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Robert Ferguson | Flt Lt Robert Ferguson Robert Ferguson was born in Ayr, Scotland in 1924. His father was an engineer with British Rail and drove the famous Royal Scot locomotive. Much of his father's mechanical aptitude and interest was passed on to Bob. As a youngster he was interested in all things mechanical, and this obviously made him inquisitive of aircraft and flying. Later he would attend the Technical College of Scotland, and much of what he learned there was of great help after he enlisted in the RAF in February on 1942. After reporting to the Aircrew Reception Centre in London, the young Scot was then assigned to No.3 Squadron A Flight ITW (an initial training wing) in Aberystwyth, Wales. After completion of this first six weeks training, Ferguson was sent to North Coventry for Elementary Flght Training School. It is in Coventry where he experienced flight for the first time. Battle School training followed, as did a trip to Canada on the Queen Elizabeth. In Alberta, Ferguson completed both elementary and advanced flying courses. He was then transferred to Moncton, New Brunswick to await his return to Great Britain and the real thing. Initially stationed at Harrigate, he was soon reassigned to Wigtown, Scotland. While with No.26 Operational Training Wing he crash landed a Wellington bomber flying on a single engine during a night flight. Sustaining a head injury in the crash, he was judged fit to continue flying. Shortly thereafter he was assigned to No.90 Squadron, a unit flying the Lancaster heavy bomber. Ferguson completed thirty bombing missions as a Lancaster pilot. His recollection after fifty years is, 'that it was bloody dark, bloody cold and bloody dangerous.' Ferguson saw many of his fellow flyers injured, killed and captured during these night bombing missions. The RAF was basically given the assignment for these night missions, while American bombers flew the daytime missions. In early 1946 Ferguson suffered a black-out, which was traced back to his early head injury during the crash landing of the Wellington. This resulted in a medical discharge from the RAF. Following the war Bob worked as an engineer for English Racing Automobiles, an organisation which was well known because of the great record of its driver, the legendary Stirling Moss. Later Bob was reassigned to work on experimental prototype aircraft, and in 1957 he joined the UK operation of General Motors. In 1967 Bob joined United Airlines and had the opportunity to work in the United States. He retired from UAL ion 1989, and resides in California at the time of writing. |
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Night Raiders by Stan Stokes. Anxious to retaliate against German bombing raids on Great Britain, the RAF devised a strategic bombing strategy of its own. Sir Arthur Harris, Chief of the RAFs Bomber Command, stated: The Nazis entered this war with the rather childish delusion that they were going to bomb everyone, and nobody was going to bomb them...they sowed the wind, and now they are going to reap the whirlwind. The Avro Lancaster Mk. B.I. heavy bomber, certainly one of the most important aircraft of World War II, played a major role in the British retaliation. The 7,366 Lancasters which were produced completed 156,000 missions, and because of their large payload dropped a total of 608,612 tons of bombs. The Lancaster evolved from the twin engine Manchester medium bomber which was modified to accept four engines. The Lancasters success stemmed partially from its large payload. Specially modified Lancasters were capable of carrying the 22,000 pound Grand Slam bomb. The Lancaster was operated by a crew of seven or eight, had a maximum speed of 286 MPH, and a range of 2,527 miles. The Lancaster was powered by four 1,640 HP Rolls Royce Merlin water cooled in-line engines. Lancasters were heavily armed with either eight or ten 7.7 MM Colt-Browning machine guns, but they proved no match for the Luftwaffes experienced fighter pilots, and the Lancasters were decimated during daytime bombing raids on Germany. The RAF responded by shifting to a policy of night time strategic bombing, and by wars end most major German cities lay in rubble. The Lancaster was simply built, easy to repair, and could absorb heavy damage. The aircraft underwent very little major alteration during its life. Both the wings and fuselage were designed in large independent sections which bolted together, which dramatically enhanced the repair of damaged aircraft. In Night Raiders, Stan Stokes captures an Avro Lancaster during one of the first night raids on Berlin. Illuminated by the full moon above and the incendiary fires below, the destructive terror of this weapon of war is vividly captured by the artist. As the war progressed Germany improved the effectiveness of its night fighter force and it was not uncommon for losses on any mission to be in the 5-10% range. The whirlwind was not without cost to the RAF. Very few RAF Lancaster crews successfully survived their tours of duty, and in 1942-43 the average life expectancy of a Lancaster aircraft was only 6-7 missions. Despite this high price, the RAFs bombing campaign against Germany clearly hastened the end of the War. |
Clipped Signature - Robert Ferguson. Joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 and after training was assigned to No.90 Sqn as a Lancaster pilot in 1943 where he completed 30 missions. Post-war he worked for English Racing Automobiles, General Motors and United Airlines, retiring in 1989. Please note that this particular signature has been written in pen - not in pencil like most of our signatures. |
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