Hello and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast episode 469 interview from

by planes to fast jets a pilot's life in the Royal Air Force from 1942 to 1973.

Ken 80 was only a teenager when World War II in Europe broke out.

Still, he signed up and his life was changed forever, as it was tied to the evolution of flight

during and after World War II.

His story is incredible, and fortunately for us, he wrote down some of his experiences.

With us is the son Mark. Mark welcome to the show. Thank you for asking me. I'm

delighted to be here. Absolutely, the book was a delight to read.

We'll get into some of the details, but I have to say, by the time I finished the book,

your father's life read like a Forrest gump story. He seemed to be everywhere just

when something important was going on, but I have to ask what triggered your father

to feel the need to jot down some of his experiences and

when did he start writing this this down? So look he it's a funny story

Ray my father having led an incredibly active life as a pilot in

all Air Force from 42 to 73 sadly became on well in the early 70s and rolling forward to the late 90s

my wife Diane looked him in the eye and said Ken before you fade, would you mind jotting down on a couple of pieces of paper for our

children, dad's grandchildren, what you did in the war and what you did subsequently in the Royal

Air Force.

So Dad smiled quietly and sort of indicated he might do something.

And Ray, you won't believe it.

Sadly, he finally faded away in November 2001 but that very night that he faded away

mom asked me to pop up to his study at home saying that she thought he had written down a few things and I swear to God I

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