Excalibur Squadron OOC 2: The Song Remains the Same

[United Kingdom of Poland]

have you all beat, I got two mint condition life magazines dated june 12th and June 19th 1944 respectively

I've got about six LIFE and one National Geographic gems from the Interwar period actually. They were nestled in a corner at my local Goodwill store, and were sold for five USD a piece - which by itself was a very fair price compared to what you'd have to give up at the monthly antique fests in Whittier and Pasadena City College.

what condition?

[Grenartia]

have you all beat, I got two mint condition life magazines dated june 12th and June 19th 1944 respectively

I've got about six LIFE and one National Geographic gems from the Interwar period actually. They were nestled in a corner at my local Goodwill store, and were sold for five USD a piece - which by itself was a very fair price compared to what you'd have to give up at the monthly antique fests in Whittier and Pasadena City College.

The closest thing to anything historically important I have as far as magazines go is that August 04 issue of National Geographic that predicted Katrina. Ironically enough, that very issue survived Katrina.

[Goram]

I've got about six LIFE and one National Geographic gems from the Interwar period actually. They were nestled in a corner at my local Goodwill store, and were sold for five USD a piece - which by itself was a very fair price compared to what you'd have to give up at the monthly antique fests in Whittier and Pasadena City College.

The closest thing to anything historically important I have as far as magazines go is that August 04 issue of National Geographic that predicted Katrina. Ironically enough, that very issue survived Katrina.

I think I've got a copy of the Times newspaper from October 1945, owing to the fact that my Grandfather is in it as part of a list of those being awarded the DFC by the King that day. Got a lot of stuff from the 1991 Gulf War, copies of Time, Life, a couple of New York Times' and what not. Think I've got a clipping from Operation: ENTEBBE in 1976. That's about it, as far as widely published period material goes.

On the other hand, I've got quite a few copies of SOE files ranging from 1941 to 1945, but obviously those aren't the real deal. I do have a fair bit of legit Bomber Command material: two logbooks (in which trips to the Tirpitz and Nuremburg are listed, to name a few), maps of Lincolnshire dated some time in 1943 and a couple of original photographs of Number 617 Squadron.

[Grenartia]

The closest thing to anything historically important I have as far as magazines go is that August 04 issue of National Geographic that predicted Katrina. Ironically enough, that very issue survived Katrina.

I think I've got a copy of the Times newspaper from October 1945, owing to the fact that my Grandfather is in it as part of a list of those being awarded the DFC by the King that day. Got a lot of stuff from the 1991 Gulf War, copies of Time, Life, a couple of New York Times' and what not. Think I've got a clipping from Operation: ENTEBBE in 1976. That's about it, as far as widely published period material goes.

On the other hand, I've got quite a few copies of SOE files ranging from 1941 to 1945, but obviously those aren't the real deal. I do have a fair bit of legit Bomber Command material: two logbooks (in which trips to the Tirpitz and Nuremburg are listed, to name a few), maps of Lincolnshire dated some time in 1943 and a couple of original photographs of Number 617 Squadron.

Kickass.

I've got copies of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and a map of the world circa 1620. The closest thing to actual history that I know of is my family. We're fairly sure my father's side is descended from Maj. Patrick Ferguson (of Revolutionary War fame), and my granddad fought in Korea. On my mom's side, my mom's stepdad's adopted father (really complicated) was in the second wave at D-Day. I got to talk with him about two years before he died (Alzheimer's, exasperated by the fact that they evacuated the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, MS for Katrina, and moved them to DC). Also on my mom's side, we're somehow related to the father of Bluegrass.

[Len Hyet]

My great something or another was in the Air Force. He supposedly died in a training accident in the Carribean, but according to my mother, his wife (her aunt? It's terribly confusing) firmly believed he was shot down over Cuba.

Eh. Probably just an accident. Shit happens.

Further back we have Cossack blood.

[Monfrox]

My great something or another was in the Air Force. He supposedly died in a training accident in the Carribean, but according to my mother, his wife (her aunt? It's terribly confusing) firmly believed he was shot down over Cuba.

Eh. Probably just an accident. Shit happens.

Further back we have Cossack blood.

Speaking of shot down...

[Len Hyet]

My great something or another was in the Air Force. He supposedly died in a training accident in the Carribean, but according to my mother, his wife (her aunt? It's terribly confusing) firmly believed he was shot down over Cuba.

Eh. Probably just an accident. Shit happens.

Further back we have Cossack blood.

Speaking of shot down...

Lets pretend (I'm not pretending) I have access only to what news I get on my phone (none) and the front page of the occasional newspaper (Obamacare is failing. No it's working. Back to failing.)
So what does that mean?

[Le-Quebec]

what condition?

I'd say they're all fairly in good condition, with all them being absolutely readable as long as one minds their delicacy as antique documents. The bindings are still sturdy, but the main issues are that the cover pages have predictably bourn the brunt of wear and tear over the ages. The issue on the lower far right is marked early August, 1939.

On the other hand, I've got quite a few copies of SOE files ranging from 1941 to 1945, but obviously those aren't the real deal. I do have a fair bit of legit Bomber Command material: two logbooks (in which trips to the Tirpitz and Nuremburg are listed, to name a few), maps of Lincolnshire dated some time in 1943 and a couple of original photographs of Number 617 Squadron.

May I politely ask as to how you managed to obtain these? I mean, almost all of my antique documents are of the public press, since they are obviously well published in quantity and thus the easiest of all historical papers to find in your average estate sale or thrift store. Authentic military documents on the other hand, tend to be stored away into government or at least private archives instead of being carried home by their handlers. The one big exception in my library is of a series of USAF training encyclopedias from the 1960's about various aspects of the Soviet Union; I managed to purchase these for an amazing one USD per piece at a yard sale. Apparently, the old timer that used to own them was extremely generous with his prices.

[Goram]

My great something or another was in the Air Force. He supposedly died in a training accident in the Carribean, but according to my mother, his wife (her aunt? It's terribly confusing) firmly believed he was shot down over Cuba.

Eh. Probably just an accident. Shit happens.

Further back we have Cossack blood.

Speaking of shot down...

Yeah, was going to mention. Has Samantha bought it or did she get out?

[Len Hyet]

Speaking of shot down...

Yeah, was going to mention. Has Samantha bought it or did she get out?

Oh. That happened? Shit I need to post. Soon. Ish. Holy fuck Silva is gonna have SO much paperwork if Samantha buys the farm.

I mean, personal grief I can RP. But paperwork is a bitch and a half.

[Goram]

On the other hand, I've got quite a few copies of SOE files ranging from 1941 to 1945, but obviously those aren't the real deal. I do have a fair bit of legit Bomber Command material: two logbooks (in which trips to the Tirpitz and Nuremburg are listed, to name a few), maps of Lincolnshire dated some time in 1943 and a couple of original photographs of Number 617 Squadron.

May I politely ask as to how you managed to obtain these? I mean, almost all of my antique documents are of the public press, since they are obviously well published in quantity and thus the easiest of all historical papers to find in your average estate sale or thrift store. Authentic military documents on the other hand, tend to be stored away into government or at least private archives instead of being carried home by their handlers. The one big exception in my library is of a series of USAF training encyclopedias from the 1960's about various aspects of the Soviet Union; I managed to purchase these for an amazing one USD per piece at a yard sale. Apparently, the old timer that used to own them was extremely generous with his prices.

You may indeed.

They all belonged to my paternal grandfather, who's name I would provide but I'm not awfully keen on splashing my actual name around. He was a Lancaster pilot, with No. 50 and later 617 Squadron, managing to survive 60 trips over two tours of duty. The pictures are almost exclusively of him and his crew, posing in front of a Lancaster. We have a framed picture in the house, which includes several black and white photographs. One of them is a 617 squadron photograph, that I can't date and the quality isn't great, but I'm pretty sure Leonard Cheshire is in it. There's a second picture of a Lancaster getting airborne - no idea who the crew is. The maps are interesting (they're of the local area) but the logs are the pick of the bunch.

Notable trips include Nuremberg, several to Berlin, the Tirpitz trips (including the those that went from Russia), Peenemunde, assorted attacks with Grand Slams/Tall Boys against U-boat pens and viaduct targets. There's also an incident in the log that notes an attack from an FW-190 over the target, several accounts of major flak damage and a confirmed victory over a JU-88.

My Dad has been approached before by the RAF Museum, Hendon, to take charge of the logs (in order to protect them) but we we're awfully keen on it. They belonged to his Father (whom I never met) and ought to stay in the family.

[Monfrox]

Speaking of shot down...

Yeah, was going to mention. Has Samantha bought it or did she get out?

I don't know, what do you think?

[Goram]

Yeah, was going to mention. Has Samantha bought it or did she get out?

I don't know, what do you think?

Mon, I'm sure I cannot say.

[Len Hyet]

Yeah, was going to mention. Has Samantha bought it or did she get out?

I don't know, what do you think?

It read kinda open ended. The engine blew and the ammo cooked off, but Sammy could have popped silk. Or burned to death.

[Goram]

I don't know, what do you think?

It read kinda open ended. The engine blew and the ammo cooked off, but Sammy could have popped silk. Or burned to death.

Exactly. It's outrageously open ended, thus sarcasm really isn't needed. Nor appreciated.

[The Tiger Kingdom]

I got a new dedicated music player with four times the capacity of my previous one, which is a godsend, a PS4 that I've got to hook up, ten new Time-Life WW2 encyclopedias (which admittedly I bought myself but it was still a huge steal) as well as several other welcome small sundries! Not a bad haul.

Are those Time-Life books part of their excellent World War II series? You know, those gems with title-less covers that consist of only a massive period photograph on both ends? I mean, those are in fact some of the best references on the war - the manner in which they divide each aspect of it into their own independent titles allows for more information to be stuffed into one sitting.

I currently own:
-War in the Outposts
-War in the Desert
-China-Burma-India
-Battle of Britain
-Return to the Philippines
-The Road to Tokyo
-The Air War in Europe
-Russia Besieged
-Red Army Resurgent
-The Second Front

Indeed they are. I've got 21 of the 39, I believe, with ten more coming in the next few days. I got hooked on them back in high school, when I saw a few of them in the library and got hooked on the Battle of the Atlantic and Air War in Europe volumes. They're all pretty amazing.

Given the sad fact that they're now out of print (and as well as all of Time-Life's past educational works before shifting over to music and cooking), I've collected all this over the course of four to five years and still have about six or so titles left to finish. A great place to find them are antique sales and Goodwill thrift stores, the latter of which I obtain nearly all of my out-of-print references. That being said, I won't be worried about you raiding every Goodwill in sight from the Canadian to Oregon borders; we've got tons of them down south in Hollywoodland.

I have terrible problems with instant gratification and my inability to resist it, so I just use Ebay.
I find that people who sell them in lots (and there are quite a few) are generally fairly willing to deal with you if you just make them an offer on a few of the books, so you don't have to buy the whole thing and probably end up with a ton of repeats.

Oh. Gibberan; it's the people in the captured transport that are being chased by "half of the Luftwaffe". Konrad wants them dead you see.

Technically, it's Konrad's (rather more practical but no less devoted) SS General father who wants them dead. Konrad himself is kinda out of the loop here.
But yeah.

Pat...then waited with his hand on his 1911, to see if he needed to grab a machine gun to defend the transport. He was just getting back into it and he asked the Captain "Do you think they are sending planes after us? Should I grab a machine gun and fire out the windows at them if they do come after?"

...Erm...where the hell did Pat's Colt come from? He's kind of been held prisoner for the last six weeks.
And there aren't exactly any machine-guns floating around the interior of the plane either, the Germans didn't even have any - this was, after all, just supposed to be a transport job.

[Monfrox]

I don't know, what do you think?

It read kinda open ended. The engine blew and the ammo cooked off, but Sammy could have popped silk. Or burned to death.

Then I have done my part of writing.

[Grenartia]

I think I've got a copy of the Times newspaper from October 1945, owing to the fact that my Grandfather is in it as part of a list of those being awarded the DFC by the King that day. Got a lot of stuff from the 1991 Gulf War, copies of Time, Life, a couple of New York Times' and what not. Think I've got a clipping from Operation: ENTEBBE in 1976. That's about it, as far as widely published period material goes.

On the other hand, I've got quite a few copies of SOE files ranging from 1941 to 1945, but obviously those aren't the real deal. I do have a fair bit of legit Bomber Command material: two logbooks (in which trips to the Tirpitz and Nuremburg are listed, to name a few), maps of Lincolnshire dated some time in 1943 and a couple of original photographs of Number 617 Squadron.

Kickass.

I've got copies of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and a map of the world circa 1620. The closest thing to actual history that I know of is my family. We're fairly sure my father's side is descended from Maj. Patrick Ferguson (of Revolutionary War fame), and my granddad fought in Korea. On my mom's side, my mom's stepdad's adopted father (really complicated) was in the second wave at D-Day. I got to talk with him about two years before he died (Alzheimer's, exasperated by the fact that they evacuated the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, MS for Katrina, and moved them to DC). Also on my mom's side, we're somehow related to the father of Bluegrass.

Then there's my mom's brother, who I've mentioned here before. And my mother was in AFJROTC in high school. She probably would've actually joined if she hadn't injured her foot on a footlocker during some trip they took (I think she said they went to Lackland).

My great something or another was in the Air Force. He supposedly died in a training accident in the Carribean, but according to my mother, his wife (her aunt? It's terribly confusing) firmly believed he was shot down over Cuba.

Eh. Probably just an accident. Shit happens.

Further back we have Cossack blood.

My family lineage on both sides, consists of Irish, Scottish, Scots-Irish, English, German (maybe we're distant cousins, Balk ), and Cherokee. On my mother's side, we also have Norse (from way back when the Vikings raided England), as indicated in my mother's maiden name, and Dutch (from her mother's side).

My great something or another was in the Air Force. He supposedly died in a training accident in the Carribean, but according to my mother, his wife (her aunt? It's terribly confusing) firmly believed he was shot down over Cuba.

Eh. Probably just an accident. Shit happens.

Further back we have Cossack blood.

Speaking of shot down...

Yeah, Jimmy's going to be kicking himself for letting that happen. Doesn't matter if he had permission to escort the Wellington.

what condition?

I'd say they're all fairly in good condition, with all them being absolutely readable as long as one minds their delicacy as antique documents. The bindings are still sturdy, but the main issues are that the cover pages have predictably bourn the brunt of wear and tear over the ages. The issue on the lower far right is marked early August, 1939.

On the other hand, I've got quite a few copies of SOE files ranging from 1941 to 1945, but obviously those aren't the real deal. I do have a fair bit of legit Bomber Command material: two logbooks (in which trips to the Tirpitz and Nuremburg are listed, to name a few), maps of Lincolnshire dated some time in 1943 and a couple of original photographs of Number 617 Squadron.

May I politely ask as to how you managed to obtain these? I mean, almost all of my antique documents are of the public press, since they are obviously well published in quantity and thus the easiest of all historical papers to find in your average estate sale or thrift store. Authentic military documents on the other hand, tend to be stored away into government or at least private archives instead of being carried home by their handlers. The one big exception in my library is of a series of USAF training encyclopedias from the 1960's about various aspects of the Soviet Union; I managed to purchase these for an amazing one USD per piece at a yard sale. Apparently, the old timer that used to own them was extremely generous with his prices.

I wouldn't mind having the chance to get my hands on some 60s-era AF documents.

Speaking of shot down...

Yeah, was going to mention. Has Samantha bought it or did she get out?

I hope she didn't buy it.

Yeah, was going to mention. Has Samantha bought it or did she get out?

Oh. That happened? Shit I need to post. Soon. Ish. Holy fuck Silva is gonna have SO much paperwork if Samantha buys the farm.

I mean, personal grief I can RP. But paperwork is a bitch and a half.

Quite.

You may indeed.

They all belonged to my paternal grandfather, who's name I would provide but I'm not awfully keen on splashing my actual name around. He was a Lancaster pilot, with No. 50 and later 617 Squadron, managing to survive 60 trips over two tours of duty. The pictures are almost exclusively of him and his crew, posing in front of a Lancaster. There's a second picture of a Lancaster getting airborne - no idea who the crew is. The maps are interesting (they're of the local area) but the logs are the pick of the bunch.

Notable trips include Nuremburg, several to Berlin, the Tirpitz trips (including the one's that went from Russia), Peenemunde, assorted attacks with Grand Slams/Tall Boys against U-boat pens and viaduct targets. There's also an incident in the log that notes an attack from an FW-190 over the target, several accounts of major flak damage and a confirmed victory over a JU-88.

My Dad has been approached before by the RAF Museum, Hendon, to take charge of the logs (in order to protect them) but we we're awfully keen on it. They belonged to his Father (whom I never met) and ought to stay in the family.

That. Is. Fucking. Amazing.

[Goram]

You may indeed.

They all belonged to my paternal grandfather, who's name I would provide but I'm not awfully keen on splashing my actual name around. He was a Lancaster pilot, with No. 50 and later 617 Squadron, managing to survive 60 trips over two tours of duty. The pictures are almost exclusively of him and his crew, posing in front of a Lancaster. There's a second picture of a Lancaster getting airborne - no idea who the crew is. The maps are interesting (they're of the local area) but the logs are the pick of the bunch.

Notable trips include Nuremburg, several to Berlin, the Tirpitz trips (including the one's that went from Russia), Peenemunde, assorted attacks with Grand Slams/Tall Boys against U-boat pens and viaduct targets. There's also an incident in the log that notes an attack from an FW-190 over the target, several accounts of major flak damage and a confirmed victory over a JU-88.

My Dad has been approached before by the RAF Museum, Hendon, to take charge of the logs (in order to protect them) but we we're awfully keen on it. They belonged to his Father (whom I never met) and ought to stay in the family.

That. Is. Fucking. Amazing.

I've got at least one page of the log scanned into my computer, had to use it for a presentation way back when. If you'll give me a moment, I'll find it for you.

[Le-Quebec]

You may indeed.

They all belonged to my paternal grandfather, who's name I would provide but I'm not awfully keen on splashing my actual name around. He was a Lancaster pilot, with No. 50 and later 617 Squadron, managing to survive 60 trips over two tours of duty. The pictures are almost exclusively of him and his crew, posing in front of a Lancaster. We have a framed picture in the house, which includes several black and white photographs. One of them is a 617 squadron photograph, that I can't date and the quality isn't great, but I'm pretty sure Leonard Cheshire is in it. There's a second picture of a Lancaster getting airborne - no idea who the crew is. The maps are interesting (they're of the local area) but the logs are the pick of the bunch.

Notable trips include Nuremberg, several to Berlin, the Tirpitz trips (including the those that went from Russia), Peenemunde, assorted attacks with Grand Slams/Tall Boys against U-boat pens and viaduct targets. There's also an incident in the log that notes an attack from an FW-190 over the target, several accounts of major flak damage and a confirmed victory over a JU-88.

My Dad has been approached before by the RAF Museum, Hendon, to take charge of the logs (in order to protect them) but we we're awfully keen on it. They belonged to his Father (whom I never met) and ought to stay in the family.

God that's some history in your family; it also explains perfectly your admiration of Len Deighton's Bomber, because you're family knew first hand what Lambert, Sweet, and the other British characters were going through.

My family never really managed to save many artifacts from the war. I suppose it's part of the price when you're on the losing side of the spectrum; not only were entire archives of Japanese records destroyed by US firebombing, but that those that survived were often burned by their handlers as the situation increasingly became hopeless for the Empire. Most of the few artifacts left by my family's time as Japanese subjects on Formusa are practical; a photograph of a soldier of some sorts posing with his wife presumably before the war, a Hinomaru flag small enough to fit inside your pocket, a Japanese translation of the King James bible (surprisingly to Westerners, the Japanese were quite tolerant about Christian colonial subjects), and most valuably, an apparently very rare pre-war ceremonial sword, complete with an emblazoned sakura blossom on the end of the handle.

[Monfrox]

So Pol's character was the only one, so far, who knows exactly what happened to Samantha in terms of how she got shot down.

[Grenartia]

You may indeed.

They all belonged to my paternal grandfather, who's name I would provide but I'm not awfully keen on splashing my actual name around. He was a Lancaster pilot, with No. 50 and later 617 Squadron, managing to survive 60 trips over two tours of duty. The pictures are almost exclusively of him and his crew, posing in front of a Lancaster. We have a framed picture in the house, which includes several black and white photographs. One of them is a 617 squadron photograph, that I can't date and the quality isn't great, but I'm pretty sure Leonard Cheshire is in it. There's a second picture of a Lancaster getting airborne - no idea who the crew is. The maps are interesting (they're of the local area) but the logs are the pick of the bunch.

Notable trips include Nuremberg, several to Berlin, the Tirpitz trips (including the those that went from Russia), Peenemunde, assorted attacks with Grand Slams/Tall Boys against U-boat pens and viaduct targets. There's also an incident in the log that notes an attack from an FW-190 over the target, several accounts of major flak damage and a confirmed victory over a JU-88.

My Dad has been approached before by the RAF Museum, Hendon, to take charge of the logs (in order to protect them) but we we're awfully keen on it. They belonged to his Father (whom I never met) and ought to stay in the family.

God that's some history in your family; it also explains perfectly your admiration of Len Deighton's Bomber, because you're family knew first hand what Lambert, Sweet, and the other British characters were going through.

My family never really managed to save many artifacts from the war. I suppose it's part of the price when you're on the losing side of the spectrum; not only were entire archives of Japanese records destroyed by US firebombing, but that those that survived were often burned by their handlers as the situation increasingly became hopeless for the Empire. Most of the few artifacts left by my family's time as Japanese subjects on Formusa are practical; a photograph of a soldier of some sorts posing with his wife presumably before the war, a Hinomaru flag small enough to fit inside your pocket, a Japanese translation of the King James bible (surprisingly to Westerners, the Japanese were quite tolerant about Christian colonial subjects), and most valuably, an apparently very rare pre-war ceremonial sword, complete with an emblazoned sakura blossom on the end of the handle.

Still pretty damn cool.

My granddad (father's father) apparently had some artifacts, in addition to Poor Man's James Bond, but they got lost in some move before I was born.

So Pol's character was the only one, so far, who knows exactly what happened to Samantha in terms of how she got shot down.

Figured that.

[Monfrox]

Which means if a certain female happens to get an attitude or the wrong idea, there's someone to set the record straight.

[The Tiger Kingdom]

Which means if a certain female happens to get an attitude or the wrong idea, there's someone to set the record straight.

OH NO YOU DI-IN'T
*does sassy neck roll that somehow, despite being a 19-year-old white boy, he can actually do*

[Goram]

You may indeed.

They all belonged to my paternal grandfather, who's name I would provide but I'm not awfully keen on splashing my actual name around. He was a Lancaster pilot, with No. 50 and later 617 Squadron, managing to survive 60 trips over two tours of duty. The pictures are almost exclusively of him and his crew, posing in front of a Lancaster. We have a framed picture in the house, which includes several black and white photographs. One of them is a 617 squadron photograph, that I can't date and the quality isn't great, but I'm pretty sure Leonard Cheshire is in it. There's a second picture of a Lancaster getting airborne - no idea who the crew is. The maps are interesting (they're of the local area) but the logs are the pick of the bunch.

Notable trips include Nuremberg, several to Berlin, the Tirpitz trips (including the those that went from Russia), Peenemunde, assorted attacks with Grand Slams/Tall Boys against U-boat pens and viaduct targets. There's also an incident in the log that notes an attack from an FW-190 over the target, several accounts of major flak damage and a confirmed victory over a JU-88.

My Dad has been approached before by the RAF Museum, Hendon, to take charge of the logs (in order to protect them) but we we're awfully keen on it. They belonged to his Father (whom I never met) and ought to stay in the family.

God that's some history in your family; it also explains perfectly your admiration of Len Deighton's Bomber, because you're family knew first hand what Lambert, Sweet, and the other British characters were going through.

My family never really managed to save many artifacts from the war. I suppose it's part of the price when you're on the losing side of the spectrum; not only were entire archives of Japanese records destroyed by US firebombing, but that those that survived were often burned by their handlers as the situation increasingly became hopeless for the Empire. Most of the few artifacts left by my family's time as Japanese subjects on Formusa are practical; a photograph of a soldier of some sorts posing with his wife presumably before the war, a Hinomaru flag small enough to fit inside your pocket, a Japanese translation of the King James bible (surprisingly to Westerners, the Japanese were quite tolerant about Christian colonial subjects), and most valuably, an apparently very rare pre-war ceremonial sword, complete with an emblazoned sakura blossom on the end of the handle.

Well, from what my Dad has told me, his father didn't like to talk about it. I do know though, that perhaps the only reason he survived the Nuremberg carve up was to abandon the bomber stream and make his own way to the target. I'm pretty sure several authors tried to talk to him before he died, about his experiences, but I think he refused them all. To me, that is entirely justifiable. You had a one in four chance of surviving a 30 op tour. If you went back for a second tour of duty, the odds got even worse. You say my family knows and indeed, I think I have a better understanding of it than most, but I'll never know what it was like. No one who wasn't there will. I can imagine that ops on day bombers would be bad. Ops on USAAF heavies would have been terrifying, but at least you've got friendly aircraft and escort around. You've got to think that operating alone in the dark, where you mightn't know a fighter is there until your aircraft falls apart around you would have been unequivocally worse. How those men, no older than me, managed to go out and do that job every night is absolutely beyond me.

He continued to fly after the war, mind, for BOAC. He is, pretty much, the reason I've got a fascination with air power (particularly strategic bombing), why I'm learning to fly and the reason I want a career in aviation.

The war in the Pacific isn't something I know very much about. Never really got into it myself. The only part of it I feel I could talk about with any authority is the bombing campaign against mainland Japan and some of the major naval engagements. Really ought to know more about that part of the war.