It's Funny now... crew 22

L to R

F/O Fred Rowe, F/O Ray James

“There we were at 1500 feet… without a pilot…” seems funny now but it was a hair raising experience when, their pilot blinded and rendered unconscious during a test flight, the two Vancouver men pictured above were faced with the problem of landing their Halifax bomber and saving the lives of crewmates. While Flying Officer Fred Rowe (2590 Trimble St.) Left, Navigator, dragged the unconscious pilot from the cockpit, F/O Ray James (941 W. 20th St.) the bomb aimer, took over the controls. James, who is 21 and has done 14 operational trips, flew 40 miles back to base and succeeded in setting the aircraft down on the runway. F/O Rowe has nearly completed two operational tours. Both are members of the RCAF Bomber Group’s “Bluenose” squadron.

3 March 1944

Courtesy CFJIC, PL – 26782