Jack Lyon was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1941 and served as a navigator and bomb aimer on Whitley bombers. On only his third operational mission, a failing engine and intense enemy fire forced his crew to bail out over Germany. Captured and treated with surprising civility, Jack became a prisoner of war. He was later interned at Stalag Luft III, where he became involved in the planning of the infamous "Great Escape." Drawn 79th in the lottery of escapees, he narrowly missed getting out when the operation was cut short after 76 had exited the tunnel. Jack later reflected that this near miss may have saved his life, as many escapees were executed by the Gestapo. Throughout his incarceration, he remained remarkably reflective, sharing stories of camaraderie, survival, and unexpected compassion—even from enemy soldiers. His interview is a testament to resilience, duty, and the enduring human spirit.

Laurence Kennedy volunteered to join the RAF in 1943 after turning 18 years old. He trained in Newquay and following this was posted to South Africa for a year. Whilst there, he celebrated VE day (Victory in Europe day) in Cape Town, May 1945. Laurence continued his training and joined Transport Command. After a bout of sickness, he was sent to Fassburg, Germany, where he joined up with a squadron and was sent to assist in the Berlin Airlift. Most of the cargo being flown in was coal and flour, with aircrafts being packed full, Laurence remembers. Sometimes, they would have the important task of flying children out of Berlin to reduce the numbers in the city. This is when the importance of the airlift  sank in for Laurence. He talks about how sorry he felt for the children being taken away from their homes and families. During the airlift Laurence flew 168 sorties and was housed in several bases throughout Germany, including: Wunsdorf, Fassburg, and Lubeck. He met his wife at Lubeck, she was stationed there serving with the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. Whilst stationed in Fassburg, he remembers there being lots of pubs and inns, and that he enjoyed life there. Laurence recalls bringing coffee from back home and trading it with locals for Deutsche marks. In his downtime, Laurence visited Hamburg and remembers being shocked at the state of the city, describing it as horrific and he couldn’t see how anyone could survive living there during the war. What Laurence and his fellow servicemen and women did during this time is incredible, all of them led us out of a very uncertain time. This interview was filmed by the late Andrew Emslie.

Based at RAF Waterbeach and preparing for deployment to the Middle East, William Ball recalls how 77 Squadron, with only a few hours’ notice, was redeployed to Germany. Initially unaware of the specific task, he only learned on landing that they were to assist with the Berlin Airlift. In this interview, William recounts his time on various airbases in Germany and his vital role as ground crew, responsible for maintaining aircraft and ensuring their safety for flights to Berlin. As a Corporal Fitter 2E, William shares detailed insights into the technical challenges during the airlift, particularly managing weight restrictions for Dakota planes. These aircraft had to be as light as possible to carry heavy loads, requiring precise fuel management—no easy task. Periods of cold weather also forced the ground crew to adapt their working methods to ensure both their safety and that of the planes, highlighting the skill and determination needed to keep the airlift running smoothly.  Beyond technical duties, William reflects on life on and off base, the camaraderie among the crew, and his thoughts on assisting the Germans post-war. Proud of his contribution to one of history’s most significant humanitarian efforts, and the lasting friendships made, William ends the interview with a poem, Ghost in the Sky, about the efforts of all involved.