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Terry-Kane

A veteran interview with

Terence Kane

Terence Kane gives an amazing account of his short Fighter career in the RAF. Short because he was on shot down over the English Channel

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About Terence Kane

Terence Kane’s fighter pilot career in the RAF was marked by courage and survival against incredible odds. Inspired by his brother’s love of flying, Terry signed up for a short service commission just after turning seventeen, and was fortunate to survive his initial training.

In 1940 he found himself flying Spitfires with 234 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. Hit by enemy fire he was forced to ditch his damaged plane in the English Channel. At just 19, Terry was one of the few Battle of Britain pilots to be captured by the Germans and became a prisoner of war.

Taken to Oflag 9A in Spangenburg, Terry’s life became a mix of hardship and resilience. Amid strict conditions, he found small ways to endure, including playing makeshift golf to pass the time. He eventually reunited with his brother in the camp before being forced on a gruelling march away from advancing Russian forces. On May 1st, Terry’s group was liberated after a tense encounter. Reflecting on his wartime experiences, Terry’s story is a testament to survival, resilience, and the indomitable British spirit.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Lucy

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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Home | Veterans | Terence Kane

A veteran interview with

Terence Kane

Terry-Kane

Terence Kane gives an amazing account of his short Fighter career in the RAF. Short because he was on shot down over the English Channel

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Kane, Terence. A Veteran Interview with Terence Kane. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 8 Dec. 2024 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/terence-kane/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.
APA Style:
Kane, T. (2024, December 8). A Veteran Interview with Terence Kane [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/terence-kane/
Chicago Style:
Kane, Terence. 2024. A Veteran Interview with Terence Kane. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, December 8. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/terence-kane/
Harvard Style:
Kane, T. (2024). A Veteran Interview with Terence Kane. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 8 December. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/terence-kane/ (Accessed: 17 October 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Kane, T. A Veteran Interview with Terence Kane [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2024 Dec 8 [cited 2026 Oct 17]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/terence-kane/
An interview with

Tommy Thomas

From target towing, to covert missions with 161 Special Duties Squadron, a remarkable journey through RAF military service unfolds.

Determined to become an air gunner, Tommy Thomas began RAF service with General Duties. Assisting in the dangerous task of target towing for Spitfire training, he worked with Fairey Bombers and Lysanders. His hard work paid off; before age 19, he completed air gunner training and joined the 161 Squadron at RAF Tempsford. Initially serving on Halifax aircraft to drop supplies, Tommy was soon transferred to the squadron’s A Flight by Flight Commander Hugh Verity, who recognised his skill with Lysanders. Tommy flew 33 missions in Halifax, Hudson, Lysanders and, once, in a Stirling bomber. Whilst most missions were over France and Europe, some reached as far as North Africa. The most challenging were the night flights, navigating hostile territory by moonlight alone. He recounts fascinating details from his time with 161 Squadron, including mission preparations from RAF Tempsford and Tangmere, and techniques for retrieving mail bags from occupied territory using adapted Lysanders. Although Tommy claims he was “lucky,” his missions included two near-disasters, and he admits flights over the sea were the most unnerving—he always dreaded water. Following D-Day, Tommy took on new responsibilities helping with internees at RAF Tempsford. He concludes his story with a personal memory of his promotion to Flight Officer, which coincided with his father’s Red Cross return. Resolving to notify his mother, interned in a French camp, Tommy recounts a successful—and daring—effort to get a message to her, showing his courage and daring.  
Service:
Interviewed by:
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An interview with

Jack Lyon


Jack Lyon: RAF Navigator, POW, and Near-Escapee of the Great Escape

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.
Service:
Interviewed by:
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An interview with

Bob Frost

Shot down over occupied Belgium and aided by members of the Comète Line

Bob Frost was born in Camden, London in 1923. He joined the RAF and flew Wellington Bombers with 150 Squadron. On the 16th September 1942, he was shot down over occupied Belgium and aided by members of the Comète Line he managed to make it back to Britain  via France, Spain and Gibraltar. We hear about the day his Wellington bomber crashed into a field in Belgium and how he was lucky to survive the landing. He recalls the moments after the crash, as well as how the rest of the crew fared and what they had in their escape kit. Bob then details their first contact with a Flemish family who helped keep them hidden. There followed a true boys own story of escape to Brussels and then by train through France via Paris where he had a close call with a uniformed officer. From St Jean de Luz he's taken to the French side of the Pyrenees for a climb over the mountains to relative safety with with a route home from Gibraltar. He speaks about Andrée de Jongh, also known as Dédée, a remarkably brave woman who escorted 118 airmen over the Pyrenees. Bob reflects on his time as an evader and his continued involvement with the Escape Lines Memorial Society. He's the first to acknowledge that he survived thanks to a few very brave people, to whom he and we owe immense gratitude. Bob passed away on the 18th March, 2019.
Service:
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