This is why I stopped reading war fiction years ago; the true-life stories are 100 times more fascinating. "It could have been a scene in the BBC's 1980s sitcom 'Allo 'Allo'. Teenage war hero Len Manning spent three months hiding in a French café after his Lancaster bomber was shot down in July 1944 - despite it being one of the Gestapo's favourite haunts. Now, the RAF veteran has finally received a medal for his bravery - 69 years later. 'People often liken it to the TV series ‘Allo ‘Allo! but it was a really risky experience,' said the Tail End Charlie rear gunner today. 'I spent three months living in a café/hotel in Bassevelle, hiding from the Germans who frequently used the café and stayed at the hotel.' Mr Manning, from Sudbury, Suffolk, fought in the RAF’s savagely-battered Bomber Command during the Second World War. His 57th Squadron, based in East Kirkby, Lincolnshire, played a vital role bombing key strategic German targets as the Allies turned the tide of war against Hitler’s Germany. The airman, who was 19 years old at the time, was lucky to survive when his giant Lancaster was blasted out of the skies over northern France in July 1944 - killing four of his comrades. He plunged from the blazing bomber at 4,000ft with a burning parachute and was badly burned before going on the run from his German hunters. He told the East Anglian Daily Times: 'The plane was hit by a German fighter and immediately caught fire. ''After I climbed out of the turret into the fuselage which was burning furiously, it was like looking down the flames of a blow lamp. It was the most terrifying experience of my life. 'Although I managed to get out of the plane, the parachute had also caught fire and as a result, I was badly burned.' Four of Mr Manning’s fellow crewmen died in the stricken Lancaster. However, he was fortunate to be rescued by French Resistance fighters - although the unlucky navigator, who also survived the catastrophic crash, was captured by the Germans and sent to a Prisoner of War camp. Mr Manning kept his head down in Bassevelle until American troops liberated the town months later. 'They took us to a hotel and then flew us back to the UK where we were interrogated by M15 and bomber intelligence to make sure we weren’t Germans,' he recalled. 'I was given nine months sick leave because of the injuries I received and was then medically discharged.' He has always believed he and his comrades should have been given a medal because the air crew and particularly rear gunners – known as Tail End Charlies – stared into the face of death time and again." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2433313/The-real-life-Allo-Allo-Teenage-RAF-gunner-spent-months-hiding-French-cafe-Lancaster-bomber-shot-raid.html#ixzz2g3BLMutz
Took off from East Kirby . Operation Revigny sur Ornain on July 18/191944. Shot down by a nightfighter and crashed at LA Boue . casualties F/L J.A.Bulcraig, Sgt N.L.E.Gale, F/O E.C.Robson, Sgt T.Loughlin. survivors : F/O E.H.Ruston, Sgt L.E.S.Manning, Sgt F.J.D.Taylor.
Great story. The Lancaster was shot down by the SN-2 equipped Bf110 of Ofw. Herbert Altner, 8./NJG 5. Ofw. Altner in fact shot down five Lancasters within 34 minutes, using Schrage Musik, and was awarded the german Cross in Gold for his success.
Wow. Mr. Manning's story is eerily similar to my friend Sam's experience, also in July '44. http://www.ww2f.com/topic/47514-lancaster-lm-178-of-300-squadron/
