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Flight Lieutenant Henderson (left) and Group Captain Constantine (right). | ||
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The post of Medical Officer at any RAF station was of the utmost importance and many doctors served with great distinction in this capacity throughout Bomber Command and the RAF in general. Amongst these was Flight Lieutenant Robert " Doc " Henderson who, in 1942, was the 103 Squadron Medical Officer at Elsham Wolds under Squadron Leader John Gauvain the Station Medical Officer. Flight Lieutenant Henderson was a tall distinguished looking man in his mid twenties and, like all good doctors took his responsibilities very seriously and had a great interest in the welfare and physical and mental health of the men and women under his care. The issue of aircrew stress was of particular concern to all RAF squadrons and especially those of Bomber Command where the losses throughout the war had proved cruelly severe. Flight Lieutenant Henderson took a special interest in this subject and made a study of the problem at first hand. He was to fly approximately 19 operations himself during his research into the stresses and strains of operational flying. All these operations were without authorisation and none are noted in the Squadron records. All were with different crews which must in itself have been something of a record. Eventually the Station Commander, Group Captain Constantine, found out about these unofficial flights and Flight Lieutenant Henderson was ordered to cease any further operational flying. His files and study on the subject of aircrew stress have, of course, never been made published but the contents must have made extremely interesting reading. Flying at altitude for long periods and at night in freezing cramped conditions was not was not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Combined with the dangers of flying numerous operations against strongly defended targets and faced with heavy losses the outlook must have been a bleak and a depressing prospect to most aircrew. After an initial period of enthusiasm on joining the Squadron almost all must have come to view the whole process with some apprehension and considerable relief when it was over. It was doubtless a great strain to many men but it seems however that the vast majority of aircrews were able to cope with this in one way or another. Many took strength from their faith and many from their friends and family. Most enjoyed a good time and lived their lives to the full when operations permitted. Each crew tended to stick together and the general feeling was " Well we will be OK. It will not happen to us " and they pressed on regardless. The best crews were good teams where rank was of little importance and they worked together and supported each other through difficult times no matter what. Some airmen were pushed right to their limits and may have faltered a little along the way. A few felt they could not cope any longer and fell by the wayside. It would be very harsh to be critical in these cases. Most were very young men, some no more than boys, and were away from home for the first time in their short lives. They volunteered for aircrew not having any idea of what war in the air was really like. They were put in situations of great responsibility and danger so it is hardly surprising that a small proportion should feel they could no longer carry on and were eventually dismissed from the service. These cases seem to have been few and far between at Elsham Wolds and the writer has come across only anecdotal evidence of a handful of cases of this nature in 15 years of research into the history of both Squadrons. The morale of both 103 and 576 Squadrons seems to have stood up very well. It must also be born in mind that aircrew duties were, by their nature, complex and required great concentration and training. Aircrew could not carry them out consumed or paralysed with fear or lacked self-discipline. The fact that the squadrons of Bomber Command were able to fly hundreds of operations week in and week out throughout the war indicates that, in general, morale throughout held up well, even in the toughest periods. Flight Lieutenant Henderson's general duties as Squadron medical officer included the general health and physical fitness of those under his care. For aircrew this included tests in a decompression chamber to test and demonstrate effects of lack of oxygen. This could produce amusing results, for example a navigator who attempted to do a simple mathematical calculation on paper without the benefit of oxygen and the continued the calculation down his trouser leg. The lack of sunlight was a problem for aircrew flying at night and sleeping by day. The remedy for this was regular sessions under a sunray lamp. Flight Lieutenant Henderson also treated minor wounds and injuries in the station surgery. Those seriously injured were sent straight to hospital after receiving first aid as the station medical facilities were not well enough equipped or staffed to cope with serious conditions. The station sickquarters at ElshamWolds were usually busy as one would expect on a large base. Apart from the normal every day complaints and illnesses the strains of flying operations at altitude always produced plenty of cases of upper respiratory disorders. There were also numerous cases of general fatigue caused by constant operational flying which were treated by a period of rest and good nutrition that usually provided the desired result. Many aircrews took various medicines prescribed by the medical officer to settle their stomachs and also vitamin pills and caffeine tablets prior to flying operations. Flight Lieutenant Henderson was very highly thought of by all that served at Elsham Wolds. He left the RAF after the war and returned to civilian medical practise. A dedicated doctor and most intelligent man he was also a most interesting and gifted speaker. He sadly passed away several years ago. A former 103 Squadron officer recalled " Doc " Henderson with great affection. " Those who flew knew him as a man of compassion, a great and caring doctor and to hell with the protocol. He had an insatiable appetite to go on ops and he was credited with going on 18 or 19. Knowing him I suspect he went on a lot more. Because of that he was one of the problem boys in the service, but when he appeared before the CO he said it was part of his job as medical officer to study the effects of stress on the airmen under his care. He believed to fully understand their stresses he had to experience them for himself at first hand." Acknowledgments | ||
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