft and started the patrol route — six miles (just over a minute flight time) west to make a landfall at Port-en-Bessin, inland about five miles, turn to the east 22 miles (35 kilometres) until the aircraft were south and east of Caen, then turn north-east, fly another 15 miles (24 kilometres) to Cabourg and then turn around and retrace their steps. The whole circuit was about 96 miles (154 kilometers) and took them about eighteen minutes. When they were just east of Bayeux — not yet halfway between Caen and Bayeux — ground control radioed.
"Shindig to Tabbycat. Shindig to Tabbycat: bogeys at vector 019 about 20 miles, angels 12. Current position U.2194. Bogeys heading vector 200 towards Mulberry. Repeat, bogeys in your sector heading towards Mulberry. Bogeys in your sector."
"Tabbycat reads Shindig: am responding. Over and out. Tabbycat follow me; Lovebird carry on with the patrol. Catch you later. Tally Ho."
"Lovebird to Tabbycat Leader: received and understood."
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About the Book
Flight Lieutenant Frank Clark died in a fiery collision between two Spitfires in the war-torn skies over Normandy. He left behind a one-year-old son and a thirteen-year-old brother. These two had an intense interest in trying to piece together the life and times of Frank Clark. However, there was no stash of photographs, no neat pile of letters, no log book, no diary. Then serendipity stepped in. A dozen photographs of Frank came to light and a cache of 50 letters written to his best friend. These letters revealed a colourful, flesh and blood person whose youth, vitality and good humour sprang out from the pages. This book is that story.
About the Author
Dave Clark was only 13 when his older brother was killed in a Spitfire seven days after D-Day. Years later, when he retired, he realized how little he knew about the circumstances of the tragic death and set about gathering research material. He went to the UK and France, built a web site and corresponded with veteran pilots. Four years later he had enough material to write a book— Angels Eight – Normandy Air War Diary — but he still didn’t know his brother.
A serendipitous phone call brought into his possession 50 letters written by his brother before his death. Suddenly, a dim memory became a flesh and blood person. This new book is Joe's Letters. Visit his web site at http://www3.sympatico.ca/angels_eight