Mathew Webster has a keen interest in military history and with a family background of military service he decided it would be a good idea to research those members of his family who served in the armed forces during the two World Wars. Both his Nan's uncle and her brother served in World War Two and as he could find out more about his uncle George (thanks to members of the Air Gunners Association at the Yorkshire Air Museum near York) Mathew decided to start researching his war record first and his results are displayed below.
UNCLE GEORGE'S WAR
by MATHEW K. WEBSTER
'FIRST D.F.M TO GO TO KNOTTINGLEY
WON BY SGT. G. H. MILLER'
Those
were the headlines of our local paper in 1940. The airman referred
to was my great uncle George (pictured above) who was a wireless
operator / air gunner (Wop/AG). He was 22 years old at the time and
had served with 102 squadron R.A.F. for the past two years and a half.
The
award was gazetted 22.10.40
Citation: - Sergeant G. H. MILLER, service number 624382
L.G. 22/10/1940 Wop/Ag AIR2/9467
This NCO has completed 27 operational trips; all have been of high
order. On the night of 19/20th July 1940, he did a particularly good
piece of work. When his aircraft was hit over Bremen. The
aircraft was flown back on one engine and landed at Bircham Newton.
Sergeant Miller obtained homing bearings, which greatly contributed to the
safe return.
He is very keen and enthusiastic and sets a good example to the other
wireless operators in his flight.
He
became a pilot officer with 158 squadron, formed on 14/2/1942, which was
part of number 4 Bomber Command, flying Halifax heavy bombers from various
Yorkshire airfields, taking part in the first 1,000 bomber raids.
On
one such occasion attacking Turin in bad weather, the aircraft developed
engine trouble just after leaving the target. It also had thick ice
on its wings preventing it returning over the Alps. The navigator
Sgt. Kay, devised a new route skirting the Alps. Their situation was
critical as they were low on fuel adding to the engine trouble, but they
managed to make a three engine landing back at base in poor
visibility. Sgt. Kay was awarded the D.F.M. for his navigational
skills.
The
last mission Uncle George flew was on 14th February 1943. They took
off in Halifax DT 694 from Rufforth, on a 'special recce report'
The
crew members were:
Sqn
Leader William Fletcher D.F.C. Pilot
P.O George H. Miller D.F.M. Wop/Ag
Sgt. Harry Kay D.F.M. Navigator
Sgt. John Blousefield
Sgt. Frank Howe, Rear Gunner
Flt. Leut. M. Pierre
Sgt. E. Jackson
The
aircraft crashed near Maastricht in Holland with only two members of the
crew surviving. Flt. Leut. M. Pierre took eight weeks to walk out of
enemy territory and Sgt. E. Jackson was taken prisoner of war. The
other five crew members including great uncle George are buried in
Jonkerboss war cemetery, near Arnhem.
How
this aircraft came to be in this area and the true purpose of their
mission has not yet been revealed.
Mathew K. Webster
February 2004