大象传媒

I was only 11 years old when the war sarted and lived in Northamptonshire, very close to an American base called Chelveston.

From 1942 to 1945 they operated B17 Flying Fortresses who flew daytime bombing raids on Germany.

I was of course still at school and I well remember seeing hundreds of B17's (from all bases in the area) setting into formation, before setting off to other daily targets.

Sadly, on one or two occassions, due to low cloud, one or two planes would collide in mid-air, resulting in terrible crashes and many deaths occurred.

At 16, I joined the British Air trainig Corps and we visited Chelveston to witness the return of the war planes to base, they came in dribs and drabs. If there was a casualty on board the pilot would fire a colour shot denoting that medical help was needed on landing. Very often, aid was too late!!

I was, at that age the owner of my very first motor bike - a 250cc Royal Enfield which I bought for 拢17 10s - one day the bike stood outside my mothers house in Highland Road, Rushden and I was approached by an American pilot who wanted to catch the last Fortress to leave the UK for the U.S.A. Time was short!

He rode pillion passenger and we arrived at the base,just as the last plane was taxiing, ready for take off.. He just made it!

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