Joined the RAFVR early in 1939 aged 18. I was called up in August the same year, Joined a Hampden Squadron after further training in gunnery at Finningley .

War declared on Sept 3rd on Germany who had invaded Poland. Phoney war from Sept to May 1940-very little action in this period-just leaflet dropping and mine laying...Bombed Keil and other targets. Germany attacked and took Poland, France, Belgium and Norway -virtually all Europe and the British came out at Dunkirk. Numerous operations took place then on coastal targets. It was survival time.

Had an accident in October 1940. Grounded and sent for instructor training in Scotland. Long spell in Training Command but joined a special unit in April 1943 that proved to be for the invasion of Sicily and Italy.

Went to N Africa in May 1943 where we towed gliders for the invasion. Sicily was taken by end of July and landings made in Italy -on an air strip near Bari.. Flew home to UK in November to prepare for the big on filtered invasion of the mainland of Europe. D-Day and other operations followed until May 1945.

My last job was operation Doomsday. This was the occupation of Oslo and Copenhagen. I went to Denmark with Army Units who took over all strong points in the city. British main units came on May 9th. Our aircraft flew back to the UK. The European War was over. It had been a hard slog for years and there was still Japan to deal with but this was done by September.

My war was over.
I did a few ferry flights and was de-mobbed in 1946.

I lost my cousin in Africa and many other close friends.

Let us never forget.
It must never happen again.

I was one of many that came back.

Submitted to this site by Harold Denton