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RAF ace Wallace the rear goner

Discussion in 'Allied Bomber Planes' started by Kelly War44, Jun 7, 2007.

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  1. Kelly War44

    Kelly War44 New Member

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    THE RAF’s most decorated wartime gunner has died at 87, it was announced yesterday.

    Flying Officer Wallace McIntosh flew 55 deadly missions as a rear gunner in Lancaster bombers and downed eight Nazi fighters.

    He won the Distinguished Flying Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross twice and was one of only three men to get a congratulatory telegram from bomber commander Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris.

    His greatest feat came exactly 63 years ago, on June 7 1944, when he shot down THREE enemy planes on a raid to help troops advancing after D-Day.

    RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said: “When the nation needed heroes he didn’t let us down. Anyone who flew in Lancasters knew the odds were against them.”

    Scots-born Wallace flew from Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire with 207 Squadron, which lost 1,007 aircrew.

    In a 2003 book Gunning For The Enemy he said he joined the RAF to escape poverty as a farmhand. He died of lung cancer at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and is survived by three children.
     
  2. Jim

    Jim Active Member

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    Aye, another sad loss to a diminishing group of one offs ... R.I.P Flying Officer Wallace McIntosh ...
     
  3. Dave War44

    Dave War44 Member

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    Yes RIP.
    I'm guessing that "Lancaster rear gunner" was not a job people would queue up for. I think they were especially brave and this chap did it with amazing skill and results.
     
  4. Cabel1960

    Cabel1960 recruit

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    Arear gunner was a place for the brave, rip Flying Officer Wallace McIntosh.
     
  5. Jamie 111

    Jamie 111 New Member

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    Rear gunner

    What a sad loss. A very brave man.

    Can you imagine the guts it took to squeeze into that rear turret time after time?

    I looked into the rear turret in a real Lancaster at RAF Connigsby ( One of only two left in the world) The turret was cramped to say the least! A very lonely part of the aircraft to be in, and so very vunerable.

    Yes very brave men flew those bombers.
     
  6. Spitfire XIV-E

    Spitfire XIV-E New Member

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    And the thing is that the veterans are now getting fewer & fewer. Quite how they managed to the the job knowing how much the odds were against them is incredible when you think about it in today's terms ...
     

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