Lissett
LISSETT: Military aerodrome
Note: This picture (2018) was obtained from Google Earth ©
Yet another example of a WW2 airfield which, seventy years later, the extent of which can still be clearly discerned.
Note: Pictures by the author in August 2018. The 158 Squadron memorial is most unusual and so imaginative - well worth a visit.
Military users: RAF Bomber Command 4 Group
15 Sqdn (Short Stirlings)
158 Sqdn (Handley Page Halifaxs)
605 Sqdn (DH Mosquitos)
Location: NW of A165 and Lissett village, 6nm SSW of Bridlington
Period of operation: 1943 to 1945
Runways: 09/27 1829x46 hard 02/20 1280x46 hard
15/33 1280x46 hard
NOTES: In his most excellent book Bomber Boys, (and Men of Air), Kevin Wilson has produced two of the best books describing in great detail the lives led by these young men of Bomber Command. One deplorable aspect of Service life, at least as viewed in today’s terms, is how aircrew who lost their nerve were treated….as LMF, (Lacking of Moral Fibre), whereby they were instantly stripped of their rank, kicked off the Station and probably sent to the ‘Glasshouse’ in Sheffield. Were there other similar facilities?
He gives an example from an account by Sgt ‘Bluey’ Mottershead of 158 Squadron based here at LISSETT who had reported his tail gunner, after their first operation as a crew, on a raid to Kreffeld who had announced after landing, “I’m not bloody going again.” Obviously this airman was entirely rational and sane, not something much appreciated in those days. Sgt Mottershead ends his account with, “ It was the only case of LMF I ever came across, yet our squadron lost 851 young men in action.” Is it only me who sees this death toll figure as being at least ironic if not slightly spooky? 851 being 158 in reverse of course.
What I find truly amazing is that there weren’t many, many more young men of Bomber Command who, knowing their chances of surviving a tour of thirty operations were minimal to say the least, refused to continue. It is a graphic illustration of the grim situation they faced to learn that by the end of August 1943 two thirds of the squadron present on the 31st July had already “Gone for a Burton” and very few had survived to become PoWs.
As said elsewhere but well worth repeating, these young men were very aware that they alone were prosecuting the war into Germany, and right across Germany too – including Berlin and beyond. And, let us please not forget they were fighting not just for their country but also, and perhaps more important (?), for their family, friends and neighbourhood. We of course now know the outcome, but at that time in our history the prospect of victory was far from being assured.
Also, and this is equally important, these aircrews only knew about the overall state of the war by mostly second hand means, being fed propaganda through press releases and at the Station and local cinemas.
A GHOST STORY
RAF LISSET also has a ghost story. According to Military Ghosts by Alan C. Wood: “There is the classic Second World War legend that, if a ghostly bomber was seen or heard flying over RAF Lissett, Yorkshire, one or more of the Halifax bombers based there would be shot down or crash, killing all the crew aboard. No one seems to know who or what the ghostly bomber type was: there was no identification. However, it passed into history as the ‘Grim Reaper Bomber’."
I cannot explain why, but I feel a reluctance to dismiss such stories as pure fantasy. On a practical note it was assured that on any raid, crews of Halifax bombers could expect quite severe casualties. Well above those equipped with Avro Lancasters. Could anybody kindly explain why this should be?
A PICTURE
NOTE: In January 2022 I was kindly sent this picture by Peter Careless. He asked about the signficance of the 'A' held up by a member of the ground crew. I think this denotes that they were part of 'A Flight'. The aircraft is a Handley Page Halifax, presumably of 158 Squadron? On the other hand, in May 2022, I was kindly contacted by Mr Allen Ambridge, himself ex-RAF. He suggests the 'A' could well refer to the aircraft's call sign "Able".
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