Been There, Done That

About the Book

According to Lieutenant General Bill Carr, an ex-Commander of Canada's Air Command, and himself a decorated WWII Spitfire pilot: "This book contains the most vivid, uncomplaining and honest descriptions I have ever read of what the WWII Bomber Command aircrews went through during the years 1939-1945 when they delivered no less than one-and-a-quarter million tons of bombs on Hitler's empire. From 1943 onward, the US Army Air Corps added a further three-quarter million tons to this total. And those young aircrew suffered incomparable losses."

It is the gripping life story of a decorated Air Navigator who, with his crew in a Lancaster, did a tour of operations in a Canadian squadron of RAF Bomber Command in WWII, spending nine months in the front lines. There are tales of night raids to Southeast Germany and 6 raids to Berlin. This milieu had up to 1 million personnel, 20,625 guns, 6,680 searchlights and about 400 fighters, a formidable barrier across Western Germany and around the targets, all with the prime purpose of frustrating the efforts to bomb, shooting down aircraft and killing crews being their preferred outcome. The tour terminated with bombing raids in France preparing for the invasion of Normandy. There are also interesting details of cultural life on the base, and in wartime Great Britain.

In addition, the life and times of growing up in New Brunswick, Canada in the 1920s are included, as well as stories of pre-war employment. There are also post-war stories of managing the family business, returning to the RCAF as a construction engineer, time as General Manager of the RCAF Association and proprietorship of Unique Decor Unlimited. Stories of retirement include much about worldwide travel.

Once you start reading, you'll find it so interesting you'll be reluctant to put it down!

About the Author

As a navigator in RAF Bomber Command where casualties of 76% were only exceeded in the German U-boat service in World War II, he completed a tour (30 operations) with 408 (Goose) Squadron, RCAF in the European theatre, operating from Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire, England, flying in Lancaster II heavy bombers capable of carrying 8,000 lb bombs. During the Battle of Berlin he did 6 raids to that city among his first 10 trips, three of them in four nights. He experienced the Nuremberg raid, March 30/31,1944 when 95 heavy bombers were lost over the continent and 11 crashed in England attempting recovery. He also participated in two bombing operations against strategic positions in Normandy on D-Day June 6, 1944. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross following completion of his tour of operations June 11, 1944.

Post-WWII, he managed the family business in general construction. Rejoined the RCAF and transferred to the Construction Engineering Branch in 1951. Several appointments later he was Base Technical Services Officer at CFB Toronto, and retired there in 1972.

He was National General Manager (now Executive Director) of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association (now Air Force Association of Canada) 1971-1976, and in 1976- 1984 was the owner of Unique Decor Unlimited.

He has travelled extensively worldwide, and is active in several community volunteer organizations.