As soon as he left school in 1943, Bill Evans began a career in precision engineering, working on munitions, making sights for Bren guns and camera guns for aircraft. In 1947, Bill passed the exam to join the RAF for his National Service and began his training in Padgate near Liverpool. Bill shares details of the various stations around the UK where he honed his skills as a flight mechanic before being sent to Buckeburg, the RAF’s HQ in Germany. He recalls the perks of his job, sharing details of the aircraft he worked on and memories of the limited entertainment options in the nearby town of Minden. He also reflects on the black market and how valuable a tin of corned beef had become. It wasn’t until later in life, upon returning to Berlin, that Bill realised the profound impact of the Berlin Airlift on the city's residents. His story is told with the humility characteristic of his generation, who largely saw their hard work and commitment as simply getting on with the job they’d been given to do.

Upon turning 18, Betty Hutton decided to join the air force and began her military career in the RAF Balloon Command, working in both London and Manchester. When the air force started to reduce the use of barrage balloons – at the same time deciding it wasn’t a role fit for a woman after all, much to the serving women’s chagrin – Betty opted to become an aircraft mechanic. After successfully completing her training Betty began working on the Whitley aircrafts, but as an assistant she wasn’t allowed to do any of the critical mechanical work herself. Determined to progress her role, she undertook further training and passed out as a Fitter 2A, holding sole responsibility for carrying out mechanical work on the Wellington aircraft, which she found frightening but exhilarating. Betty’s story of course contains personal accounts of loss and sadness that serve as stark reminders of the heartbreak and devastation of war, but it’s abundantly clear to see – despite the great modesty with which she shares her memories – the significant contribution her hard work and commitment made to the war effort.

Alec Chambers served as a Flight Engineer during the Berlin Airlift with Flight Refueling Limited, becoming involved through Sir Alan Cobham, who provided tanker services for refueling aircraft over Berlin. Before the airlift, he participated in North Atlantic trials using modified Lancaster bombers for refueling missions. Chambers operated specialized equipment such as sinker weights and line-throwing guns to ensure safe fuel transfer between tankers and receiving aircraft, managing hydraulic systems and securing lines during operations. Originally from Shrivenham, Berkshire, Chambers volunteered for aircrew in World War II but initially served as an Engine Fitter. He was called up in January 1944 and trained as a Flight Engineer. After the war, he continued in-flight refueling with Cobham's organization, which transitioned to Tarrant Rushton to support the Berlin Airlift. While stationed in Wunstorf near Hannover, he described the chaotic post-war environment and his routine of checking aircraft readiness and coordinating refueling operations. Chambers noted the challenges of flying Lancasters with heavy fuel loads, adapting them for airlift despite their bombing design, and shared experiences of turbulence and landing difficulties due to shifting fuel weight. His account highlights the logistical challenges of air refueling during this critical period in history.