In Memoriam - Tribute to Flt Lt Sidney Pike RAF
Having trained as a Navigator first in Canada and then in England, Sidney joined 214 Squadron with a crew in July 1944. The crew was as follows:
• F/O Frank W. Savage – Pilot
• F/O A. N. Craven – Assistant Navigator
• F/O J. Hussey – Special Operator
• F/Sgt S. A. R. Pike – Navigator
• Sgt N. J. Lee – Flight Engineer
• Sgt D. Astbury – Gunner
• Sgt N. Rishworth – Wireless Operator
• Sgt C. Hamblett – Gunner
• Sgt S. Judge – Gunner
• Sgt R. D. Kenney – Gunner
Sidney’s first operation was on 13 August 1944 on a spoof raid to Hamburg. The task was to take part in the Mandrel and Special Mandrel jamming of the enemy radio communications to the night-fighter aircraft.
Sidney took part in various operations to different cities and targets in Germany and Europe during 1944. Towards the end of that year, as the Allied armies pushed towards Germany, the targets for the bombers became further away, and Sidney’s trips became longer, averaging 5-6 hours. Sidney recalls, on the night of 10 November 1944, returning from Saabrucken in the Rhur, both port engines of his aircraft caught fire just as they crossed the front line of the advancing armies. Pilot Flt Lt Frank Savage, having put the aircraft into a steep dive, managed to put out the engine fires. Both engines were then shut down and attempts made to feather both props to prevent them from rotating in the wind, thereby avoiding dangerous vibrations. The inner engine prop, however, could not be feathered and continued to rotate. Sidney gave the pilot a course for the nearest emergency airfield, and they landed at Juvincourt near Rheims in France some thirty minutes later, using starboard engines only. In Sidney’s own words: ‘Fortunately, we had a very experienced pilot who had to use all his skills to control the plane. The inner port engine propeller had fallen off, taking part of the tail plane with it. The runway of the ex-German airfield had been patched up after damage caused by the RAF’. The following afternoon, just after four hours sleep on straw mattresses left by the Germans, Sidney and crew were picked up by another aircraft from Oulton and arrived back at 5.50pm. The next day, they were detailed to go on another raid to Dortmund, a round trip of five and a quarter hours, much heavy flak at 25,000 feet in target area, not much respite: ‘That’s how it was!’
Sidney continues that, in the early days of 1945, the weather was so bad that flying frequently was cancelled and they only flew on two occasions that month. On the second trip that month, their 29th operation; they took off for Hamon on the Rhur. Shortly after take-off, they experienced a loud bang. Fortunately, the aircraft continued to climb. On approaching the coast at Southwold, the engineer told the pilot that the engines were overheating and that they should return before they failed. Sidney changed course back to Oulton and they arrived at 8.55pm. The Station Commander at RAF Oulton told them they had done enough, and had completed their first tour of operations.
The following morning, most of the crew went out to inspect their aircraft ‘H’ for Happy, and were surprised to find the plastic blister, which housed the H2S navigational aerial, had been torn off, the leading edge of the aircraft’s wing flattened, and the cooling fins of the radial engines were jammed full of twigs. They had gone through the tree-tops of the wood at the end of the runway on take-off. Another lucky escape, unlike so many of Sidney’s comrades, and he goes on to remember the 55,000 aircrew killed flying with Bomber Command during World War Two.
With his engineer and Wireless operator, Sidney stayed on at Oulton and was commissioned in January 1945 to become a Pilot Officer. He joined another crew at that time with an experienced Australian pilot who Sidney did not name (from 214 Squadron Records it may have been Flt Lt V. Y. Scandleton, 409950, RAAF).
On 13 February 1945, they carried out the first tour of ops together, a nine-and-a-half-hour return flight to Dresden in support of the Main Force – a combined RAF and USAAF raid aimed at jamming enemy fighter controllers radio communications. They continued flying targets further afield, frequently of eight hours duration. Magdeburg, Seirzig and Munster were such targets. Sidney’s tour of ops, although arduous, was concluded without further incident and finished with an eighthour trip to Magdeburg, on 12 April 1945. His flying days over, he left Oulton for training on RAF administration duties, after which he went to Germany, to H.Q. British Air Force of occupation; where he was employed on Personnel duties. During this time, Sidney, I know, attended the Nuremburg trials: ‘A different career, another story!’ Sidney left the RAF in November 1947 as a Flight Lieutenant.
Sidney regularly attended 100 Group Reunions. He also liked to attend our own Remembrance Sunday ceremony with Oulton villagers each November, until his health and weakening body prevented him from doing so. We shall all miss Sidney – a Gentleman and Hero to us all here in Oulton. God Bless you!
Friends All,
It was my privilege and pleasure to represent the Association at the Final Ceremony on 4 August for Flight Lieutenant Sidney Alfred Raymond Pike, together with Rodney Vowler and Peter Sluman. A glorious wreath in Air Force colours had been provided by Andrea and Peter’s daughter. Rodney carried the 100 Group flag in his usual excellent manner.
In one sentence, I could report that the whole Ceremony and the Wake afterwards were a perfect tribute to a steadfast and respected veteran. There was a large gathering of relatives, including two very small great grandchildren, and many friends.
The Ceremony was a wonderful example of a family remembrance of a well-loved father and grandfather. Tributes were spoken by the Leader of the Ceremony; a son-in-law; and a granddaughter. They covered the whole of his life, his marriage, the children and the work he did in London after the war and through until his retirement, including his interests and hobbies and so many family anecdotes. A most unusual element was a short film that was immensely helpful in illustrating the story of Sidney’s life. The style of the Ceremony was very humanist, with no hymns or prayers; but with two periods of personal reflection accompanied by appropriate music.
The Wake was held at Latimer House, now a de Vere Hotel but previously the National Defence College. We had a most pleasing and enjoyable opportunity to speak at length with the family, and in particular with Sidney’s two daughters Carol and Julia. I have not the slightest doubt that they both loved and respected their father; he will be well remembered by all his family, through the three generations present.
It was so good to see many family photographs on display, especially showing Sidney and his wife May, who died some fifteen years ago. They looked really happy together; they had met in Germany soon after the war ended, both then in the Armed Services.
All in all, a wonderful family farewell to a well-loved father, grandfather and great grandfather.
Most sincerely,
John Stubbington
by Chris Lambert
This article is from the Autumn 2017 issue of Confound and Destroy
