THE WONTHAGGI SENTINEL AND
STATE TOWN MINER
Friday April 13 1945
W.O Bill Akers D.F.C
Returns Home
Splendid Record Over
Europe
WARRANT OFFICER COLIN (BILL)
AKERS (R.A.A.F., D.F.C., SON OF MR AND MRS AKERS, WONTHAGGI HAS RETURNED TO
WONTHAGGI AFTER THREE YEARS SERVICE IN ENGLAND.
Warrant Officer Akers was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross last year. As a rear gunner in a
Lancaster Bomber he has returned with a record which Wonthaggi and his parents
may be justly proud. He completed thirty-two operations over Europe – Seven
over Berlin and visited sixteen other well known targets on the Continent.
After completing his training
in England Warrant Officer Akers was assigned to a Wellington Squadron and his
plane was forced down in the English Channel when returning from his first
operational raid.
Bill said, “We were coming
back from a leaflet raid over France when one engine cut out and we were forced
to ‘ditch’ our plane in the sea.
“That occurred at 3am in the
morning. We were spotted by the Air Force and after eight hours we were picked
out of our dinghy and I spent four days in the hospital under observation.
Four of us were lucky, we
were not scratched but unfortunately the Navigator broke his leg and we lost
our mid upper gunner.” That incident occurred on 3rd
June 1943.
The returned airman was then
assigned to a Lancaster Squadron. After he was assigned to the
Lancasters, he was attached to the R.A.F. and good luck stood by his side. On one occasion, one of the
crew of which he was a member was ill. Another crew was ordered to take up “T
for Tommy” but the plane and the substituting crew failed to return.
A short time after Bill had
another incredible escape. On this occasion Bill was confined to hospital owing
to sickness.In this instance another gunner replaced Bill and the new “T for
Tommy” and his own crew did not return.
Bill went on to complete 32
operational flights as a rear gunner spending many hours at a time in a semi
frozen gun turret.He was responsible for the defence of the rear portion of his
plane.“For his courage and devotion to duty” as stated by the citation when he
was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Bill has returned once again to his
family and friends who are thrilled to see him home and appearing little the
worse as the result of his trying time.
CARRIED DISC
On all his operations Bill
carried his father's disc which went through the Gallipoli campaign in the last
war. It was Bill’s “Good luck charm”.Bill is only 21 years of age -He joined
the RAAF a short time after his 18th birthday.
Congratulations Bill, we are
all happy to see you back. He is on 35 days leave.
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