This is the story of Thomas Lancashire who joined the RAF in 1936 and became one of the famous ?Trenchard Brats' at RAF Halton to be educated and learn the trade of fitter. He was first posted to 7 Squadron in 1939, at that time flying Whitley bombers but decided to advance himself to become a flight engineer on the new Stirling heavy bomber. He was posted to 15 Squadron at Wyton and completed a full tour that included the famous Lübeck raid, the Thousand Bomber assault on Cologne and the follow up on Essen during which he was almost shot down over Antwerp. In July 1942 he was rested and became an instructor until being posted to 97 Squadron flying Lancasters. On his ninth raid of this tour, 11 August 1943, the aircraft was attacked by a night fighter over Belgium but he successfully baled out and was eventually picked up by the Resistance and handed to an escape line. Eventually the group of evaders was betrayed by a German agent and placed in captivity, ending up in Stalag Luft IV at Mühlberg. During this time he escaped but was eventually recaptured and he was forced to share the growing despair and hardships in late 1944, enduring overcrowding, hunger and cold, until the Russian Army liberated the camp and he was airlifted back to the UK. His post-war career took him to Canada where he was employed on the Avro Arrow project until it was abandoned and he was forced to seek work in the USA. He worked with Boeing until his retirement. AUTHOR: Thomas Lancashire is now 88 years of age and lives Ohio, near his eldest son. Stuart Burbridge began research into his grandfather's RAF career with 97 Squadron. (He was killed over Berlin in November 1943) He made contact with Thomas during his research and discovered his amazing story which he has edited and created this book. Stuart is a police officer and lives in East Kent. SELLING POINTS: * First-hand accounts of the war's most dangerous bombing raids * Exciting moments with the Resistance as they move through occupied Belgium * Life as a PoW, escape and a hazardous trip to freedom ILLUSTRATIONS 30 illustrations
