A Teenager Growing Up in during WWII, and Other Childhood Memories By Colin Green

suppose the background of what follows is a deep regret that not something you got hospitals involved in. I was baptized in I did not ask my parents more about their lives while they St. Michaels Church, as John Colin Green. I have no idea why I were still around. I would love have to had my Mother’s I was always called Colin – perhaps to distinguish me from recollections of living as a young child with her mother in a the son of my parents’ closest friends – the Waldeck’s – David workhouse in Oxford; I should hasten to add that her mother and Nancy - whose son and only child was called Henry John was matron there. Obviously, living through the Blitz in Smith Waldeck. At that time Henry was an unpopular name was an interesting part of my early teens, so I for a child – God only knows why – so he was always called have penned my recollections John, which I suppose left me below. I’ve added some other with Colin. wartime stuff while I was My first schooling was at about it. Miss Webb’s Kindergarten on Perhaps I need to say a bit the Road, next door to about the City of Birmingham. Chester Road Station. I believe Obviously the largest city in I was still there when we moved the U.K. is , about eight from 34 Sycamore Road to 34 million folks, interestingly Beacon Road, . almost exactly the same This house does exist - you can size as New York City. The Google it. My next school country’s second largest was the Rev. Keyes School for city, occasionally contested boys, and from there to Bishop by Scotland’s Glasgow, is Vesey’s. I was very good at Birmingham, whose current math and science. I never, population is around one never understood chemistry million, and located about one and enjoyed English and hundred miles north-northwest This is 34 Beacon Road, Sutton Coldfield. (Google Streets history. As for a comparison of of London. and Maps) and Sutton Coldfield, One of the many odd basically lower middle class things about Birmingham is vs upper middle class. There that it has an alternative name – Brummagem, and note that are so, so many things in my childhood that I could talk about, I said alternative, and not nickname. The first, apparently but, sadly, and understandably, they are just the snapshots of an evolution from “the home” - “ham” of Beorma’s tribe,” memories. One of these is why didn’t my parents realize that I appeared in writing in 1086. Folk are not so sure about where was very near sighted? I can remember an occasion when we Brummagem as a place name came from, but I can point out were all in the back garden and a formation of aircraft flew over. the local places such as , , and We all looked up but I could not see them. I told Mom and Dad, Bromsgrove are alive and well today. For many, many years but it didn’t spark their curiosity. It only became obvious when I citizens of Birmingham have been referred to as Brummies. had to have a physical at age 11 before being admitted to Bishop I was born in Erdington, on Birmingham’s northeastern Vesey’s Grammar School (BVGS), a very modestly prestigious perimeter. I am a Brummie. Fortunately, whatever English public school, where “public” means “private.” accent I have left is that of Wiltshire, where my Dad grew up. The doctor asked me to read the chart, even in those days I was born on May 21, 1927, the day Lindbergh landed at it started with a big E, and that’s all I could read. The doctor Le Bourget. I have had, and still have, a fascination of aircraft! said, “Mrs. Green, I think you had better get your son’s eyes At that time we lived at 34 Sycamore Road, Erdington. Don’t tested.” I can recall Mom taking me to an optician in the Great go on line looking for it, someone put a road through that plot of Western Arcade, and I can still recall my first sight of what the land to give access to the large, then inaccessible chunk of land world was supposed to look like – a pink and black dress on a “behind” Sycamore Road. I believe I was actually born in a mannequin in the window of the dress shop next door. nursing home just round the corner on the Chester Road. These But the real point of this memoir is to talk about me and were the times when childbirth was a normal part of life, and the Blitz. No one is quite sure why the German air raids on

292 American Aviation Historical Society Journal, Winter 2019 Short S.31 was half-scale version of the as yet to be designed Short Stirling four-engined bomber. (AAHS photo archives)

England during WWII were called the Blitz, but it stuck. The A38. This route takes you through Filton, then the home of word, of course, was coined from the type of warfare unleashed the Bristol Aeroplane Co. on the right as one heads south. The by the Germans – - lightning war – rapid movement Bristol aero-engine company was on the other side of the road. of overwhelming forces with focused close air support. As we passed by the airfield there was an odd looking four- The Germans lost WWI, and the conditions agreed to in the engine aircraft. Much later I learned that it was the Short S.31, Armistice laid huge financial obligations on an economically the half-scale version of the as yet being designed Short Stirling destroyed country. Resentment by the German working class, four-engined bomber. I have no idea why it was there, though now populated by the demobilized German Army, was huge, this may have been round the time that the RAF stated that they and the German Workers Party was born. Hitler became a preferred that the Stirling used Bristol radial engines. member and rapidly rose through its ranks, powered by his While we were visiting all the adults listened closely to the brilliant oratorical style. In 1921 the party became the National radio news. I can remember my father listening one day and Socialist German Workers Party, or Nazi for short. In 1929 the saying, “We had better go back.” Clearly an unspoken “war is Nazi party was recognized as a legitimate political entity, by coming” was in the front of his mind. 1932 it was the largest party in the Reichstag and it was granted When WWI (yes, One) broke out, my Dad volunteered absolute power in 1933. Hitler became Chancellor, later Fuhrer. for the Army. At that time, Dad was a draughtsman at the Austria was taken over in March 1938, and Czechoslovakia was Great Western Railway works in Swindon, having finished occupied in March 1939. Hitler then turned his attention to the his apprenticeship as a cabinet maker in March 1914. It is no Danzig corridor issue. Bizarrely Danzig was part of Germany surprise that he was slotted as a Royal Engineer,2 rose to the on the Baltic, totally surrounded by Poland. Both Britain and rank of corporal, hence he was very happy in building quite signed aid pacts with Poland, I believe in May 1939, big stuff. but that didn’t stop Hitler unleashing blitzkrieg on Poland on After Dad was discharged from the Army in January 1919, September 1, 1939. he returned to Great Western in Swindon, where he was politely In case you are wondering what all this meant to me, I informed that, as he had volunteered for the army, the GW was suppose it is around seven or eight years of age (1935 for me) not obliged to give him his job back. He was able to find an that one begins to become aware of the world beyond one’s opening for a rolling stock draughtsman at the Metropolitan family and friends. In those days, the news of what was going Carriage and Wagon Works, Saltley, Birmingham, so Dad on in the world came via BBC radio or newspaper.1 Radio and Mom, who were married in November 1918, headed for broadcasts started at 10:15 a.m. with a quarter of an hour’s Birmingham, settling in Erdington. Anglican service, “New Every Morning.” So I became quite It was natural for him to build an near the aware of a man in Germany called Hitler, and that we, as a bottom of the quite long garden at 34 Beacon Road. And it was nation, were quite worried about him. just as natural that 12-year-old me would be helping him. One of my father’s sisters lived in Plympton, Devon, with The shelter had four bunks, left and right, one above the her husband. It was normal for the family to visit them for other. Half in the ground, sloping entrance way, no recollection the summer holidays. This was roughly a 200 mile car trip. of the door. All covered with about eight inches of well packed I can remember sitting in the back of the car watching at the soil. We were working on it on Sunday morning, September 3, petrol pumps, as the petrol was pumped up by hand into a large 1939, when Dad said: “let’s go and listen to (Prime Minister) glass container, from which it was released through a hose to Chamberlain,” who was to address the nation at 10:30 a.m. the car’s petrol tank. In August 1939, we drove there via the Mom, Dad, my sister Peg and I listened to Chamberlain, I can 293 Spitfires on the airfield apron at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. (Photo courtesy of Spitfire.com) recall hearing the words “no such assurances have been received, , Herman Goering, saw the destruction of the RAF hence we are in a state of war with Germany.” Dad said, “Well, in its broadest terms, specifically including aircraft factories, of that’s it.” He and I went back to working on the shelter. which there was a major one in Birmingham. In April 1940, Germany invaded Norway successfully, in Essentially there were three target cities – London, the spite of significant opposition by British air, land and naval seat of government and the heart of the country; Liverpool/ forces, and national doubts grew over Chamberlain’s ability to Merseyside, which was the U.K. end of the transatlantic successfully conduct a war against Germany. On May 10, 1940, pipeline that in large part kept the British war effort sustained; Germany attacked France through the Ardennes, neatly splitting and Birmingham, second largest city and overwhelmingly the the British and French forces. Chamberlain resigned and was industrial heart of the country. In terms of tonnage, it is estimated replaced by First Lord of the Admiralty, . that 18,000 tons of bombs fell on London, and 2,000 tons each The British fell back to the Channel coast near Dunkirk, and on Liverpool/Merseyside and Birmingham. Of course, other the Dunkirk evacuation ran from May 27 to June 4, with some cities were attacked, Bristol (aircraft industry) and Coventry 340,000 troops, of which 200,000 were British, being evacuated (auto industry) come to mind, and there were also the Baedeker by small ships and boats, as the German air force had destroyed targets, U.K. cities rating three stars in the German Baedeker all normal port facilities. The French capitulated on June 22.3 travel guide. Total British civilian casualties in the Blitz were The next specific events were the (July 1 roughly 43,000. to October 31, 1940) and the Blitz (September 7, 1940 to May While the British Foreign Office clearly felt some 10, 1941). British historians tend to present these as two events, association with Germany, the British was under their German counterparts as one. To a degree the Germans no such illusions. The Admiralty was fully capable in the have a point, as the second evolved out of the first. naval field, if war broke out, and the Air Ministry thought that The Germans paused after the collapse of France, and it is likely, then the RAF would be England’s primary shield. An generally believed that this was to give us Brits time to come air war would essentially be a game of attrition, and production to some arrangement with them, and there were clearly leading capability would be one of the game winners. The Air Ministry figures in Britain who thought along those lines.4 But Churchill Shadow Factory plan was created to provide the auto industry would have none of it. Hitler ordered a cross channel invasion. the capability of rapidly converting to aircraft production, A necessary precursor to invading would be the Luftwaffe specifically building nine new shadow factories. One of these securing air superiority over the Channel, which would require was located on a large tract of open land, purchased by the Air defeating the RAF. For many reasons this did not happen.5 Ministry in 1936, across the Chester Road from the existing At the same time, RAF Bomber Command became very good Castle Bromwich aerodrome. It was called the Castle Bromwich at destroying the German barge fleets being assembled in the Aircraft Factory (CBAF). It was an easy 15 minute bike ride French and Low Countries channel ports. The head of the from my home in Sutton Coldfield. 294 American Aviation Historical Society Journal, Winter 2019 during the war, roughly 15% of the U.K.’s total production. Furthermore, other manufacturers in the Birmingham area included Bristol aero-engines built by the Rover car factory; rifles and Sten7 guns from Birmingham Small Arms; Dunlop tires; Fisher & Ludlow Auto Bodies making aircraft wings and other stuff; and a number of smaller factories building components large and small. The started when I was 13 years old, on August 9, 1940, and it lasted to April 23, 1943. There were 365 air raid alerts, 77 actual air raids, during which apparently 5,129 high explosive bombs were dropped, 48 parachute mines, and tens of thousands of incendiary devices. 2,241 people were killed. The only specific one I knew of was the man who owned the shop where Dad bought his newspaper as he walked to the Met every morning. The Met was hit directly at least once. Castle Bromwich Aeroplane Factory. Final assembly of Police records note that 161 bombs fell in Sutton Spitfires at Block “C”. The depicted aircraft were part of Coldfield, of which about 110 were hi-explosives (HE), the rest an order of 1884 such fighters built at CBAF during 1944. incendiaries. I do have a memory of at least one parachute (Photo courtesy of Spitfire.com) mine falling somewhere in the area. Unfortunately I do not have continuous memory of the were briefed on how to produce Spitfire blitz – it’s all snapshots. Perhaps the most poignant were the fighters and Lancaster bombers. Completed aircraft from the peculiar womp/womp/womp of the diesel-engined German shadow factory were either rolled across the main road to the bombers, and the deliberate whistling sound made by the bombs airfield, or trucked away in specially designed large trucks (i.e., as they fell. lorries) called “Queen Three HE bombs Marys.” While getting fell within a quarter the CBAF up to full of a mile of our home, production proved one of which did not more difficult than explode. I remember expected, in the end the bloody great bang CBAF produced over of one of them, and 12,000 of the 20,000 the spattering of mud Spitfires produced. that fell on the house. I can only find It is possible that this one reference to was the one recorded CBAF actually being as falling near Wylde hit in the Blitz, it was Green station on the actually during the night of October 15, second recorded raid on 1940. I remember Birmingham, August a damaged house in 13, 1940. Eleven Beacon Road near bombs hit the factory, Wylde Green station. seven people were Bombs were not killed and 41 injured. the only things that Damage was stated as were falling around significant. us, so was the shrapnel The CBAF was from all the anti- not the only military German parachute mine from WWII. It came in 500 kg and 1000 kg sizes aircraft gunfire that target in Birmingham. and could be used on land or water. (Wikipedia – public domain) went up. After a while There was another we all got a bit blasé shadow factory - Austin about the Blitz, and did Longbridge – on the not head for the shelter. southern side of Birmingham, built 10s of thousands of military Dad used to enjoy standing outside the front door, watching trucks, plus arms, ammunition and aircraft components. Also the and the exploding AA shells. One morning we the Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Works (Met), looked outside the front door and there was a chunk of shrapnel where Dad was one of the managers, building tanks (using sticking in the ground where he had been standing the night Sutton Park as its testing ground6). Met produced 3,115 tanks before. 295 It was also on one of these sessions that Dad actually shelter seriously. We emerged from the shelter one morning to saw a Turbinlite8 equipped Douglas Havoc, possibly of RAF find the bomb sticking out of the damp earth that covered the Squadron 535 based at High Ercall, Shropshire. These aircraft shelter. It was about 18-inches long, about two and a had powerful searchlights installed in the nose. The object half inches diameter. I believe we were told it was for the Havoc to track down raiding German bombers weighed 2.2 lb, i.e., one kilogram. using onboard radar, and illuminate the target for it to be shot Another memory snap shot down by an accompanying RAF Hurricane. I have no idea if A typical was my Mom and me going this plan ever worked, but at least Dad saw it being attempted. WWII German into town (i.e., Birmingham Another blasé incident occurred, presumably late in the incendiary bomb. center) one day not long after Blitz, or maybe from of a stray bomber later in the war. By (Wikipedia – public domain) a raid and walking down a road this time we were all back to sleeping in our normal places, where a building had been hit. my parents’ and my bedrooms in the back, Peg’s in the front. As Mom and I walked along the sidewalk, we came across a There must have been a warning that we ignored, and then the wide swath of fresh blood seeping across it, obviously from unmistakable noise of an approaching German bomber and the someone crushed to death inside. We just walked round it. sound of falling bombs. We all leapt out of our beds, heading There was a Cadet Corps284 (similar to the U.S. ROTC for the relative safety of the cupboard under the stairs. We all program) associated with BVGS to which I belonged. My arrived at the top of the stairs at the same moment and got stuck vague recollection was it was for the more senior classes and there. we wore WWI uniforms as the WWII battle dress could not I did see an incendiary bomb up close and personal. It be spared for the likes of us. I remember we were doing some was in the early days of the air raids, when we took our air raid exercise on the lower (sports) field one afternoon, and a couple

A Turbinlite equipped RAF Douglas A-20 Havoc. (From the Gerald Balzer collection, AAHS photo archives) 296 American Aviation Historical Society Journal, Winter 2019 A Light Tank Mk VIII (A25) known as the Harry Hopkins after President Roosevelt’s chief diplomatic advisor. (Wikipedia – public domain) of us noticed there was an aircraft pottering along quite high up phlegmatic Brits. But I do remember a terrifying nightmare overhead. There was a very good and very active spotters club about German landing in our back garden. at the school, and it dawned on my friend and I that we were Other memories from early in the war include a public looking at a Messerschmitt 110, German twin-engine fighter, a demonstration of an anti-aircraft gun, including the firing of long way from home. We called out to the master in charge and a blank. Some other public demonstration of the tanks being we were soon all sheltering in the ditches surrounding the field. built at the Met. And the very odd smell from a shot down Enemy fighters and military formations (even of just school German aircraft on display at the public library in Sutton. kids) don’t mix. And that is my Blitz tale. Its one big lesson to me: That Vickers designed the Mk VIII Harry Hopkins9 light tank, there are bad things in life where there is absolutely no point the production of which was apparently sub-contracted to in feeling annoyed, upset or angry about. Life and liberty are the Met. The type history tells us that there were enormous good pursuits, but happiness is a privilege, not a right. production difficulties, it never entered service, and it appears that only 100 were built. I can remember Dad making a scaled Americans Arrival in Sutton Coldfield model of the “plates” that comprised the tanks turret. There This comes in two parts – “I didn’t know that!” and actual are at least 10 separate plates. My guess is that the Met could memories. The first item up comes under the first heading – not get plates to fit together, so Dad spent a weekend at home the rather interesting fact that Sutton Coldfield, to be precise making a model to figure out which plates were being made to the Sutton Park Railroad Station, was established as the central the wrong dimensions. Perhaps building the turret was one of sorting office for U.S. Army mail, apparently as of July 1, 1942. the many production problems. The Mk VIII was intended to The troops working there were billeted in the as yet unoccupied be carried by the large General Aircraft Hamilcar assault glider, secondary school in Upper Holland Road. A purpose oriented but the size of the Mk VIII grew to the point it would no longer building was erected, apparently using German prisoners of fit. I remember Dad bringing home and showing me the plans war, alongside the station. At its peak, hundreds of U.S. troops, for the Hamilcar. and apparently hundreds of British women, worked there. And I don’t ever remember being specifically frightened by the U.S. Army’s central Northern European postal sorting center the Blitz, it was just all mildly interesting to a young teenager. stayed in Sutton Coldfield until it was moved to Paris when that I suspect I took my cues from my parents, who were typical city was freed by the allied ground forces. 297 One weekend a U.S. Army truck, full of American troops, flying bombers. I can remember seeing one crawled down Beacon Road, with an officer going from door that landed short, straddling a major drainage ditch, sitting on to door, looking for billets (spare bedrooms). Real sad for me its crumpled undercarriage. was the fact that sister Peg was home from the Land Army for But a more interesting trip, in D-Day terms, was to one of the weekend, so we did not have any spare room. I also recall the first divided highways in the area. I unfortunately cannot seeing American troops, who freely mingled with the population remember the specific location. During the war there was of Sutton Coldfield, with shoulder flashes of the 82nd and 101st very, very little car driving, petrol was very strictly rationed Airborne divisions. It has always puzzled me why those two and even colored for private use to prevent pilferage from the divisions should be in the same place at the same time – and armed services. There wasn’t, therefore, much call for divided now the answer – the 101st was a spin-off of the 82nd, and they highways. What I recall is that one half of this divided highway operated together.10 was used for bomb storage – mile after mile of it. Bombs neatly The U.S. troops did not think highly of their K Rations (I stacked, probably six or seven rows high. Totally unguarded, can still see in my mind’s eye the oblong khaki colored box) and and, of course, un-fused. Just heavy, explosive filled, metal they were given to tossing them lumps, but a long way from out of their trucks as they went any homes and house. down the road. Us Brits were not D-Day for me started too proud – chewing gum was the about 2 a.m., when Dad came main thing I remember. into my bedroom and said, The reference to the U.S. quite excitedly for him; “Son, Army post office being built by something’s up!” And he was German prisoners, reminds me right, we were enveloped in of a memory of Italian prisoners noise, both in the air and on of war being in a camp built in the ground. The ground noise Sutton Park. As far as I could was easy to work out, it was gather these folk simply became, military convoys heading and were happy to become, farm Typical U.S. Army south on the local main roads, workers, free to usually make WWII K-ration packaging. at least one of which was a their own ways to and from Labeling includes the instructions, “Open inner bag main north to south artery. where they worked, usually on carefully. It may be used as a waterproof container for But it has taken me a bicycles. I don’t think they were matches, cigarettes, etc. For security, do not discard long while to work out what paid as I never saw them in the the empty can, paper, or refuse where it can be seen the air noise was – it was very shopping areas. from the air. If possible, cover with dirt, foliage, sand, probably part of the American Mentioning farm workers etc.” (Wikipedia – public domain) D-Day parachute assault! brings me to spud picking. Of Both the American and course, all the really healthy British/Canadian water borne British men were in the armed services, which meant, at harvest invasions of the Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944, were time, farmers were looking for any kind of help they could find. preceded by parachute assaults on key targets. These folk were If Italian prisoners of war could do it, why not boys in the upper all on the ground before any of the water borne assaults. Now, it forms at the BVGS? I cannot remember how it was organized, is easy to dismiss, in terms of being awakened in Sutton during but it was always potato (spud) picking. Once a week we lined the night of June 5/6, the British/Canadian airborne operation up and got paid, the first time I was actually paid for doing as it apparently launched out of one airfield near Bournemouth. some useful work, and the first time I saw bookkeeping. So, what were the Americans up to? While there are lots During the war, like many Brits, Dad grew our own of sources of info on U.S. airborne operations in support of vegetables. I remember potatoes, runner beans and celery, plus D-Day, specifically the American landing on , at the some kind of berry. We had our own chickens, and, at one time, bottom of the Cherbourg (Contentin) Peninsula, there is, quite we owned half a pig. Rabbits were frequently on the menu. amazingly, no accepted overarching single source. Finding out I don’t remember the arrival of Spam, but have loved it ever what was going on takes some digging. since. Somewhat more poignant, the grocery shop Mom and I The role of the U.S. 8th Air Force was strategic, to used to walk to 75 years ago is now a Tesco Groceries store. participate with RAF Bomber Command in the destruction of the industrial foundations of Germany’s ability to wage war. D-Day However, as D-Day approached, the Americans needed to add From about 11 years old on my bike was my main personal a tactical arm, and this was the Ninth Air Force, already active, means of transport. I took myself to school on it, did errands, first in North Africa and then in Italy.11 visited friends and, on school holidays just rode around either The Ninth AF was transferred to England in October 1943, by myself or with friends. Fradley Aerodrome, about an hour consisting of these components: IX Air Division (Bomber or more away by bike was a favorite place to visit and watch. Command); IX Air Defense Command; IX Fighter Command; Fradley, RAF , was an Operational Training Unit IX Tactical Air Command; IX Troop Carrier Command; and 298 American Aviation Historical Society Journal, Winter 2019 XIX Tactical Air Command. The IX Troop Carrier Command 1. Yes, TV was introduced in the UK in 1936, but it was shut consisted of the 50th, 52nd, and 53rd Troop Carrier Wings. down as the war approached. We did not have TV until The Troop Carrier Command (i.e., HQ) was located in after the war, Grantham, Lincolnshire, very close to the Wash if you are 2. Similar to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. familiar with English geography, and about sixty miles northeast 3. Included in the 340,000 rescued were tens of thousands of of Birmingham. Its three Transport Carrier Wings (TCWs) French troops. It is my understanding that most of these were located in three different areas of England – the 50th at were ferried back to an yet unoccupied western France three airfields at or near Exeter, Devon; the 53rd at five airfields 4. The core English ethnicity is Anglo-Saxon, and they were at or near Grantham Common, think 50 miles west south west a Germanic tribe. of London; and the 52nd at seven airfields around Grantham. 5. This is not going to be a treatise on the Battle of Britain. Obviously, operations of the 50th and 53rd were well south of 6. My Dad occasionally would arrange for me and a friend, to Birmingham, so what was going on at the 52nd? ride in these tanks being tested. Great fun. The basic American airborne plan for D-Day was two 7. STEN = Major Shephard + Harold Turpin (designers) + missions – Mission Albany and Mission Boston, the first Royal ENfield (the manufacturer). to support the left flank of the Utah beach landings, and the 8. The Brits used two airborne searchlights, the Turbinlite second to support the right (road to Cherbourg) flank. Albany mentioned above and the more powerful Leigh Light. The was conducted by the 101st Airborne with delivery by the 50th Leigh Light was installed on maritime reconnaissance and 53rd TCWs. Boston was assigned to the 82nd Airborne aircraft, and was used to illuminate U-Boats who surface with delivery by the 52nd TCW. The 52nd pathfinders left the at night so they can safely recharge the batteries that power Grantham area 22:00, followed shortly by the first “serial” of 36 them when submerged. C-47s at 22:30. First drop was 01:51. Mission Boston involved 9. The Harry Hopkins tank was named for President 369 troop transports carrying 6,420 troops (plus 9 pathfinders Roosevelt’s chief diplomatic advisor. that departed 30 minutes before the main body), and it took 53 10. I suspect a brief historical footnote is needed here. First, minutes for all the transports to get off the ground. Germany declared war on America four days after the Now, while the flight path from the Grantham area to the Japanese , December 7, 1941. The Severn Estuary turning point does not take you directly over first US troops to arrive in the UK debarked in Northern Birmingham, but a formation of over 350 aircraft probably took Ireland in January1942, expecting to move on to England, up a fair amount of air space, so I do think it highly probable but were diverted to North Africa and Operation Torch, that it was these folk that Dad and I were listening to. November 1942, the allied invasion of French North Africa When did we get the actual news of D-Day? It came at 8 which complemented the British progressive defeat of the a.m. from the BBC, of course, when we were told that BBC Germans and Italians in Egypt and Libya. This led to the Europe had been instructed to warn inhabitants of the French , during which the 82nd and 101st Coast that a “new phase in the air war has started” and civilians were redeployed to the U.K. I suspect the shoulder flashes should seek cover. Then, at noon, BBC newscaster John Snagge I saw were on American troops seconded to the American reported that “D-Day had come”. central sorting office. As for me, when I turned 18, I went to a town school in St. 11. The well known D-Day invasion stripes which were Michaels Road, just across Boldmere Road from Beacon Road painted on allied aircraft the night before D-Day came and registered for National Service. Call up periods were twice about because of the large amount of allied troop transports a year, January – June, and July – December, so I was due for brought down by friendly fire during the airborne invasion call up in the second half of the year tranche. However, with of Sicily. the war in Europe just over that tranche was cancelled, and then restarted in January 1946. The selective service board came looking for me, but, by that time I was an apprentice at Vickers Aircraft in Weybridge, and not subject to conscripted military service.  MOVING About the Author Colin Green was born May 21, 1927, the day Lindbergh IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO MOVE, landed in Paris and was destined to become an aeronautical PLEASE SEND US YOUR CHANGE OF engineer. He started as an aviation apprentice, and successively ADDRESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. We graduated to aircraft engineer, program management, marketing support, long range planning and corporate management. He cannot get your Journal to you if we don’t spent 22 years with British aviation companies before moving know where you live. To ensure uninter- to the United States where he spent an additional 25 years rupted service, please let us know at least working for Sikorsky and United Technologies. six weeks in advance.

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