Flight Engineer Eric Jenner | Preserving the Past

Don McAmmond had high praise for Flight Engineer Eric Jenner.

Your dad was probably the best flight engineer on the squadron…

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It so happened that the very first raid that we were on was also the most terrifying (actually) – The Jerrys threw everything at us – Flak, ME 109s, we were combed by searchlight (thanks to Bob & your Dad) we managed to escape scarecrows – everything – We had been hit several times, thanks again to your Dad, we arrived back at base safely…

[…]

You asked what your Dad was like on raids (missions is an Americanism not generally used by R.A.F. or R.C.A.F.). Eric was a calming effect on the rest of the crew. He was probably scared spitless like the rest of us but he didn’t show it. Although I have seen him sweating under hazardous conditions and doing his job well.

The two gunners & your Dad were the “old men” of the crew. They were at or near thirtyish. The other 4 were just kids & I was the youngest.

Peter: You can be proud of your Dad’s experience. Take it from me who knew him the best, your Dad was a man! There are a number of stories to tell but it would take too much time to tell it all.

Here are some pictures taken at the Azores in June 1945. The crew is coming home to Canada.

Eric Jenner and R.J. Foord are seen with locals (the man on the right is unknown).

Flight Engineer Eric Jenner on the right. Others are unknown.

On the left is R.J. Foord – mid upper gunner. Next to him is an unknown airman, probably one of the crew. Eric Jenner is second from the right.

Next time…

P for Panic Flies Home

article P for Panic

Here are four pages scanned from F/O Boyle’s logbook who was a pilot with 428 Ghost Squadron. They were scanned by Pete Jenner whose father Eric Jenner was the Flight Engineer.

Last time, Pete Jenner had shared this photo taken in 1991 with F/O Boyle and his wife.

Bob Boyle & Wife with Pete Jenner1991

Much more later…

On March 3, 1945, Flying Officer Boyle had just arrived at Middleton St. George.

3 March - 20 March 1945

His first sortie is on March 14 as a second dickie with Flight Lieutenant Quinn. On March 15 he takes off aboard NA-M for his second operation: Target Zweibrücken.

22 March - 31 March 1945

March 31… Flying P for Peter.

Taken from Richard Koval’s Website.

March 31, 1945
100 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, and 432 squadrons were joined by 100 Lancasters from 419, 424, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 on an attack at the Blohm & Voss shipyards at Hamburg. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 19,500 feet, releasing 1,908,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was cloud covered but extensive damage was caused in the industrial area of Hamburg. The 6 group was in the last wave of the attack and were attacked by many ME-262s. 8 crews failed to return, mostly due to attacks by these aircraft.

428 Squadron

F/O R. Boyle from 428 squadron returned early as the port inner caught fire and the stbd outer was running poorly. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O D. Varden was hit by flak, there were holes in the port wing and bomb bay.
F/O D. Walsh and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-843 coded NA-D, were attacked by an ME-262, there was no claim or damage.
F/Lt R. Hay and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-794 coded NA-W, were attacked by an ME-262, there was no claim or damage.
F/O A. Mutch and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-864 coded NA-S, were attacked by an ME-262, there was no claim or damage.
F/O D. Brown and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-816 coded NA-E, were attacked by an ME-262, there was no claim or damage.
F/Sgt D. Desereux and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-764 coded NA-B, were attacked 3 times by ME-262s, there was no claim or damage.
F/O G. Johnson and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-879 coded NA-Y, were attacked by an ME-262, there was no claim or damage.
W/O2 R. Quinn and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-795 coded NA-Q, were attacked by an ME-262, there was no claim or damage.
F/O D. Payne and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-791 coded NA-A, fired on a ME-262 attacking another Lancaster, both gunners fired and strikes were seen, it burst into flame in the fuselage and wing root and spiraled vertically through the cloud below with pieces coming off.
W/Cdr M. Gall and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-838 coded NA-O, were attacked by an ME-262, there was no claim or damage.