As a young lad, Les joined the Air Training Corp while his older brother was conscripted and sent to France where he was unfortunately captured in 1940 but, thankfully, treated a bit better than most POWs due to his knowledge of German and the ability to work as an interpreter. Les, himself, was conscripted into the RAF in 1942 as a wireless operator where his own knowledge of German proved vital as he was responsible for logging and jamming German aircraft fighter instructions. It was a very dangerous job. The same equipment which jammed the German transmissions also exposed that the allies were transmitting and so traceable with pinpoint accuracy. Les’ squadron lost more aircraft in bomber command than any other.

Les recalls a nail biting raid on Kiel where his aircraft is spotted, hit and struggles to return to Ludford on only two engines, riddled with flak holes and with no functioning navigation equipment. All seems lost when a lack of hydraulic fluid means the wheels won’t deploy but an inspired suggestion from skipper Eric Nielsen sees them land safely.

Les’ work could be isolating as he was kept separate from the rest of the crew and had to maintain the upmost confidentiality about his work, even from the pilot and squadron commander. Rumours circulated that the operators were actually talking to the Germans not jamming them. Les completed 30 tours and feels incredibly fortunate to have made it through each one safely.