Bob was in Birmingham when it was bombed during WW2. A love of flying from an early age led him to join the RAF toward the end of the war and he was assigned to Coastal Command. He learned to fly the Sunderland, a four-engine flying boat, but before his training finished, he was sent to Berlin to assist with the Airlift. After qualifying as a pilot, he was assigned to Hamburg on the River Elbe where his squadron assisted in supplying Berlin with food and household goods. On their return trips they sometimes brought back malnourished children for care, as well as German export goods. He saw the Russians as confrontational, while relations were thawing with the Germans. During the period of the Airlift there was no leave for his squadron, but they were close to the centre of Hamburg where they could relax in the evenings. He thought that the Airlift was an important event but that the role of the Sunderland squadrons has received insufficient attention. After further overseas duties his squadron was assigned to Korea where war had just broken out. He flew coastal patrols, aiding the US navy in their search for enemy submarines. The Malayan Insurgency was also occurring during this time and the Sunderlands also helped the British army in their battle against communist guerrillas.  On leaving the RAF he spent many years as a flying instructor with various air forces in the Middle East before taking final retirement in 1976.

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.

Len Manning joined the Air Cadets in 1938 and then volunteered as an Air Gunner in 1943. He underwent rigorous training and was ready to fly in Summer 1944. Len managed three raids in his RAF career, his first took him to Nevers in the South of France, the second was a 1000 bomber daylight raid on Caen, and on the third he made a narrow escape after his plane was shot down by a German fighter. Len was lucky to be found by the French resistance after walking over 8 miles to the nearest village. He tells of how the resistance looked after him and managed to keep him hidden from German soldiers – despite some very close calls. He remained hidden until the German retreat, when he was reunited with the RAF in Paris. His story provides a unique insight into life behind enemy lines in occupied France and highlights the remarkable bravery and resourcefulness of the French resistance. Len acknowledges how lucky he was to survive and gives credit to the German fighter pilot who shot the wing of his plane and not the fuselage, a decision that ultimately saved his life.