大象传媒

279 Squadron, 04/10/1945 to 30/10/1945, Lancasters, RAF Thornaby.
The following account is best to put into context by reading my story listed under: Irene M M Sutcliffe:
My future husband Bill was selected as aircrew and after training as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner and further training in the Middle East at No 78 OTU between 19/09/1944 and 03/11/1944 he flew home on York MW 109 on 24/11/1944 leaving Cairo at 10:36 via Malta and arriving at 524 Suadron 16 Group England at 08:10 on 25/11/1944. He attacked and damagedan E Boat on 11/01/1945 and was then posted for Radar training at RAF Chivenor fron 01/02/1945 to 19/02/1945. He was then moved to operational duties, flying from RAF Langham in Norfolk from 07/03/1945 until 20/04/1945 On 04/06/1945 he was selected with other Squadron candidates, to train as a 鈥淕unnery Leader鈥� at CGS until 08/07/1945. His last posting was to RAF Thornaby where he flew on Lancaster Bombers: Nos鈥� RF 179, 120, 140, 180, 272, 279, 288, 408, 525, 527, 528, 580, 589 and "L" starting flying there on 04/10/1945. His last flight on Lacaster 鈥淒鈥� with the RAF was as Wop.A.G. SE Square Search A.S.R., on the 8th February 1946 at 10:00hrs. His pilot was F/O Harvey. The flight lasted 3.10hrs. He would have climbed out of the Lanc at 13:30. He had 237.40 hrs of day flying and 129. hrs of night. 90.1hrs were flying operationally at night and 8.1 during the day a total of 98 hrs 20mins and 21 ops. Over 50,000 Aircrew died during the conflict. HE HAD SURVIVED!
He often said how valuable his training and experience in the RAF had been and remarked that it was 鈥淗is鈥� university education.
When he retired he became ill with bowel cancer. The doctors at 鈥淗is鈥� Stepping Hill Hospital cured him and so he set about raising the funds for a CT Scanner for the Dept of Radiology. He was later diagnosed with bladder cancer which was again cured and he helped the Dept of Urology achieve their Charter Mark Award, which they still hold, a real success.
He was always keen to organise the Remembrance Day Parade in the village and played his cornet on the village green. He organised trips and took many people to the battlefields of Normandy and to the huge WW1 sites in North East France.
Bill died on March 7th 2000. He had a fulfilling career as a Training Officer in the textile industry and later he was promoted as Chief Training Officer for the Carpet Industry.
He was a very strong, capable and adaptable man. He was a loving, generous, caring husband and wonderful supportive father to our two children; Mark who lives nearby in Furness Vale and Angela who lives in South Manchester. He loved his seven grandchildren dearly and encouraged them all to achieve.....Emma is now a medical Doctor.
He is buried in St. Mary鈥檚 Churchyard, Green Lane, Disley, Nr. Stockport, Cheshire, within sight of his home and close to our first house on Buxton Old Road.
He has a blue granite headstone and I have had the words 鈥淎 MAN FOR ALL SEASONS鈥� inscribed below the RAF motto PER ARDUA AD ASTRA.....Through Endeavour to the Stars.

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