大象传媒

As a cadet in the ATC my Grandad was lucky. His friend's sister was going out with an American officer at the base which meant that, if they turned up in their uniform and mentioned his name, the guard would let them onto the base. They would visit the flying control and, on some occasions, go for rides in the B17 Flying Fortress'.
His Mum knew and he remembers that 'I wasn't very popular.'
They had a few eventful trips.
On one occasion the navigator got lost and they ended up over the Dutch coast!
Another 4 and a half hour long trip took them on a navigational tour round Scotland. That was one of the recorded flights they went on.
He recalled that they would use the churches for navigation and marvelled at the way they were all in a straight line across the countryside.
During their flights they would sit anywhere, if they could get in the cockpit they would but if not my Grandad liked to sit in the 'rear turret'.
Some B17's returned from missions while he was there and crashed, often with people still in the bottom turret.
They used to visit the mess hall as well and would be able to get things there that were rationed in the bulk of Britain. The meals were good there and some of the airmen would come to the pub his family ran nearby.

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