Cambrai Raid

The raid started out in a fine form, it was to be another low level raid at 2,000 feet with a path that would take them nearly over Amiens, Albert, Courcelette, and Thiepval to Cambrai, country terribly familiar to those who survived WWI. The ramainder of the encounter is best left up to Pat Brophy, the tailgunner. "As we crossed the french coast, i saw enemy searchlights sweeping the sky, then lazy puffs of smoke and deceptively pretty sunbursts of sparks. 'Light flak below, skipper,' I reported. "Suddenly there was a blinding flash, a searchlight caught us. Other searchlights quicklu converged, coning the aircraft.'Hang on' called Art De Bryne.'We're coned!' He threw the lanc into a banking dive, then swung upwards, trying to squirm away from the deadly glare. Then, just as suddenly, we were in the dark again.