Stories

Once released from coastal defence duty Phil Small was one of the stream of RNZAF aircrew volunteers in 1943 following the well-worn path to No.11 OUT Westcott, via Wireless School in Manitoba, Canada.

At their Heavy Conversion Unit prior to the inevitable posting to a Bomber Command squadron, their skipper applied for an overseas posting. To their surprise they were allocated a Stirling Mk IV to take to Morocco and then on to India.

“Once we arrived in Morocco, there is no way that the Group Commander was going to let us leave for India. We were virtually kidnapped and posted into 624 SOE squadron and Halifaxes”.

Phil Small , front right , a dispatcher with 148 squadron operating out of Brindisi. He also flew with 624 Sq. as needed.
(Credit: NZBCA Archives)

The Middle East Air Force had a reputation stretching back to the Malta days of ‘filtering’ the flow of aircraft and air crews bound for India. Phil was one of the many who were caught.

Destined never to be the wireless operator he trained for, Phil became a qualified dispatcher. Having survived a four jump course he swapped the observer badge for a winged parachute.

As a trained dispatcher, Phil who was transferred on to 148 SOE squadron. His job was pushing odd sized bundles into the night plus the occasional Joe (agent).

“I always made sure I was hooked on as the odd dispatcher had gone out with his load or been pulled out by the agent.”

A supply drop from a Halifax.
(Credit: NZBCA Archives)

Unlike regular Bomber Command crews, Phil’s role saw him on operations over southern France, Yugoslavia and Greece flying with most of the squadron’s crews. “After dispatcher I was mobile, going from crew to crew as needed. In fact I flew with sixteen different pilots.”

“Warrant Officer Jock Hall had done trips to Warsaw in August 1944 and survived (he received the Polish VC) and it was his crew I really became part of, but I was always on call for the other runs”.

“Our last stop was on 2 April 1945 (in Halifax LL290, F S-IN) to Yugoslavia. Jock Hall’s second tour was finished so the crew was transferred.”

Daylight drop – a SOE operations to Yugoslavia.
(Credit: Phil Small / NZBCA Archive)

“Because of the secret nature of 148’s work, my logbook was handed in and even at the last reunion we were reminded of the official secrets act. Strange after 50 years”.

“Before demobbing, my final post was as an educational vocational officer in Rome so three years after I was posted to Bomber Command I still hadn’t dropped a bomb or done an Op over Europe.”

Phil Small in Kiwis Do Fly by Peter J Wheeler © New Zealand Bomber Command Association.