LAC. Wallace Jackson in North Africa and Italy with 70 Squadron, RAF, 1941-1944
 

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W/O Phillip Henry "Tubby" Gaunt

photographs and other material contributed by Paul Gaunt (son)

click on image for larger view

"Tubby" Gaunt had a remarkable career during the duration of the Second World War.    His tours of duty encompassed Germany, Italy, France and the Balkans, a variety of aircraft types, roles of wireless operator, air gunner, pilot - and finally a crash landing and escape from enemy-occupied Yugoslavia.

Like many ex-servicemen, he did not speak about his experiences after the war and it was a chance discovery made by his son, Paul Gaunt, at the Moreton-in-Marsh Wellington Aviation Museum that led to several years of research, recorded in Paul's book: "Shadows of the Past". What emerges is a moving picture of individual experience in 49, 37 and, finally, 70 Squadrons.   

Tubby’s pre-war training was with the Civilian Air Guard scheme, 1938-39, at the Leicestershire Aero Club, Braunstone and was entirely voluntary. On 4th August 1939, at the age of 22, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve for a period of 5 years.  After kitting out at RAF Receiving Station Cardington and basic training at Manston, Tubby was selected for wireless op/air gunnery training, despite having been recommended for pilot training.  

Cranwell for signals training was followed by 1 Wing 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Fiskerton.  On 18th January 1941, Tubby moved to No 14 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Cottesmore, Rutland.   On 9th September 1941 he commenced his first tour as wireless operator/air gunner on Hampden bombers with 49 Squadron.   Operations included minelaying ("gardening"), leaflet dropping ("nickels"), attacking the Scharnhorst and bombing targets in France and major German cities.   After experience with Manchester and Lancaster bombers, Tubby re-mustered for pilot training in South Africa. 

Tubby was awarded his wings on 28 April 1944, together with the "Best of Intake" bombing trophy.  He then moved to OTU Quastina in what is now Israel, for familiarisation with the Wellington X before joining 37 Squadron at Tortorella, August 1944.  .When 37 Squadron converted to Liberators, Tubby finally transfered to 70 Squadron.

On 8 January, 1945, on a 70 Squadron mission to drop supplies to partisans in Yugoslavia, Tubby and his crew crash landed near Vode, north of  Gerovo, in what is now Croatia.   Their escape, aided by Yugoslavian partisans, qualified them as members of the "Flying-" or "Winged Boot" evaders' society.

 

Conditions at Foggia

 Conditions at Foggia

A supply drop

Sorties with 70 Squadron

 ‘A’ FLT 70 SQD 205 GROUP
OPERATION BOMBING M/T AND TROOPS
MATESEVO - KOLASIN

19TH DECEMBER 1944 

WELLINGTON X ‘H’ MF367
Up 13.11  Down 15.47
W/O GAUNT PILOT 
SGT. SCANLAN NAV 
SGT. SANDELL B/AIR
SGT. MCMELLIN W/OP
SGT. HAZELDEN R/GNR

DETAILS OF SORTIE

6 x 500 GP 12 x 250 GP Nickels.

Road MT seen and bombs dropped in 3 sticks from 3000 ft. aimed at roads, bombs seen to straddle the road.

Detailed to Bomb MT and Troops (Concentrations on Road)

Matesevo – Kolasin

SUMMARY OF EVENTS

11 aircraft took off to continue yesterday’s work. 1 returned early with engine trouble, and the remainder found the target. Area clear of cloud as on previous days and smote the Hun heavily. There were many hits on the road and several fires were started among The M/T; on the whole, another good day. No flak was encountered.

Bombing 1430-1509, heights 3000/9000 feet. 27.3 tons were dropped, 2 x 4000 HCNI, 47 x 500 lbs GPNI and 93 x 250 lb GPNI. 115 packets of nickels were also dropped.


 ‘A’ FLT 70 SQD 205 GROUP TORTORELLA
OPERATIONS BOMBING BRIDGE AT MOJKOVAC

21ST DECEMBER 1944

WELLINGTON ‘J’ NA720
Up 13.37  Down 16.32
W/O GAUNT CAPTAIN 
SGT SCANLON NAV 
SGT SANDELL B/AIM
SGT MCMELLIN W/OP
SGT HAZELDEN R/GNR

DETAILS OF SORTIE

Foggia Tortorella – Mojkovac Bridge – Foggia Tortorella. 

Bridge seen and bomb dropped from 9500 feet aimed at the bridge (1 x 4000 lb HCNI). Bomb undershot about 200 yds.

23rd December no operations by group owing to adverse weather.

24th December no operations by group owing to adverse weather.

SUMMARY OF EVENTS

7 aircraft took off to destroy Mojkovac Bridge. The weather was good and all A/C clearly saw the target. No hits were claimed, but two of the attacking aircraft reported seeing the bridge destroyed. One crew said they saw what was a 4000 pounder demolish the target. The destruction is confirmed by photos, but it is not known whether it was caused by an A/C of this or another Sqn. Bombing 1507-1526 hrs. Heights 5500-9000 feet. 18.75 tons were dropped, comprising 2 x 4000 lb HCNI, 34 x 500 lb GPTI and 26 x 250 lb GPNI.


 ‘A’ FLT 70 SQD 205 GROUP TORTORELLA
OPERATIONS BOMBING RAILWAY BRIDGE CASARSA

26TH DECEMBER 1944

WELLINGTON ‘H’ MF367
Up 18.09   Down 19.40
W/O GAUNT CAPTAIN 
SGT SCANLON NAV 
SGT SANDELL B/AIM
SGT MCMELLIN W/OP
SGT HAZELDEN R/GNR

DETAILS OF SORTIE

Foggia Tortorella Casarsa R.R bridge Foggia Tortorella. 

Target was clear but hazy. Red T.I seen. Bombs dropped in one stick 9 x 500 lb GPTI and 4 x 250 lb GPTI from 7000 feet aimed at red T.I’s to hit west end of bridge. Burst seen to straddle west end of bridge.

SUMMARY OF EVENTS

Casarsa Railway Bridge

Casarsa railway bridge over the Tagliammento River is of vital importance to the Germans in North Italy at a time when every effort is being made to thoroughly disrupt communications. The group therefore was given a change from Yugoslavia and 15 A/C from our Squadron went out with Liberators, other Wellingtons and target marking aircraft of 614 Sqd, the target was well illuminated and marked.

Only slight inaccurate HFF and LFF was encountered. A good concentration of bombing was achieved. However, photos taken by our aircraft do not suggest that the target was hit, though several crews claim to have straddled it and one or two crews believe they obtained hits on the west end of the bridge. Weather good in target area, little haze. Bombing 1230-1735 hrs. Height 6/9000 feet. 38.5 tons were dropped, comprising 2 x 4000 lb HCNI, 112 x 500 lb GPTI and 52 x 250 lb GPTI.



 ‘A’ FLT 70 SQD 205 GROUP
OPERATION BOMBING CASARSA RAILWAY BRIDGES

28TH DECEMBER 1944

WELLINGTON ‘F’ MF243
Up 16'04    Down 20.11
W/O GAUNT CAPTAIN 
SGT SCANLON NAV 
SGT SANDELL B/AIM
SGT MCMELLIN W/OP
SGT HAZELDEN R/GNR

DETAILS OF SORTIE

Foggia Tortorella Casarsa rail road bridge. Both bridges seen, also flares and reds. 5 bombs dropped in one stick from 6800 feet aimed at red target indicators. Stick believed to have straddled bridge.

SUMMARY OF EVENTS

Casarsa Railway Bridge

It appears that Casarsa railway bridge is still standing, it is again the target for the group. 12 A/C took off from the squadron, the weather was good. The illumination and target marking by 614 Squadron was excellent. A good concentration of bombing was achieved, but results were largely unobserved owing to smoke and glare from markers. Moderate inaccurate H/FF was encountered.

Photo Received. Reports received since both attacks now indicate that the bridge suffered considerable damage on 26th. The western approach was damaged, there was a direct hit on the centre rendering it impassable and the diversion over the river was also damaged. Later time 14 span from the west collapsed, further damage was caused on the second raid.


 ‘A’ FLIGHT 70 SQD 205 GROUP
OPERATION SUPPLY DROPPING UDINE

8TH JANUARY 1945

WELLINGTON ‘G’ LP614
Up 11.25   Down . . . .
W/O GAUNT CAPTAIN 
SGT SCANLON NAV 
SGT SANDELL B/AIM
SGT MCMELLIN W/OP
SGT HAZELDEN R/GNR

DETAILS OF SORTIE

Foggia Tortorella – nothing heard from the aircraft after taking off from base – a later message states that the crew are safe and in Partisan hands. 6th – 7th January, group did not operate owing to adverse weather.

SUMMARY OF EVENTS

9 A/C took off to drop supplies to Partisans near Civcaino in NE Italy Udine area. There was 10/10 cloud over N/Italy which prevented observation of the ground signal. 8 A/C brought their containers back to base. The 9 A/C, W/O Gaunt P.H Captain and crew, did not return to base and no message was received.  It has since become known that the whole crew is in Partisan hands and further details are awaited.

   

Crash landing near Vode, Yugoslavia

 

 

The frozen Lake Lokve,  just a few kilometers from Tubby's crash site,,taken recently in similar conditions as when the Wellington came down

Montage of the career of "Tubby" Gaunt, drawn for his son by a Croatian art student acquaintance.    The design includes Tubby's "Flying Boot" evader badge for returning from enemy territory.

 

Maurice Sandell (right), Tubby's bomb aimer;

Paul Gaunt (left|)

 

 

 

 

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