Man to be proud of
g–
“Bombin
extract:
k
pleted.
Log boo
ortie com 0.
EIM – s
MULH
m 2000
d T1 fro
lenty of
ombed re
B
fires. P
s small
u
diving
Numero
action –
Evasive
.
and
light flak
starboard
f
port and
in front o
ole
turn to
s. Flak h
turn
climbing
t.”
MU turre
When we selected our front cover
picture, we thought it was a random
choice.
But it includes a WWII wireless
operator and instructor who personifies
the commitment and professionalism
of our aircrew, so perhaps other forces
were at work ...
Stan Bray (above and kneeling
Parachuting from a doomed
aircraft over Leeds in 1944, he
landed to meet a local who said..
“Does tha’ know lad, I paid half a
crown before war to see a chap
jump out of a plane and I’ve seen
five of you this morning for nowt!”
centre front cover photo) logged 475
day and night flying hours by the time
of his de-mob in 1945, surviving to
tell countless tales of crashes, and
close shaves in a wartime flying career
started on Wellingtons, using Woolfox
as a satellite station.
Typifying the international friendships
that survived the war, he crewed-up with
an Australian pilot who later became
his best man!
Moving on to Lancasters and flying
out of Bottesford, they flew their first
operational sortie on June 22, 1943
with a 4 hrs 55 mins night-time raid
on Mulheim – just five days after first
joining their operational squadron.
In January 1945 he turned down
a voluntary op delivering a Stirling
to Northern Ireland for scrapping.
The aircraft crashed near Annesley
Woodhouse near Mansfield, killing all
on board. It left Stan with bitter regrets
over the lost crew and especially the
student wh