Vera Morgan was living in London during the early years of WW2. She vividly recalls the eerie sound of sirens on the day war was declared, though at first, little changed. However, as the Battle of Britain began, bombs became a daily threat. From navigating bomb craters on the way to work, to dealing with incendiary bombs and V-1s, Vera remains remarkably pragmatic when describing these challenging times. Although exempt from military service due to her role at an ammunition factory, Vera was determined to serve. So in 1942 she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), despite her employer’s objections. Trained as a teleprinter operator, she was stationed at RAF Harwell, then RAF Chicksands from 1943 until the war’s end. Vera shares her experiences of life at Chicksands. Camaraderie with other teleprinters, and a sense of getting the job done helped Vera through the long shifts relaying intercepted messages to Bletchley Park. The uncomfortable living conditions were offset by the social aspects of life, such as dances and socialising with American and British soldiers. Many friendships made then still last, with Vera attending annual reunions with old colleagues. Vera ends with her vivid memories of VE Day. Leaving camp without permission, she hitchhiked to London to join the celebrations. Unfortunately, with such huge crowds, Vera didn’t notice being pick-pocketed! Despite the theft, her excitement wasn’t diminished. For Vera, the joy of being part of such a historic occasion remains a cherished memory that she enthusiastically recounts.

Sam was well travelled and hitch-hiked through Germany in 1938-39, where the atmosphere seemed to change as war neared. After joining the RAF in 1941, he was sent to Canada for training before heading to RAF Leuchars in Scotland where he hunted enemy submarines. Following a relatively uneventful period of wartime flying, Sam used his navigator training to join a charter aircraft company flying around Europe. He was then sent to fly planes rescuing Hindu refugees from persecution during the 1947 partition of India. Sam subsequently captained civilian planes during the Berlin Airlift. Unlike RAF pilots who took commands from operations officers, he was responsible for deciding when weather conditions made flying too treacherous. He recalls near crashes with a Russian plane flying off course and an RAF York whose pilot disobeyed tower landing commands. He worked hard during the airlift and had little time for leisure while flying 3 flights per day and sometimes at night. After returning to Jersey in December 1948, Sam joined a civilian carrier that later became British Airways. His account sheds valuable light on the essential role civilian charter companies played in the Berlin Airlift.