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Lancaster pilot Ken Orman DFC & Bar from New Zealand takes us back to the heart-stopping near misses and ground-to-air combat of a German bombing run. From dodging flak cannon fire to faulty oxygen equipment causing a near fatal crash, Orman details a campaign against the Nazis that saw him face certain death on a regular basis.
He provides graphic examples of the evasive corkscrew manoeuver.
Original on YouTube courtesy rememberWW2.org
Ken Orman proudly displays his medals
Ken Orman served in the RNZAF and still has the piece of shrapnel that could have killed him during battle. On 1 August 2022 family, friends and neighbours came to Orman's Lower Hutt home in New Zealand to celebrate his century, along with some distinguished greetings via the post - the Queen, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro to name a few.
But rewind 80 years, and just before another milestone birthday, Orman was getting ready to serve - despite not yet knowing how to drive a car.
"I trained in Canada, had my 21st birthday, and two days later I graduated as a pilot officer," said Orman.
His first operation in the Bomber Command was a rude awakening.
'I have to say, when I finished it, I thought afterwards, 'If I've got to do another 29 trips like this, I'm not going to last it,' Orman said.
But between then and his final mission in April 1945, Orman completed 38 operations, flying Lancasters with number 186 Squadron.
On display in his home is the piece of shrapnel that struck him below his right eye during an operation that saw two of his fellow pilots go down.
'I was dazed for a moment, blood's going everywhere, and I looked at my hand on the throttles and wiggled my fingers. Oh, I'm alright.'
Despite his injury, Orman continued fighting. The act later earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded for gallantry in action - and a bar, for his leadership in the sky.
Orman arrived home a few days before Christmas, 1945.
He was one of 6000 young Kiwis to serve in the RAF Bomber Command - but one of just 2000 who returned.
Ken Orman with crew of Lancaster HK695 Q-Queenie
Ken and crew pose on top of Lancaster HK695
Source: RNZ
SY 22 May 2024
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