McADAM, John Hugh
In June 1943 John was seconded to the RAF and flew 45 missions over Germany and France. as a rear gunner on a Stirling bomber. He was lucky to survive. However, by March 1944 it was realised that Stirlings were too slow to keep up with the main Bomber Stream now mainly composed of Lancasters and Halifaxes so the Stirling squadrons were diverted to the job of dropping supplies to the French Resistance. John was sent to Moreton-in-Marsh, where he remained until December 1944. At that time a call went out for experienced aircrew to volunteer for a newly formed unit, whose purpose was to confuse and immobilize enemy radar. We flew in American Liberators from the base at Cuilton in Norfolk. They were the only aircraft large enough to house the bulky radio equipment. They had a crew of ten, three of whom were wireless operators. Later in life John suffered from back problems, and poor circulation in the legs, attributable the doctor said to the cramped conditions in the rear of the plane…John died of lung cancer at the age of 82. John's father Francis Milburn McAdam, a Gallipoli and Western Front veteran, died at the age of 55 in 1946. Thankyou to Gail Dodd for this story.
In June 1943 John was seconded to the RAF and flew 45 missions over Germany and France. as a rear gunner on a Stirling bomber. He was lucky to survive. However, by March 1944 it was realised that Stirlings were too slow to keep up with the main Bomber Stream now mainly composed of Lancasters and Halifaxes so the Stirling squadrons were diverted to the job of dropping supplies to the French Resistance. John was sent to Moreton-in-Marsh, where he remained until December 1944. At that time a call went out for experienced aircrew to volunteer for a newly formed unit, whose purpose was to confuse and immobilize enemy radar. We flew in American Liberators from the base at Cuilton in Norfolk. They were the only aircraft large enough to house the bulky radio equipment. They had a crew of ten, three of whom were wireless operators. Later in life John suffered from back problems, and poor circulation in the legs, attributable the doctor said to the cramped conditions in the rear of the plane…John died of lung cancer at the age of 82. John's father Francis Milburn McAdam, a Gallipoli and Western Front veteran, died at the age of 55 in 1946. Thankyou to Gail Dodd for this story.
