Fred Grisley’s letter in the April, 2004 issue, Something to talk about, where Bill Waterton was in desperate need of a bit of extra lift, brought back memories of an incident in Norway in April 1945, when I too was in need of a bit of extra lift.
    I had just completed an SOE supply drop to the Norwegian resistance, the drop zone (DZ) being in a valley in what is now Hardangervidda National Park. The semi-violent manoeuvres required to run in on the difficult DZ on the side of the valley resulted in the gyro-compass toppling and instead of exiting to the safety of the south-east we headed north-west of the valley.
    It soon became apparent that the valley was rapidly narrowing and the ground rising at a greater rate than my rate of climb. There was not room to do a 180° turn back. Even with full power and optimum climbing speed, it appeared unlikely that we would clear the firs on the ridge ahead.
    Some instinct told me to lower take-off flap and at the last moment we lifted 50 to 100 feet to clear the treetops - just; my rear gunner saying he could have stroked the tops of the firs.
    So at the cost of 5 to 10 knots we gained the extra lift required to avoid our spot of bother.

DOUG COXELL

Ex 297 Squadron, 38 Group