´óÏó´«Ã½

I joined my squadron at Colombo and became Entertainments Officer, which happened once it was known that I’d played in Duke Ellington’s band.

The Squadron Commander asked me why I’d been sent there. I told him it was because I was required to fly their twin-engined aircraft. He said: ‘But we haven’t got any twin-engined aircraft!’ So I became a jack-of-all-trades, able to fly any kind of aircraft they presented to me. My job became one of dealing with anything that was non-routine, including ferrying secret people to secret destinations, which I’m not allowed to mention. We were extremely busy — in the Eastern Fleet our feet never touched the ground.

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Becky Barugh and Graham Brown of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Russell Billson and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr Billson fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Russell's stories and photographs:

• 1) I was so fascinated that I enrolled on the spot!
• 2) I had the time of my life
• 3) Flying Walruses
• 5) A lucky escape
• 6) Extra careful
• 7) Badly needed at home
• 8) Shocking statistics
• Aircraft qualified to fly as first pilot
• Operational Airfields and Bases
• World War Two Key Dates

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.