Initially the four squadron force was sent out to attack targets just as any other bomber force . The group began true Pathfinder raids , dropping marking flares for the main bomber force , in October 1942 . The first marker raid was to Krefeld on 2 October 1942 . On a number of these raids Mahaddie was the Master Bomber , tasked with dropping the first flares and then directing the oncoming bomber force as they came over the target . Mahaddie was twice Mentioned in Despatches in 1942 . On 1 December 1942 Mahaddie was promoted to wing commander . By the Frankfurt raid on 3 December Mahaddie had completed his fiftieth operation . Over a period of the next eight weeks he was awarded the AFC , a Distinguished Service Order , the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939 and the Distinguished Flying Cross . Each had to be wetted by his squadron mates in typical RAF fashion , all on Mahaddie 's tab . The various citations included phrases such as , " consistently attacked heavily defended targets with coolness and determination often in adverse weather " , " powers of leadership of a very high order " , and , " unflagging enthusiasm has had an inspiring effect on his comrades " . Four awards in eight weeks was likely an RAF record . Mahaddie called it " the most expensive period of my career . " The Cologne raid of 1/2 February 1943 nearly brought Mahaddie 's RAF career to an end . After releasing his target marking flares , the cloud cover that had been providing some protection that night broke up , and his aircraft was hit with flak . At nearly the same time his aircraft was attacked by a Ju 88 night-fighter , which raked its fuselage with cannon fire . Mahaddie initiated a diving turn to starboard , which resulted in the aircraft slipping into a steep , violent diving turn . Altitude was being lost at an alarming rate , and he realized he had lost lateral control of the aircraft . As they were diving under full power , Mahaddie made a grab for the throttle controls to pull them back . Fortunately , he only reached the two port throttles , and as he brought back power on them the aircraft leveled off . The instrument panel had been wrecked , the rear turret was put out of action and the Stirling 's intercom system was knocked out . The mid-upper gunner , wireless operator and bomb aimer were all injured , most of the compasses and navigational equipment were destroyed and the aileron controls were severed . According to gunner Bob Pointer , " the skipper was fighting with the aircraft . Having had the aileron controls badly mangled by the cannon shells he could only fly the aircraft by varying the power of the engines . " He attempted to regain the altitude lost and came up through a cloud bank to realize they were headed east instead of west . By manipulating the power on the four engines he was able to lurch the aircraft back toward home . Flight Sergeant Stewart treated the wounds of the three injured crew members . Meanwhile , using star sightings and the plane 's astro-compass , navigator " Tommy " Thompson was able to provide Mahaddie with a bearing back to base , if he could control the aircraft . Reaching the wing root with a flashlight and some wire , the flight engineer was able to jury rig a splice over the airloin wires , giving Mahaddie partial control of " C " Charlie , and he set course for home . " However , their troubles were not over . Half way to the coast a second night fighter located the aircraft and closed , but Mahaddie was able to evade and shake him off , though the splicing of the ailerons did not hold up to his maneuvers and for a time he was limited to controlling direction with the throttle controls again . The next morning revealed the aircraft had taken 174 cannon shell hits . Said Mahaddie , " We went out flying C-Charlie , and came back flying C-Colander . " Shells had past through the cockpit either side of Mahaddie 's seat , making a mess of the instruments . One round punched through the armour plate below the pilot , but the parachute Mahaddie was using as a seat cushion absorbed the rest of the round 's energy , leaving a mark on the pilot 's buttock " no bigger than the size of a sixpence " . Lucky to have survived , he said the event may have just proved the ancient Scot axiom " The deil looks after his ain ! " Mahaddie kept flying missions into March , but at 58 missions , two short of his stint , Group Commander Don Bennett called him up from No. 7 Squadron to his staff headquarters at Huntington as " Group Training Inspector " , a position Bennett had created . Angered over being promoted out of the squadron , he stated later he had been resentful toward Bennett for sometime afterward , all the more so as on their next mission with their new skipper the aircraft was lost and the entire crew killed . They had been an effective crew , and were due to attend an investiture at Buckingham Palace where between them they were to have received 11 decorations . Only Mahaddie remained alive for the ceremony
Czechoslovak War Cross 1939
Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945
Hamish Mahaddie