Aircrew Retreads
I'm still trying to figuer out how my old man managed after 60 odd bomber ops and already a Flt Lt Squadron Signals Leader with the DFC managed the short hop into the skippers seat. He always said that Don Bennett shuffled him into pilot training as a way to 'Stop me flying any more ops. The idea being the war would be over before I got back from Canada'. He was 156 Squadron's signals leader at the time
However, he would keep bumping into old mates now in training slots who kept him moving along nicely. He was at Hemswell's Lancaster finishing school in less time than it took to blink. How many other retreads went through the system? Was he one of many?
He managed 8 more ops before unbelievably he was invalided out when after all the flak and fighters he's dodged he was operated on at King Edward the 7th Hospital for Officers when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. I remember that his old irvine jacket had flak holes in it
Last edited by Prangster; 23rd Aug 2011 at 15:46.