What turns an ordinary man into an extraordinary one? The answer lies in the stories of six teenage volunteers for Second World War aircrew who exchanged school uniform for Air Force Blue and took a giant step into the unknown. Based on original research from flying log books, diaries and family archives, this collection of true tales describes the men's training for those coveted 'Wings'; the nervous excitement of that first sortie over enemy territory; and flying into the hell of an enemy flak barrage and fighters. From the skies over Europe to jungles and deserts, all endured hardship, adventure and danger. They experienced action under enemy fire, wounds, burns and crash-landings, escape and evasion in occupied territory, and the privations of life as a POW. Seventy years on and these brushes with death are by any measure hair-raising encounters that turned adolescents into men - some of whom survived the war, while others paid the ultimate price.
What turns an ordinary man into an extraordinary one? The answer lies in the stories of Fg Offs Howard Clark and Jack Cheney, Wg Cdr Walter Dring, Flt Lt James Crampton, Sqd Ldr Kenneth Summerson and WO Arthur Edgeley; teenage volunteers for wartime aircrew who exchanged school uniform for Air Force Blue and took a giant step into the unknown. This collection of true tales describes training for those coveted 'Wings'; the nervous excitement of that first sortie over enemy territory; and flying into the hell of the enemy flak barrage and fighters. Some of the brave characters revealed in this book get home safely but some are shot down and experienced hardship, adventures and dangers. These men experienced action under enemy fire, wounds, burns and crash-landings, escape and evasion in occupied territory and the privations of life as a PoW. Seventy years on, and these brushes with death are by any measure hair-raising adventures that turned adolescents into men - some of whom returned home safely while others paid the ultimate price.
