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Albert worked in an engineering factory producing Rolls Royce engines for spitfires. He had to keep firewatch at night, which was to keep a look out for incendiary bombs on the testing bays. This was on a rota basis. On the free evenings he used to work at the cinema as a projectionist. He had to have an identity card to access the factories. If he had forgotten it he would get sent back home. If he was late he would get sent to court for being late and would receive a fine. Luckily his factory didn鈥檛 get hit by any bombs. Some landed nearby setting the peat bog on fire. This burnt for weeks. Whilst working in the cinema if the air raid sirens went off he would have to stop the show.
At 19 Albert was called up into the R.A.F. as an electrician working on Lancasters, Wellington bombers and spitfires. To change the battery in a spitfire he had to climb to the tail from behind the pilot seat. He met many Americans at his station in finninglee in Yorkshire, Debden in Essex, and Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire.

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Stefan Szalk of Wigan Over Fifties Forum on behalf of Albert William Church and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the sites's terms and conditions.

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