Wellington bomber's engines roar <br />There is a stench of burning oil <br />As in the darkness the heavy plane rises. <br />There is no moon or stars only inky darkness <br />And an icy cold chilling the soul. <br /> <br />Flying over the white cliffs of Dover <br />He fires his guns - - testing them <br />Ready for German fighters <br />Swooping like hawks against the bomber <br />Darting from the darkness guns blazing. <br /> <br />Over Holland they join other bombers <br />Flying in formation towards Germany <br />Searchlights seeking for them <br />With ack-ack shells colouring the night <br />Trying to bring the bombers down. <br /> <br />Fighters, like angry hornets, sweep in <br />As the bombers reach Berlin <br />Where path-finders have lit-up the target <br />And below all seems a sea of fire <br />Hitler's punishment for London's blitz. <br /> <br />Bomb-aimer takes control of the plane <br />Guiding the pilot over the target <br />Where he presses the plunger <br />And bombs drop screaming as they go <br />Exploding the factory making tanks. <br /> <br />The bomber makes two runs <br />Turns for home, caught in searchlight glare <br />Illuminated for fighters and gunners <br />Too slow it tries to climb beyond the light <br />And is swept by machine gun fire. <br /> <br />The burning bomber reaches England <br />Pilot dying, crew bloody and afraid <br />Crash lands on its airfield <br />The rear-gunner is pulled from his turret <br />Weeping, he has survived another mission.<br /><br />Colin Ian Jeffery<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/airgunner/
