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This story was submitted to the People's War site by Lin Freeman of Radio Derby CSV on behalf of Mrs Eileen Shenton (nee Chapman) and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

During WW2 I worked at an aerodrome as a shorthand typist. It was situated on the Derby Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire and repaired Boston Bombers — its name was Airwork General Trading Co. A lot of the employees and bosses came from Gatwick. I enjoyed my job and made lots of friends whilst there. We worked quite long hours so had to make the most of our leisure time at weekends — at the local cinema or at dances organised by local companies which were held in the Town Hall.

There were of course some hair raising moments now and again — one in particular I remember. One day two or three of us were looking out of the office windows, and to our horror a Lancashire Bomber was trying to make an emergency landing on one very short runway for this type of aircraft. They managed to touch down, but soon ran out of runway and carried on to end up in a brook- known as Bishley brook. Fortunately the crew escaped injury — only wet feet!

Among the ups and downs there was always a bright spot — like the lunch-time entertainment every so often, and organised by those with musical talent — my contribution was singing a couple of songs and other members played the piano or some other instrument.

So many memories of this time I was there 1942 to 1946.

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