Page 22 - SBT 59

Francis (Frank) Damerell, Navigator Mosquito
Night Fighter, RCAF – RIP
21st September 1924-11th June 2019 (RIP)

I had the privilege of meeting Frank in July, 2018 and was immediately struck
by his wonderful, exuberant character.

He grew up in New York, USA, born to English parents his father from
Plymouth, his mother from Kent. His father worked in elite, gentlemen’s
club frequented by the likes of the Rockefellers, the Astors and many other
American wealthy elite. Aged 16, Frank was listening to the radio when
Neville Chamberlin declared that a state of war now existed with Germany. He
immediately tried to volunteer but frustratingly was told he was too young. He
bided his time and then on his 18th birthday took a train crossing the border
to Canada, where he was accepted into The Royal Canadian Air Force (thereby,
automatically relinquishing his US citizenship) and swore his allegiance to the
King and Britain.

He was selected to be a Navigator and upon completion of his training, sent
to England. He was keen to impress on me that, “many people could fly an
aeroplane but not many people could be a Navigator.” Unlike today’s high-tech
computerised navigation systems, Navigators had to be ‘hands-on’. His pay was
19s6d a week (97 ½ new pence!), which was more than his British counterparts
at the time.
Assigned to the 410 Squadron, he was paired up with a French-Canadian
pilot named Jacques. Both were assigned to the 410 Squadron, which was a
Mosquito Night Fighter group that was fitted with new radar equipment in the
nose of the aeroplanes (NF18’s and NF19). Their job was to intercept German
aircraft in their bombing raids over Britain, which the squadron was very
Nel Brooks Brings Her successful at doing.

Wonderful Work To The Like many others, Frank felt the Mosquito was the best all-round aeroplane
used during WW2 (despite being constructed mostly out of wood!). It could
Historical Tommy Atkins fly at 380 mph (19 mph faster than a Battle of Britain Spitfire and 50 mph faster
than the Hawker Hurricane). With its great range, the Mosquito outperformed
Spitfires converted for the same task. Its ability to fly fast and low (as well
Since we featured Nel Brooks in the last issue, we as very high) meant it went under the radar of the German defences and
have had a great response to her story. Her artwork fast enough to more easily avoid anti-aircraft assaults. It was nicknamed the
is something which not only tells the stories of some ‘Wooden Wonder’ or ‘Mossie’!
remarkable people but also captures the history He and Jacques were sent on many missions over France, Germany and Holland
of our nation at it’s most challenging time and the and had many hair-raising encounters. Frank recalled a particular incident
heroes we owe everything to, beautifully. when his realized Jacques had strayed into enemy territory. Jacques took some
convincing of the fact and they managed to get away just in time.
Nel and her husband Len plus their two cats, travel
the country speaking to surviving veterans of WW2 Frank, who had always relied on his belief in God, said he had an epiphany
and then creating incredible portraits of them, each whilst on a night flight. Seeing all the stars and looking down at the landscape.
project taking up to 60hrs to complete. The veteran He said, “I felt God with me, a feeling of being at one and safe. Of total peace. I
receives a framed copy of the original work, while defy any pilots to not believe in God”.
the original is put to work in exhibitions raising Frank earned the Ordre national de la Legion d’honneur for his part in
funds for charity.
Operation Overlord (the D-Day ) flying sorties out over France from the nights
of the 5th and 6th June 1944, clearing the skies of German planes prior to and
The result is an incredible creation which can serve during the invasion of Normandy.
as a constant reminder of heroism, sacrifice, grati-
tude and immense respect which has to be passed As the allied armies moved further into France and air fields were established,
down to our future generations. Nel’s portraits are a the Mosquito’s resiliency meant it was used over Holland and Germany, helping
shining light in this mission. to destroy German air power as the war progressed.

The SBT team were so impressed with Nel’s stories The Luftwaffe was decimated and became a mere shadow of what it had been
in 1942, with thousands of aircraft lost along with their crews either killed or
that. when she suggested running a column to keep captured by the allied air forces.
us up to date of these incredible stories, we decided One of the more amusing anecdotes Frank relayed to me was of his French-
to give the Historical Tommy Atkins to Nel. What Canadian pilot, Jacques: - They were given leave while in France and Jacques
better way to use these pages. came across a lingerie shop. He told Francis he was going to buy something to
take back to his lady. He went into the shop and came out again not long after
So each month Nel and Len will bring us another with a very hang-dog expression. Frank asked him, Jacques, what happened,
incredible hero and another incredible story of those what’s wrong?” Apparently, he had tried to talk to the shopkeeper in French
that gave so much for our today. but they couldn’t understand him (a very different form of French apparently!).

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