regle:
The other side of it was the terrible trauma experienced by those less fortunate who had been taken prisoner by ruthless enemies and subjected to inhuman treatment.
Thank you for that comment, Reg, as it truly encapsulates my father's fate surviving such treatment for over three years until succumbing to it a few months before VJ day.
fredjh:
Several OTU crews at Abingdon were ready for their final test, which was usually a “Nickel” (dropping leaflets) on France or Belgium.
I remember an instructor at the Hastings OCU who similarly as a student was sent with his OTU crew on a 1000 bomber raid on Cologne. They found the target, duly bombed it but were hit in one of their engines. None the less they made it back home and he found himself enjoying the "Flying Fryup" in the Officers Mess. An Instructor further up the table called down to him and said well done for getting back on one engine. "Now you know why the Wimpey is also nicknamed the "Pig" as that is what it is with one feathered!". He later found his own instructor and asked; "What does feathered mean, Sir?" He had returned with the failed engine windmilling, not knowing better!