A Story of War

The 1st Canadian Army advances on the 8th into the Reichwald forest. We put up 30 sorties with 12 a/c and I do two myself. Continuous Arty/R (JDW: Artillery Reconnaissance) cover which fails due to low cloud and a few Tac/R (JDW: Tactical Reconnaissance). I go out with Peter Crane and he insists in flying round above the guns at 1000’ above Nijmegen, irrespective of the air being full of shells. Later I do a Tac/R with him. We lose Malcolmson, who came over with me, killed force landing on South Beveland, and Frank Normoyle, and Ops officer who just vanishes. I am damned tired, having missed lunch and tea, bar one and a half spam sandwiches, and am unable to stand up in the bar until after I have had about five large whiskies, when my strength flows again.

Yesterday I go on Tac/R as No.1 but have to return through R/T trouble, at which I am greatly pleased as the weather stinks. Champagne in the Mess, but I can never grab a bottle. It’s now raining and I hope I shall be able to get in some reading.