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First mission
Mr. Smith describes several aspects of his first flying mission: seeing a friendly pilot eject over the English Channel, viewing the French landscape, and experiencing German flak along the French coast.
Declared Operational
Mr. Smith describes the process of ‘working up’, wherein the squadron practised formation flying and aerial target shooting. After this training they were declared battle ready.
Dogfight Training and Confidence Building
Mr. Smith discusses learning how to dogfight and his decreased reliance on his instruments, learning instead to trust the “feel” of his Spitfire. This experience renews his confidence as a pilot.
I’ll Never Master This
Mr. Smith describes his impressions of the Spitfire, his initial flight in one, and his feeling that he’d never be able to fly one properly.
Army Co-op and Spitfires
Mr. Smith describes disappointment of being assigned to army co-op duty at Grangemouth, Scotland but later perks up learning that it was a Spitfire base.
Hand in your Flying Gear!
Mr. Smith describes the exhilaration or disappointment of being selected or not for Overseas pilot duty.
Flying a Yale
Mr. Smith offers a detailed description of the Yale. aircraft, in which he completed his pilot training in Canada.
Homecoming
Mr. Harrison describes returning home and his happy reunion with his family. His one regret was having to answer questions from those whose loved ones hadn’t returned.
Homecoming
Mr. Gerrard discusses being taken by the Americans to a hospital ship for medical treatment, then on to Guam for further medical assessment and treatment. He travels to San Francisco by boat and takes the train to Victoria, B.C. To his pleasure and surprise, his girlfriend (and future wife) is there to greet him.
signing up
Mrs. Wilson talks about why she joined the air force, she explains she joined up after her brother was lost by being shot down as a tall gunner.
Trained and Headed to England
Upon completing his training, Mr. Chiasson speaks about boarding the Duchess of York with 3,000 onboard and only then finding out their destination as they were set to sail.
The New Uniform
Mr. Gyselman describes being issued a new uniform which is much too small for him. When he, a raw recruit, questions the judgment of the quartermaster who issued it to him, who happens to be a major, the officer gives him a fifteen minute 'explanation'.
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