I first met Doug 7 years ago, when I interviewed him for our Oral History Collection, for the Town of Cambridge library. The man I met was such an honourable, commendable, compassionate, humble gentleman that his story instantly became even more intriguing.
Doug came to Western Australia in 1939 knowing no one, at just 17 years of age, to take up the offer of a job in a bank. As jobs were scarce in the 1930s, you had to go where the jobs were.
Although it was a lonely time for Doug, he got involved in sports and gradually met people.
Before Doug turned 18, the bank stopped men from enlisting in WWII, as so many had already left. However, when National Service Training was introduced, Doug was called up for 3 months. Once Japan joined the war, Doug joined the Royal Australian Air Force, 460 Squadron.
Doug was sent to the UK Bomber Command, where he trained on Lancasters. He still loves Lancasters.
The motto for Bomber Command was ‘Strike Hard, Strike Sure’.
The 460 Squadron motto, Doug’s Squadron, was ‘Strike and Return’.
This is a very significant motto, because many did not return. In fact, the survival rate was dismal.
Dr Alan Stephens, Historian on Bomber Command, writes: “Over the course of the war the odds of surviving a first tour were exactly one–in–two – the classic toss of a coin. When the second tour was added the odds slipped further, to one–in–three. And during the battles of the Ruhr, Hamburg and Berlin it was statistically impossible to survive thirty missions.
No other sustained campaign in which Australians have ever been involved, can compare with the air war over Germany in terms of individual danger. The men of the RAAF who fought for Bomber command amounted to less than 2 per cent of all Australians who enlisted in WWII, yet the 3486 who died accounted for almost 20 per cent of all deaths in combat.”
The RAAF’s most distinguished heavy bomber unit, No.460 Squadron, alone lost 1018 aircrew, meaning that, in effect, the entire squadron was wiped out five times. It was far more dangerous to fight in Bomber Command than in the infantry.
Doug flew 35 Operational Sorties over Germany.
To give you an idea what it was like, here is Doug’s account of a mission over Germany:
“We didn’t know what to expect, but then we were heading towards the target and all we could see ahead of us were searchlights going all around the sky and lights on the ground. As we got closer, in the actual target area, there was these puffs in the air. You realised that was the flak bursting from their guns, from the Germans. They were bursting in the air, in the sky. The searchlights were searching around and of course, there was the noise of the aircraft. As soon as the bombs had gone, of course, you wanted to get out of the area as quick as you could, but you had to fly 15 seconds straight after the bombs had gone to enable the camera to take a photo of where your bombs had landed.
From the photographs, the backroom boys would know what damage had been done, or whether the raid was successful or not. During that 15 seconds of flying, you had to actually fly straight, level and at a constant speed, for the camera to give an accurate reading of where the bombs landed. That was the frightening part. You wanted to do something different. You wanted to get on the turn and speed, but you had to wait for the 15 seconds.”
53% of Lancasters were shot down. Almost half of the aircrew lost their lives.
Doug was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by King George VI. We know that Doug was also mentioned in dispatches, meaning he was mentioned by name by his superiors to high command for his gallant or meritorious actions.
Yet, Bomber Command struggled for recognition after the war.
Dr Alan Stephens again, writes:
“Such was the prejudice of influential politicians and public figures that a Bomber command campaign medal wasn’t awarded, despite the obvious importance and magnitude of the crusade.”
It wasn’t until 2012 that the UK issued a clasp to Bomber Command, including Australians, for their service.
Buckingham Palace after investiture of Distinguished Flying Cross, 30.10.1945.
Image courtesy of Doug Arrowsmith.
Doug was awarded an OAM in 2007 for his service to veterans and their families through the RSL, to the community and to lawn bowls.
He was awarded an Australian Sports Medal Award in 2000, for his contribution to lawn bowls. He won five team bowls championships and represented Western Australia 51 times. He was also the initial coach of the Malaysian Squad.
He was awarded the Premier’s Australia-Day Active Citizenship Award in 2004.
He was awarded the Legion of Honour medal, France’s highest Civic Honour, for Courage.
Doug is still seen driving his classic 1968 Holden Brougham V8, (to the admiration and envy of many) playing bowls, serving at the RSL or Freemasons and shopping for sugar to make marmalade.
Image courtesy of Doug Arrowsmith
Doug Arrowsmith is about to turn 102.
Vale Doug. We are honoured to have met you and will miss you. You were a hero!
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