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We've just come back from visiting my Dad, Mr William Parker, and he supplied us with the following information, this is in his own words.

My Brother-in-law and I to be, after our initial training, were posted to Thornaby to join 608 Squadron.

We were all sergeants. A large room full of Pilots and WOP/Ags and we were told to pair off into fours - two Pilots and two WOP/Ags and that would be the future Crews. At that time, there was a shortage of Navigators - hence two pilots.

After many attacks by our crew on shipping and submarine patrols off the Norwegian coast, for which our pilot was awarded the DFM, the whole Squadron was posted to Wick in Scotland. Wick saw many search and destroy patrols to the Norwegian coast after shipping and submarines. We were once flying low along the coast, about 50 feet, and we passed a Shepherds shelter about 100 yards in land, when from the little window came a series of V's flashed on a small torch, I wonder who the brave man or woman was.

The whole Squadron was moved once more, this time to Sumbrugh in the Shetlands, from where we still carried out patrols to Norway and sub patrols. Mushrooms were as big as dinner plates on the cliff tops. I once went to the little shop near to camp to try and get margarine to cook the mushrooms - the old lady said, "I am sorry I can't let you have margarine but I can let you have Butter." What a nice old lady!

By this time, Navigators were coming through and one of my crew, Pilot Chic Livingstone, was given his own crew and we were given a Navigator. I can only remember his first name, which was Harold. He had a habit of sucking his thumb and putting his first finger round his nose. His thumb was almost pointed because of this. It seems he had never got out of his baby habit. I wonder if he was killed, because later when I moved on back to the U.K. I left him two films I had taken at Blida and the money to get them developed and send them to me but I never received them.

On the move again, this time to Gosport to have the Planes painted white. We were on our way to Gibraltar but could not take off from Exeter because of heavy frost. Engines had to be warmed every morning with big hot air machines until the weather improved and then we were off. Gibraltar here we come - cheaper fags, white bread, no blackout and sunshine!

From Gib we patrolled out into the Med looking for Subs trying to sneak through the Straits. We were taking off one morning after it had been raining hard all night and the runway was covered with big pools of water. We had just got up to takeoff speed when we went through a big pool of water that came right over the top of us and as we left the runway, both of our Engines cut out and we dived into the Med. The port wing was torn off, the cockpit started to burn but the pilot and navigator got out o.k. Myself and the other WO/ags were in the rear end and I could not open the escape hatch, as it had wedged tight on impact. After a struggle, I managed to squeeze out of a side window and pull my mate through. To this day, I don't know how we managed it because we both had our May Wests on and parachute harness. I remember two Soldiers rushing down the beach and picking us both up over their shoulders and carrying us up the beach to the waiting Ambulance, all good clean fun! The Pilot and navigator were sent straight back up. A tug was sent round from the Naval Dockyard and a line was attached to her and she was towed out into deep water and allowed to sink. Goodbye A for Apple. I don't advise Scuba diving near her for, as far as I know, there are four 250lb depth charges still in the Bomb bay!!!

On the move once more! This time we say goodbye to Gibraltar and head for Blida in Algeria. A smallish desert town with a French barrack which we have to occupy for a while with a crack French regiment, until things are sorted out, with the French making up their minds as to which side they want to play with. In the meantime, we are banned from going into the town. Once everything is settled, the ban is lifted and we are at liberty to visit the town but we are advised to wear our side arms, which we do with great aplomb - "Ah, they are anglaise aviators!" Wine 5 cents a mug full. We went into a Cafe for late dinner and were shown a Menu which none of us understood so we took a chance and pointed to an item which we were advised was very 'bon' with wine and crusty bread. We four agreed we would try it and guess what! Of all things, it was Tripe and Onions!

We were eventually housed in two bedroom chalets with toilets, which were blocked anyway. There was a small stove which was handy for cooking 'oeufs' that grubby little Arab kids sold us for a couple of francs. We refused the bacon on offer - that was taking too much of a chance. Bacon from grubby hands did not tickle our taste buds.

We were still patrolling the Med watching for the sneaky Subs and one time we had to fly General Gerot from Maison Blanch up to Bone and we nearly got caught in an air raid on the fighter drome. I can still hear that Fighter Co shouting "Get that B........ white air plane off my runway" Such language from a Co too!

From camp to town at Blida both sides of the road were Orange trees about three feet apart. You just picked what you wanted as you went by. There was a Railway level crossing half way between camp and town and the keeper was black, as was his wife and we found out that she was prepared to fry an egg on a thick slice of bread for a few francs so, most nights on the way back from town, all the lads would line up outside the level crossing house for fried egg on thick bread - some feast believe me. What fat she used or what she cooked it on or in nobody cared a hoot - it was great.

All the women were dressed in long black cloaks and they only had one eye showing. It was weird when they looked at you.

There was an American Bugler who used to sound off for the Yanks and at the end of each call, he used to jazz it up - it livened things up quite a bit.

Our crew was chosen to serve Christmas Dinner. What a farce - half of the lads were the worse for Booze. I was fed up with the sight of Chicken legs - in fact, I started imagining they had nylons on!

Our crew once had 48 hours leave and we went to Algeria for the weekend. Whilst we were there, all troops were suddenly told to get out of Algiers because one of the big French Generals had just been assassinated. We had to come back to camp lying in the bottom of the truck because Hill Men were firing down on the traffic on the road.

My time was getting near for rest and I was to go back to the U.K. I was sorry to leave the Squadron but the four of us were to be split up to go to different appointments. I was booked to go on the Empire Kangaroo a 10,000-toner waiting in Algiers harbour.

I will tell you what I know about the crews.........


Wattie Watson once flew with our crew as gunner on patrol over Norway where we attacked a four-mast ship unloading in the middle of the Fjord. We were chased by two ME109 but we made cloud just in time. I remember Wattie saying they looked just like two wild Ducks coming up fast astern. Wattie had a party piece - anyone could tap out a tune with a pencil on the table and he would tell you the name of the tune and information about it. He was in the Halle Orchestra, playing the violin. He was also a man for the Ladies regardless of colour or creed. He had a saying when asked how he had got on with them, but I can't repeat it here!

My original crew on joining 608 Squadron....( all single men initially)

Sgt.pilot Chick Livingstone (Scottish) broad accent, big, ginger-haired with big handlebar moustache - I think he drove a petrol tanker in Civvy Street.
Sgt. Drake Pearce = Pilot (Cornish) a Bank Clerk from Bude
Sgt. A.E. Denham = Wop/Ag (Yorkshire) A short and stocky school teacher from Mexborough.
Sgt. W.C. Parker = Wop/Ag (Hampshire) tall slim Radio/electrical engineer from Portsmouth.

After losing Pilot Livingstone when he got his own crew we gained:
F/sgt. Harold? Navigator - tall, slim (? Londoner) he was a younger new man and stayed on at Blida.


Dad was the oldest crew member and while at Wick the journalists used to wait for the returning crews to get a story and once the newspaper title was "Granddad does it again" when A for Apple came back from a mission on Search and Destroy in Atlantic and on the Norwegian Coast. Dad was often known as Granddad whilst there. I would love to search out the old newspaper accounts.

I have an old photograph of Dad's original crew.

Here is more information we found out about some of the operations from ORB with the addition of anecdotes by Dad.

The following are the remaining ops for 1942 where action occurred (I've omitted non eventful patrols).

13/2/42
Hudson F, Sgt Livingstone, Sgt Pearce, Sgt Denham, Sgt Parker, Op: North Stand, patrol not covered owing to misunderstanding of signal received and a/c returned to base.

Anecdote:

The misunderstanding of signal occurred because some stupid twit in the signals office gave me the wrong call signs for the day, they kept calling on a wrong call sign as far as I was concerned. I kept logging the message and I even relayed it to the (as I thought) other a/c. When we arrived back at base, the signals officer sent for me hoping to tear me off a strip. When I showed him my flimsy (rice paper) with all the relevant signals on it, he just uttered on word 鈥淥h!鈥� I don't know who got it in the neck for the boob. The message was 'oil leak, return to base' which was wrong anyway, it was drips from the filler can.

5/3/42

Hudson W, F/Sgt Livingstone, F/Sgt Pearce, Sgt Parker, Sgt Denham, Op: Stutter, Carried out patrol as ordered sighting only lights on the Norge coast though not as numerous as usual.

Anecdote:

Someone waved to us from a fisherman鈥檚 hut on the beach and gave us the 鈥榁鈥� sign, we were at about 50 feet just off the beach.

6/4/42
Hudson Q, F/Sgt Livingstone, F/Sgt Pearce, Sgt Denham, Sgt Parker, Op: Vaaro, Carried out patrol attacking M/V 6000 tons flying Nazi emblem escorted by 3 E/Vs. Released all bombs in stick and observed two mast high columns of smoke amidships. Slightly damaged by cannon shell.

Anecdote:

The 鈥渟lightly damaged by canon shell鈥� was鈥�. In the door of the aircraft the shell had exploded in the dingy and left it in shreds. Most inconvenient if one was forced down in the drink.

27/4/42
Hudson D, F/Sgt Levy, F/Sgt Pearce, Sgt Denham, Sgt Parker, Op: Bluebeard Strike, Attacked oil tanks on Island off Aalesund with sticks of 4 bombs. Results not observed. Light inaccurate flak.

2/5/42
Hudson H, F/Sgt Livingstone, F/Sgt Pearce, Sgt Parker, Sgt Denham, Op: Strike, Attacked M/V approx 3000 tons north of Aalesund with stick of 4 x 250 lb G.P bombs dropped from 50 feet. Bursts not seen but later fire observed from target area. Intense flak and searchlights in target area.

13/5/42
Hudson H, F/Sgt Livingstone, F/Sgt Pearce, Sgt Parker, Sgt Watkins, Op: Strike, Attacked 1 M/V 5000 tons with 2 E/Vs alongside Aalesund Harbour dropping 4 x 250 lb A/S bombs. Bombs seen to explode on ships stern and amidships, debris flying in all directions. Smoke pouring from ship which was listing heavily.

Anecdote:

This was a three masted sailing ship, it was being unloaded in the centre of the fjord on to barges. Machine gun nests were placed high up on the walls of the fjord and fired across each other 鈥� a bit dodgy for us.

F/Sgt Livingstone awarded Distinguished Flying Medal, 19/05/42.

22/5/42
Hudson N, F/Sgt Livingstone, F/Sgt Pearce, F/Sgt Denyer, Sgt Parker, Op: Unst Crossover, Sighted and attacked U-boat in position 6210N 0048W dropping 3 x 250 lb depth charges, 2 of which straddled U-boat before it had completely submerged. Patch of oil and air bubbles observed. Photos taken.

10/6/42
Hudson L, F/Sgt Livingstone, F/Sgt Pearce, F/Sgt Denyer, Sgt Parker, Op: Special Search, Sighted and attacked U-boat on westerly course with 3 x 250 lb Torpe D/Cs in stick which fell short by at least 100 yards. Also firing m/gs and hits estimated on conning tower. Again sighted U-boat and attacked with m/gs.

Anecdote:

On the control stick of the Hudson are two firing buttons, one red and one black. The red one fired the guns firing forward and the black one released the bombs or depth charges (it might be the other way around 鈥� I鈥檓 not quite sure at my age). Anyway, poor Chic Livingstone got so excited he pressed the wrong button, thus the depth charges got dropped too early. Anyone can make a mistake can鈥檛 they? This day we were escorted by a Beaufighter as there had been a lot of enemy activity in the air.

I was on the patrols from Sumburgh and Stornway. Chick Livingstone got his commission and was given a crew of his own. I stayed with F/sgt Pearce until I was sent home on rest.

W/O H Atkinson was a navigator and wore the half wing with aO on it. He was the one who sucked his thumb to a point.

13/6/42
Hudson V, F/Sgt Pearce, Sgt Watson, F/Sgt Denyer, Sgt Parker, Op: N Unst, Attacked U-boat with four depth charges in position 6248N 0035W. U-boat surfaced when sighted conning tower becoming awash as D/Cs released. Large patch of oil and white froth seen after attack. Claimed U-boat at least seriously damaged.

During July several patrols were carried out from Sumburgh and from Stornoway.

P/O C A Livingstone appointed to Commissioned rank of Pilot Officer on Probation wef 1/5/42.

The ORB in November only states the name of pilot and co-pilot so I cannot list operations.

In December W/O H Atkinson joined the crew as co-pilot.

That's all for 1942.

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