Clissold, George
George Clissold
Typhoon pilot European theatre
Pilot Officer
Service number 420150
Born July 8th, 1923 in Kempsey, New South Wales.
George was flying a Hawker Typhoon over Holland on a strafing mission and was hit by flack. The Germans had many anti aircraft ordnance on their trains and this is what did the damage.
On being hit his engine started to act up rough and he was forced to bail out. He threw the Perspex cover of his cockpit back and unhooked himself from radio, oxygen and all. Throwing the aircraft into a semblance of a dive he threw himself out of the cockpit and took to the silk.
George said that this was the first time that he had jumped and it was a learning experience for him. On hitting the ground and not being used to jumping; caused him to sustain some damage to his knees and was forced to spend some time hiding in a barn on some Dutch farmer's property. He was, due to his inability to move freely eventually apprehended by the enemy soldiers.
With other P.O.W.'s he found himself on a railway station and was being herded with others up the planks to the cattle cars to be carried back into Germany.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw far above aircraft circling. Knowing from experience that this is what the Typhoons did before coming in for a strafing run he wasted no time. He flung himself off the station platform, before the disbelieving eyes of the German guard, and sought safety under the station decking. In a split second, before the guard could shoot him for his apparent bid for freedom the Typhoons struck with cannon fire.
On emerging from his place of sanctuary he observed that all who were on the train platform before the attack were dead. Allied personnel and Germans alike, all dead. He made no effort to hang around though. He eventually found an opportunity to start on his journey back towards Allied lines, and being successful he joined the Allied forces as soon as possible.
Later he was to find that it was his own Squadron that had hit the railway station.
Photo: Keith Webb
Brave men these RAAF fellows and George was up there with the bravest.
George was discharged in October 1945.
