AUTHOR Kurt Vonnegut once said: “The nicest veterans, the kindest and funniest ones, the ones who hated war the most, were the ones who’d really fought.”
This Sunday we honour those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and as services are conducted across the country we are once again reminded how few of those who fought in World War II are still with us.
This week one of those veterans, Geoff Payne, turned 100 years old and his story like so many others is one of bravery and inspiration.
His granddaughter Linda lives in Innellan and after this newspaper contacted her she was only too happy to recount Geoff’s life during and after the war and the effect the man has had on her own life.
Geoff Payne’s journey with the Royal Air Force began in 1943 when he joined the Air Training Corps at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire, at 17 years old, aspiring to be a pilot.
Opting for a quicker route due to his age, he trained as an air gunner, completing basic training at Lords Cricket Ground, London. One vivid memory was carrying patients down from a hospital during an air raid. He trained further at RAF Bridlington, the Isle of Man, and RAF Banbury, joining a Wellington crew before converting to Stirlings at Wratting Common.
His first operation was in February 1944 from RAF Witchford, replacing an ill gunner. The mission to Osnabrück, Germany, involved evading two attacking Me 109s. His fifth mission ended with frostbite after losing heating and communications, leading to months in hospital.
Returning to service at RAF Waterbeach operations expanded to Germany, Southern France, and Poland. Geoff recalls a night fighter attack where his frozen intercom and jammed guns left him helpless. He made his way forward through the plane and discovered the aircraft door open and the mid upper gunner missing, the aircraft was riddled with cannon holes, but the crew survived, later finding an incendiary bullet lodged on board.
His final mission was part of a thousand-bomber raid, after which air gunners helped prepare bombs for the US Army Air Forces. Post-tour, he trained as a driver at RAF Weeton and served in Southern England, ending with a posting in Frankfurt, where he learned German. He has a clear memory of most of his operations but does not wish to dwell on some.
After demobilisation, he worked at the Triumph factory and later moved to Scotland, becoming a production director at Carron Company. Geoff fondly recalls Bomber Command as a family, and stays in touch with fellow veterans and attends reunions.
His daughter Linda, who affectionately calls Geoff her ‘Grumpy’ feels greatly privileged to have been able to spend so much time with her grandfather.
Linda said: “He has astounded us. He is brave and isn’t shy about sharing his experiences. He has written a book that we have as a family about his experiences during the war. It’s called an Airman’s tale. When I think of some of the situations he faced as a young man, I wonder how he coped – being 18 and up in that war filled sky – not knowing if he would come home.”
But one of the most poignant stories about her grandfather involved a the singing of a song while he was home on leave.
Linda explained: “I believe he used to go out to a club somewhere in his home town. He had met my Nana before he set off for training. When he came home for leave that time and visited his club my Nana stood up and sang for him. The song was Silver Wings in the Moonlight. The lyrics are beautiful – Silver Wings in the Moonlight
Flying high up above While I am patiently waiting Please take care of my love. Imagine being apart and waiting for each other. And they stayed together until my Nana passed away a few years ago.”
Linda added: “Through my Grumpy’s stories about his flight and travelling through Germany and beyond after the war he has instilled in me the thought of forgiveness – despite fighting there are always moments to forgive and repair. People are mostly good. Look for the best in people – there are good hearts out there despite the darkness. He is determined – he was determined to survive and get his missions done. Never give up. But his main statement is that war should never happen again.”
