Water as a weapon 

"What a blunder to forget to praise our 'V for Vengeance'* over the intercom at take-off in the early evening. I value such a fixed habit - before you know it, you could bring disaster upon yourself. 

Our 50th squadron has been deployed in recent months to destroy German dams and dykes, depriving the German war industry in the Ruhr area of supply routes from the seaports. Tonight, our designated target is the Dortmund-Ems Canal near Ladbergen, while another squadron will bombard the nearby city of Münster. I noticed that I feel less emotion when targeting such a tactical objective: this suits me better than destroying the city center of Münster. 

Upon arrival, we experienced delays because the vanguard had not yet marked the target. That meant being careful while flying back and forth in the pitch dark: you could easily collide with another aircraft. In the distance, I mistook a flickering plane for an initial light flare. 

As the canal became visible, around 22:00, in the light of flares and light bombs, we received final instructions from the master bomber guiding us in this precision bombing. Hitting dykes is challenging enough, but this time an aqueduct was our main target. A direct hit would naturally result in a huge outflow of canal water onto the lower-lying land. 

On the way back, I was hindered by strong crosswinds, forcing me to fly further north. While I was trying to rejoin the group of bombers after another gust of wind, we were attacked by a night fighter. We lost an engine, and a fierce fire broke out, choking the air. Communication was down, but the autopilot was still functioning. With great effort, Harry MacFarlane and Charles Lucas managed to open the door and jump into the night. 

I squeezed past two lifeless bodies in thickening smoke and managed to throw myself out. As I hung from my parachute, I was really scared. Although a German fighter plane flew above and below us several times, we reached the ground in one piece.” 

*the name of our aircraft: the 'V for No Forgiveness' 

Pilot Oliver Korpela was housed in several safe houses before he reunited with 'Mac' and Charles in the woods near Raalte in January 1945. On 30 March 1945, they would experience liberation in Zelhem.

Text Hugo van den Ende 
Research Jaap Tempelman