Flying Home In A Disabled Bomber

Heroes Remember

Flying Home In A Disabled Bomber

Transcript

One time I think it was over (inaudible) whereby they hit one engine, knocked one engine out and damaged our hydraulic system whereby the pilot wasn't able to close the bomb doors because bomb doors stay closed until we got to the target and then when just before they drop the bombs the pilot open the bomb doors. After the bombs were dropped, he would close the bomb doors. We got hit over the target and he couldn't close them and then we lost one engine but also with the bomb doors open your airspeed was reduced, so was your speed with just on three engines. So then we had to make our way back on reduced air speed and reduced altitude because we didn't have the power and the hydraulic system. The hydraulic system also worked for your landing gear whereby you would extend and retract your landing gear but they had a back up system whereby one air bottle would lower your under carriage and lock them but that was a one-shot deal which fortunately for us worked because we had no other system. But with a slower speed, you were then in danger of getting a fighter catching up with you so that was, but fortunately we were able to get our way back but we didn't have sufficient fuel to land at our base so we had to land at the nearest base on the south coast of England so which we did.

Description

Mr. Kondra describes flying back to England against serious odds. After being shot up on a bombing run, his aircraft loses an engine, and ruptured hydraulics prevent closure of the bomb bay doors, causing excessive drag and extra fuel consumption. Coupled with landing gear that wouldn't lower, his trip home is stressful!

William Kondra

On January 14, 1922, William Kondra was born in Prudhomme, Saskatchewan. He finished Grade 8 at his local school, and, with difficulty, finished high school through correspondence. He was working on local farms for a pittance, so he decided to enlist in the Air Force, where he trained as a bomb aimer/front gunner. Mr. Kondra's tour of duty was completed with his original crew members aboard a Lancaster Bomber, and primarily consisted of air strikes on industrial Germany. Mr. Kondra offers many insights into the technology, strategy and stresses of flying in a bomber.

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