Squadron Leader Barney Swinton Bland was my flat mate for a short time in Abu Dhabi back in 1976. As I recall, Barney joined the RAF towards the end of WW2 and flew Lancasters out of Cyprus.
Barney must have been one of the RAF's first helicopter pilots because I remember him telling a story about being seconded to the US Navy in Key West, Florida when the Korean War broke out. The navy squadron was immediately transfered to the Korean theater, so Barney and another RAF pilot were left with nothing to do. Since the navy pilots had to leave their cars at Key West, it was arranged for Barney and the other pilot to deliver those cars to the pilots homes. Barney said he had a fabulous time driving all over the United States.
I didn't get to know Barney for long as I returned to the States not long after Barney arrived, but remember him fondly.