F/O Joseph D. Ball, Crew 159 (4 missions; Mar 1945)

Lancaster KB-835 piloted by F/O J.B.Stewart FTR from a mission to Hagen on 15/16 March 1945, F/O Ball and five of his crew mates were killed. P/O J.H. Ayotte evaded capture.

NIGHT BOMBING - by Joseph Dixon Ball

We go out to our Aircraft

And pull out all the pins,

Then struggle up inside somehow

A scraping both our shins.

Our safety belts are fastened

As we settle in our chair

And roar off down the Runway

Zooming high up in the Air.

We look and find our target light

Then in the hatch to check our sight.

The target comes toward us

A going fast as hell

My bomb hatch lights go on the blink

So I can’t see so well.

"Dummy Run" I holler out.

The pilot he gets sore.

And hollers through the Intercom

To find out what’s the score.

We drop all our bombs

Then head for the drome

That dear little outpost

We have to call home.

Our bombs have been plotted

for miles around

Tis really a wonder

that some reach the ground

We grab a meal ticket

And buzz off to eat

The boys are so tired

They just drag their feet.

Back to the barracks and climb into bed

To drop off to sleep/

Just as though they were dead.

We get up for lunch

To start off our day

So you see our Air Bombers

Work hard for their pay.

Hasselt (Kruisveld) Communal Cemetery, Belgium

Courtesy Catherine Ball - Niece

F/O H.F. "Tom" Payne, crew 157