Shot Down and the Long Walk Back (part 1)

DAD'S STORY

SGT. W.T. BANNER - No: 1336395 WOP/AG
CANADIAN GROUP 6 - 428 GHOST SQUADRON
DECEMBER 1941 TO JULY 1946 R.A.F.

TO THE FAMILY

For your information, PLUS!, this is my version of what happened to me on a BOMBING RAID on BERLIN, the night of JANUARY 20th 1944.

As we approached Berlin, we had turned onto a North/South course for the bombing-run in. From what I can remember - the plane was hit by FLAK, (gun fire from the ground defences). We were flying at about 18,000 feet. My first indication that "something'' was wrong, was when I had my pencil driven down through my log-book - in which I was writing down a message from Base. After a struggle, I managed to get myself sorted out.
While this was happening, I had seen that the Pilot was being held back in his seat by the other crew members, also that our Bomb Aimer was across the front of the 'stick', ALL were helping to get the plane back up into the air and hoping to resume a level course!. I then de-coded the message that I had managed to receive - IRONICALLY it was to tell us to return to base because of very bad weather that would probably cause the loss of a lot planes who were returning after the raid on Berlin.
HOW?? you wonder could I 'SEE' all this going on. My position in the plane was to sit underneath the Pilot - in front of me sat the Navigator!. When we had resumed a level course, I switched over the intercom so as to be able to let all the Crew talk to each other - normally I am separated from them as I need to be able to use my set to receive any messages - plus getting 'Bearings' for the Navigator to use.
A short discussion took place between us all. The fact that I was the only Britisher in the Crew of Canadians now came to be, shall we say 'LUCKY'. They wanted the Pilot to fly a course direct to England. "BUT"!! - this was not a good idea as we had discovered there wasn't enough fuel to fly ANYWHERE!. I was able to persuade them to agree to flying towards Paris direction - so that WHEN the time came to BALE OUT we would NOT land in the NORTH SEA!. (I understood that we would not last longer than 5 minutes or so in the water!)
My job as a Crew member was to see the others out safely, as the order to 'BALE-OUT' came from the Pilot. This I was able to do with some difficulty. Finally Fred (Pilot) was ready to leave - he was endeavoring to hold the plane level with a great deal of difficulty - I helped him to get his parachute on and when all was right he said to me JUMP!!.

NOW, I had always understood that when jumping out, to count to ten and then pull the rip-cord!. Due to the 'chute' being a chest-type we understood the way to DO IT, was to put a hand up under the pack as you jumped. OUT I WENT head over hells! I saw the plane overhead and the exhaust flames of the engine. By NOW I was expecting to feel a huge shock as the parachute opened - NOTHING! - I looked down at my chest to see if it had detached - IT was still there, I pulled frantically and forgot to keep a hand under it to keep it away from my face. TOO LATE! It hit me with a huge force and I was slightly dazed from the smack on my nose!. Next I saw was clouds rushing by, this turned rapidly into really heavy snow. THEN it started to rain - WHAT RAIN it was! I could not see anything at all. What seemed to be hours later , it turned a bit lighter. Suddenly WHOOSH! something whizzed past my face. I was scared out of my wits!! Then some more did the same. I realized it was the tree-tops, the wind must have been really blowing hard and fast (30 m.p.h?) I remembered to draw up my legs to cover my behind so as not to be speared by branches etc. I suddenly realized there was a sudden stop to all my movement and a sensation of swinging to and fro started. It was still pouring with rain and I thought I must be in some trees. Although I was absolutely freezing wet and scared out of my mind, I knew I had to get away from where I was as soon as possible - the reason being that the Gerries would be out in strength to search for Airmen in parachutes etc.
I then began to swing to and fro in an attempt to get hold of something, so as to be able to climb down from whatever it was I was suspended to. By this time,(I must have been doing this for 15 to 20 minutes) - I was still not able to get hold of anything!!. There's only one way to get out I thought, I twisted the harness release then hit it so as to drop out immediately!. A sudden sensation of falling seemed to go on for hours.
I came to and thought what on earth is someone throwing water over me for??. THEN I realized that I was lying down on the ground in the pouring rain, I had a very painful face - on touching it gingerly, I realised my nose was about three sizes too big!. I made to get up and was immediately aware that I was hurt one way or another. So I moved VERY CAREFULLY, it was a great relief to find that I wasn't suffering with broken legs etc. BUT!, I had a terrible back-ache plus the 'nose' problem.

IT WAS STILL pouring with rain. "What do I do now??"- I was wearing a bright yellow all-in-one survival suit which I removed as fast as possible , I looked up to see if I could pull down the chute - no good I could just about make out a shadowy 'thing' way up!. Making up my mind to run for it. I took off my battledress and tore-off the sergeant stripes and my 'sparks' badge. Stuffed them under a bush and THEN I started to RUN!!. By now I was soaked through, cold and more to the point. I WAS TERRIFIED!!. I decided the best thing was to hope to get out of the area of the Germans usual search. I seemed to run for hours at a time. I 'bounced' from tree to tree re-injuring my already heavily damaged nose time and time again.
Finally I could not go another step! , every noise in the forest - which I realized I must be in - made me shiver and run harder and also get even more SCARED- if that was possible. So! the thing was to have a rest! but where?? - I climbed a tree and tied myself to a branch about 20 feet or so up from the ground - this was as good a hiding place as any, I thought. SOMEHOW believe it or not! I must have dropped off to sleep.!!
I woke-up with a start! not realising where I was, nearly falling out of the tree when I moved. IT all came back in a flash!! I was down onto the ground and running as fast as possible - STILL managing to bounce from tree trunk to tree trunk! It seemed to be ages before some daylight filtered through the trees. I had earlier had to stop and retrieve one flying boot which the mud had sucked off - sitting down to put it back on - sitting in a huge muddy puddle! I suddenly paused to assess what I was doing!! AM I traveling in a south-westerly direction?? So, I remembered my 'Escape Pack' which we carried. IT contained some chewing gum, milky toffees, a small box of about ten matches and a silk map of Europe. PLUS a small compass about the size of a small button. I held it out to see in which direction I had to go. Then off I set at a somewhat reduced speed to that which I had been doing.

By now I had crossed several small roads and at one point had to climb a small signpost! NOT a lot of LUCK!! I had no strength to do such things. On one road I had just joined I decided that as it went in the direction I needed, I went along it. All of a sudden there was an engine noise and I did not wait around, I jumped into the side - whizzing past went two lorry loads of soldiers!! I got back in amongst the trees and took out the compass to check my direction. I found that I was simply not able to hold the compass as I was shivering so violently - NOT just from the COLD and WET either!! I must remind you that up till now the RAIN had NOT EVEN STOPPED. It just seemed to be pouring down all the time.

OH GOD!! I reached a small river (about the size of the Medway at Tonbridge) NOT wanting to be caught by those soldiers, I slipped into the water and was able to swim a few strokes before wading out. Being wet all over again, I decided to jog along as best I could. AT ALL TIMES I was trying to steer a straight South Westerly direction. Suddenly I was in trouble! I had stumbled into another river. Being that it was still dark! the ground wasn't easily seen as it was full of low bushy 'things' etc. I hadn't been able to 'see' where I was! This river was about the same size as the previous one. After the repeat effort crossing it, I kept going. Reaching a sudden break in the trees, I saw that dawn was nearly up. Then a small road appeared and I decided to follow it awhile. Sure enough within about 5 minutes there was a vehicle noise coming and I dived off quickly. IT was a similar two-lorry load of troops! BY NOW! I was beginning to become rather scared that I was to be caught! Off I went deeper into the forest. I then came across a ruined building. As it was now STILL pouring with rain I thought it was wise to get under cover. The roof had fallen in and I was able to tie myself, with my belt, to a rafter which was partly hidden under a bit of roof. This proved to be enough to keep me out of the rain for a while. When I woke up, IT WAS STILL RAINING!! what shall I do now I thought? On making a move to get down off the rafter, I heard a noise! Feeling instant great panic plus an uncontrollable shaking. I stayed where I was. Through a small hole in the wall I saw a woman walking towards the farmhouse. For the rest of the day - STILL RAINING I watched for any more people about! The only one I saw at all, was the same woman. By now I had calmed myself down a little and decided to knock the door when it became dark! This I did and was invited inside and given milk and some eggs roughly cooked into a heap - scrambled fashion. I was by now past caring what might happen as I was getting warm and dry at last. SUDDENLY a door was heard to bang and a voice called out! The woman hastily pushed me out the door into the yard and screamed quietly ALLEZ!, ALLEZ! it is my husband, he is the local policeman!! I took off as fast as I could, not trying to go round obstacles - jumping all and everything. Up came a rather wide ditch which I took a flying leap at. SPLASH, I went straight in it up to my neck and all the 'Drying out' I had managed was wasted. After running for about an hour I stopped to see if was able to check my direction. Being that I was absolutely knackered and shaking like a leaf! I managed to drop the compass and was not able to find it in all the mud and rubbish all around. As I had been a Boy Scout when younger, I knew that IF I could find the direction of the SUN (suddenly filtering through a small hole in the clouds) I could set my direction in a Southerly way. What a great thing I did them!! It was the only time I saw a spot of sunshine for the next two or three days.

By now I had got so exhausted, I really wasn't able to think straight - knowing that I could stumble upon a hostile person, or troops at any minute. I MUST HIDE, went through my mind, and have a good rest.!! THEN, when it gets dark I can jog-trot again so that I would be able to get further away from the spot where I had come down in the parachute.
IT WAS DARK or ALMOST!! I set-off. I trotted off in a short of shuffle - certainly a bit quicker than walking. After almost an hour (I had no watch to time myself) I guessed mostly. It had gotten really dark but I was still able to pick out the shape of trees ahead of me. Suddenly there was a noise!! I was instantly seized with a great sense of terror. Am I going to be caught? will they shoot? BLIND PANIC REALLY!! Settling down I hid for a while, then I set out again. CRACK!! I stopped again, later on a second crack. Who's following me I thought
then off I'd go again. STILL trying to do a sort of dog-trot all the time. BY now it was really a lot darker and I was trying to avoid making a noise or even to stop myself from barging into a tree. My nose was still very sore and hanging elephant fashion! I was thankful that it was only bruised. Wham! I fell down and rolled down into a sort of ditch - WHY ME! I thought as once again I was soaked right through. Suddenly there came a sound of several voices singing! ( On the wireless at home we had heard Germans singing and it seemed very similar.)
PEERING UP from the ditch I realised I had managed to walk into a small Army Camp! WHAT DO I DO NOW?? . I knew I couldn't run, too weak. I remained where I was for several minutes. Hardly daring to breathe!.
The next thing I knew was a soldier looking at me!! Without a thought about him possibly shooting I grabbed him and we both fell into this ditch! I was suddenly full of strength, where from I don't know. He was very quick in his movements and I didn't want him to shout - so - luckily his helmet-strap was in front of me and I grabbed it and twisted it as we had been taught. This stretched tightly around his throat and kept him quiet. Unfortunately for him, what with me holding him down in the water and strangling him, - he was dead! THERE IS NOBODY that could have moved faster than I did then. I shot off at a mighty speed. I cannot even remember for how long I ran, I just ran and ran and ran!. Collapsing suddenly I just lay were I fell!. IT must have been at least a couple of hours. I sat up and looked around to see if anyone was nearby. I had a terrible feeling that I would be caught if I stayed around, so I got going again in another dog-trot fashion.

What comes next? you've guessed right, there in front of me was a steep river bank! I slipped in and was instantly struck by the immense cold of the water. I wasn't able to see the other side, I just kept swimming as hard as I could!. The thought that THEY were behind me kept me going and I was soon across and running again. CRASH! I smacked head first into a wall of some sort, after picking myself up I saw I was on the edge of a farm. (IT WAS STILL RAINING HARD) This made me think a little straighter. Maybe there was a nice haystack to hide in OR EVEN a warm Barn? After sometime looking I found what we call a Dutch Barn ( a roof over a haystack but with no sides). I managed to get to the top of it, lay down and started to burrow like a dog!! Finally I reckoned I had gone deep enough. So I just closed my eyes and fell instantly asleep.

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