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Jack Catford had already served
in the Auxiliary Fire Service in London for four
years when the opportunity arose to join the
Royal Air Force as aircrew. His service, including
firefighting in the London docks during the blitz,
was already enough to make him a hero in most
peoples eyes but he volunteered for duties in
the RAF as an air gunner. This was a vocation
with alarmingly high mortality rates in the high
attrition strategic bombing war.
Here, Jack tells his own unique story, giving
an insight into aircrew training and life on
an operational Lancaster bomber squadron. In
particular we accompany him and his crewmates
on a raid against Munich in January 1945 and
are given a fascinating and detailed view of
how their war was fought.
Although often overlooked in favour of more
glamorous roles, the air gunner was a
vital member of any
crew, providing a vital measure of protection
against enemy fighters. Jack’s crew completed
two full tours of bomber operations and had begun
their third when the war ended. This book is
testament to the teamwork and camaraderie that
sustained them throughout this time and helped
them to contribute to ultimate victory in the
air war.
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