McCarthy's rear gunner, DaveRodger, remembers: 'Joe nearly went without a parachute. In transferring equipment from one aircraft tothe other he caughthis foot in hischuteand it blew opensohe had to send someone runningfor another.
In 'Bomber Boys' Kevin Wilson presents an account of the everyday heroism of British bomber crews in 1943 - the year when Bomber Command believed it could win WWII by bombing alone.
This is, however, more than a story about the 900 bombing raids, reconnaissance missions and attacks on Japanese shipping that the squadron flew in its three years of existence under Australian control.
Patrick Bishop looks at the lives and the extraordinary risks that the painfully young pilots of Bomber Command took during the air-offensive against Germany from 1940-1945.
Waiting in vast numbers was the enemy with fighter aircraft, determined our bomber boys would never see another dawn. So full of life yet so close to death each time they flew off on another bombing operation.
Johnny says he's a lucky charm for any crew he flies with, but Len's not so sure, and on a mission to Berlin, he finds out thetruth.
This is, however, more than a story about the 900 bombing raids, reconnaissance missions and attacks on Japanese shipping that the squadron flew in its three years of existence under Australian control.
A remarkable and disturbing look inside the dark world of Bomber Command, and at some of the most daring - and overlooked - airmen of the Second World War.
Patrick Bishop looks back at the lives, human realities and the extraordinary risks that the painfully young pilots took during the strategic air-offensive against Germany from 1939-1945.
An anthology of 20 dramatic true accounts of the exploits of the RAF Bomber Command. It gives aircrew experiences of the war over occupied Europe, 1942-1945.
This is, however, more than a story about the 900 bombing raids, reconnaissance missions and attacks on Japanese shipping that the squadron flew in its three years of existence under Australian control.
Len is not so sure that Johnny is a lucky charm for the bomber crews he flies with and he finds out what Johnny is really like during an air raid on Berlin. First person recount. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary.