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Craig-Kane

A veteran interview with

Craig Kane

Craig is a former RAF Avionics Engineer who cares for his wife Michelle – a former RAF Communications Officer. Michelle was injured whilst serving in Iraq and Craig cares for her with the support of Help for Heroes’ Band of Sisters

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About Craig Kane

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Rin Butler
Transcribed by:
Brian Edwards, Rin Butler

Copyright:
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Home | Veterans | Craig Kane

A veteran interview with

Craig Kane

Craig-Kane

Craig is a former RAF Avionics Engineer who cares for his wife Michelle – a former RAF Communications Officer. Michelle was injured whilst serving in Iraq and Craig cares for her with the support of Help for Heroes’ Band of Sisters

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Kane, Craig. A Veteran Interview with Craig Kane. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 21 Aug. 2019 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/craig-kane/. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
APA Style:
Kane, C. (2019, August 21). A Veteran Interview with Craig Kane [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved May 17, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/craig-kane/
Chicago Style:
Kane, Craig. 2019. A Veteran Interview with Craig Kane. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, August 21. Accessed May 17, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/craig-kane/
Harvard Style:
Kane, C. (2019). A Veteran Interview with Craig Kane. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 21 August. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/craig-kane/ (Accessed: 17 May 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Kane, C. A Veteran Interview with Craig Kane [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2019 Aug 21 [cited 2025 May 17]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/craig-kane/
An interview with

Albert Kingham

A tailor from Southend recalls WWII evacuation and serving in the ATC during the Berlin Airlift.

Albert Kingham shares his memories of being evacuated from Southend to Nottinghamshire at the age of eight. Albert dreamed of becoming a pilot and witnessed the first dogfight over Southend in 1939. During his four years in Nottinghamshire, he witnessed the bombing of Sheffield and collected shrapnel from crashed planes. At 14, his passion led him to join the Air Training Corps (ATC), where he received training, including parachute exercises, and flew in various aircraft. Albert recalls a memorable flight with a photographer over Germany in 1947, where he witnessed the devastating aftermath of the war in cities like Cologne. In 1948, Albert was stationed at Oakington during the Berlin Airlift, he recounts flying in Dakotas to and from Berlin. After leaving the ATC in 1951, he began a career as a naval tailor, helping produce battledress uniforms, including those worn during the Korean War. Albert’s story is one of bravery, resilience and a love for planes.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Dennis Grogan

Having completed an RAF apprenticeship, Dennis served in Korea with the 1903 air observation flights

Dennis loved planes as a child, having lived near the American airbase in Northern Ireland. He joined up as an RAF Halton apprentice at aged 16 and describes an extensive and wide-ranging education, working on Spitfires, Hurricanes and even a Mosquito. On completion of his apprenticeship, Dennis was posted to South Wales for 1 year of improver training, during which he worked on Mark 3A and 4 Meteors and then transferred to Pembroke Dock, where he worked on the Sunderland Flying boats. It was from here, that in 1952 he was posted to Korea at short notice. He was based near the Imjin River with the British Army and tasked with working on the Auster aircraft. He describes in detail the work he had to do to keep them flying and the many experiences he had during his time there. The winters were very difficult and he tells of the ingenuity of the British troops in overcoming some of the hardships. He was also posted to the aircraft carrier HMS Glory for one tour, he was clearly fascinated by the operations on board ship. He returned home to his wife and a 23-month-old daughter whom he had never met.
Photo Gallery icon 1 Photo
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Tim Elkington

RAF veteran whose service took him from the Battle of Britain to Russia, the Atlantic and India.

Tim Elkington’s interview offers a compelling glimpse into the life of a WW2 Fighter Pilot. He begins by reflecting on his childhood and the circumstances leading to his arrival as a fresh 19-year-old cadet at Cranwell in April 1940. Only three months later he was posted to No. 1 Squadron at Northolt in North London, where he took part in the Battle of Britain. He was astonished by the minimal training he had received, despite the intense combat he was involved in.
On August 16, 1940, he had a harrowing encounter when he was attacked by a German Messerschmitt 109. The ordeal left him recovering for a period, but he eventually moved on to 134 Squadron, which was assigned to support Russian forces. He prepared to sail to Russia on HMS Argus and later trained Russian pilots for the Eastern Front. Elkington's service continued with a stint on a Catapult Aircraft Merchant ship. Out of 35 ships converted to CAM during the war, 12 were sunk. He didn't fly off much, but when he did, he admits 'it was interesting'! His next posting was to 539 Squadron, a Night Fighter unit where he was less enthusiastic about his role. A subsequent transfer to India saw him join a Hurricane Squadron, arriving after the Japanese threat had diminished, thus avoiding major combat. He reflects on a particularly frightening incident involving a forced instrument landing in thick fog. Elkington retired from the RAF in 1975, leaving behind a rich career of varied and intense experiences. Despite the risk and danger he faced, he reflects gratefully on the ability of RAF pilots to manoeuvre and take action when they are shot at and contrasts it to Navy personnel who were often unable to escape the danger around them. Special thanks to Tim and his wife, as well as Patrick Tootal of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, for facilitating this insightful interview.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker