The Importance Of Survival

Heroes Remember

The Importance Of Survival

Transcript

Once things started moving, the air raids are a good example, your survival becomes uppermost and you automatically try to do what’s best for you, for your survival, and you forget quite a bit about what’s going on around you. I was caught on an air raid one time, in Stockton-on-Tees. I had to get across the river, on the bridge to get to the railway station, and there’s flack coming down around you. And then, we spotted a land mine coming down in a parachute caught in the lights, search lights, and it was coming down fairly close to us. So, we… where can I hide, that’s... You go down against the parapet of the bridge and hope that you’re on the right side of it. But fear, I think, affected me at least more when I was anticipating what I’ve got to do, and what might happen. Once you get into it, you get so busy with the activity that you quit thinking about it. Or at least, that was my experience.

Description

Mr. Campbell describes his situation when caught in an air raid and describes the act for survival during this type of warfare

Phil Campbell

Mr. Campbell was born on August 1, 1922 and raised on a farm in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. At age 18, he entered aircrew training school and later became qualified as a radar mechanic with the air force. He joined the Bomber Command and travelled to England, spending most of his service time in North Yorkshire. In September 1945, Mr. Campbell returned to Canada and was released from service. He enrolled at the University of Alberta and obtained a degree in agriculture. In May 1949, Mr. Campbell held the position of Research Scientist in the agricultural laboratory of the University of Alberta. During his career, his involvement in various aspects of international trade negotiations took him to many parts of the world. Mr. Campbell retired in 1989 and immersed himself in volunteer work. He dedicated much of his time to writing a book in support of radar technology and the important role it played in the war effort.

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