Bernard Parke conscripted into the Royal Air Force as a Radar Operator recalls his time in the role and the difficulties that faced young men during their early careers in the force.  From 1 January 1949, healthy males 17 to 21 years old were expected to serve in the Armed Forces for 18 months, and remain on the reserve list for four years. After the Korean War, the service period was extended to four years. Bernard tells stories about the treatment he received from his superiors, his experience with American colleagues and how his handwriting almost got a Viscount airliner shot down! His story highlights the importance of the use of Decca's Type 80 radar. In it's day it was a huge leap in technology, after a short lull due to the aftermath of WWII, with a reliable range of 250 miles and the ability to distinguish two planes apart at a 150 miles. His important story of post WWII boom emphasises the impact of the 1950s low rate of unemployment (around 3% ). Servicemen during WWII had been promised employment after victory, and no government was prepared to break this pledge. Although, competition for the better jobs was tough and Bernard waited three months before he landed a job at Lloyds Bank. Overall, Bernard reflects fondly on his time spent with the RAF as a National Serviceman.

David Edwards talks about his service experiences in post war Berlin as a Teleprinter operator sending wireless and telephone messages. David carried out his compulsory National Service in 1947 at RAF in Compton Bassett, and after passing out as Aircraftmen First Class was posted to Germany, with the Air Branch Combined Services Division. David mentions his curiosity at being posted to Berlin after the war, but describes the ‘shocking’ condition of life in the German capital. He describes poignant moments for people living in Berlin at the time, and the ‘impressive’ way they faced life during the joint occupation of allied forces, including the harsh treatment by Russian occupied forces. During his time in the signals office in Berlin, David describes the beginnings of the Berlin Blockade, the development of the air lift, and witnessed first hand the air traffic at the American airbase at Tempelhof. David was also able to use his own time in Berlin for self improvement, finishing his school certificate by learning French; and also learning to touch type, a skill he still uses today for word processing. David was in Berlin just under a year and left just before the blockade finished. He was posted from Berlin to the Island of Sylt, in the North Sea at an RAF training station, before being demobbed.

Michel Bourbon-Parme was the son of Prince René of Bourbon-Parma and Princess Margaret of Denmark and grew up in Paris. With the help of the French counsel, he joined the American Army at Fort Benning Georgia and became a second lieutenant. Michel recalls being asked to join the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) by Bill Casey (who later would become the head of the CIA) and travelling to Washington to an intelligence agency to learn how to use specialist equipment. After three weeks training, he was sent to Milton Hall in England and became part of Operation Jedburgh, an allied special operations group. He was parachuted into occupied France after partnering with another Jedburgh named Tommy Macpherson, forming the team named Quinine. He was the youngest Jedburgh at age seventeen and a half. He joined with the Maquis, who were part of the French resistance to stop the Das Reich division and blew up the Eiffel bridge (made by famed architect Gustave Eiffel) to slow them down. He then stayed behind enemy lines for three months to sabotage the Germans. Michel reflects on the being among the first to liberate his countries forces, the politics of the British, French and American’s working together, and the legacy of important achievements by the Jedburgh’s he was proud to be a part of.