The following was sent in by Terry Sheldon, his son.

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" Volunteered which gave me the rights to go in the service & pick the job I wanted. So, I joined the RAF & trained as a Fitter 2 Engines. From Jan 3rd 1940, to Blackpool No 5 School of Tech Training. Left in July 3 1940 Posted to No 59 Squadron, which had left France during the Dunkirk evacuation & had re-grouped at Thorney Island. It was a case of no time to settle in gradually. The battle of Britain was on. Everything & everyone was being bombed, we worked night & day to keep kites flying. Just before leaving Blackpool I passed a flying medical, ................"

" The journeys home on short leaves one travelled through bomb damaged London with hordes of civilians sheltering in the tubes, underground railway tunnels whilst the city blazed. Being a mobile battle squadron we travelled & operated from dromes in nearly all the Brit Isles, not S/Ireland which was supposed to be neutral although Thorney Ise was our home base, and whilst under the Battle of Britain worked on Spits & Hurricanes as well as Blenheims (our own Squadron).
Xmas 1940 was at Manston in Kent. On short detachment saw nothing of Len Deighton's accusation of mutinous actions. Suspect Deighton's book is B/S & never happened at Manston. Dromes operated from where Thorney, Bircham Newton, Detling, Manston, St Athens, Ford."

"1941. Very much a repeat of 40, working 48hrs on duty with 24 off. In Sept a scheme was brought in where fitters Eng' & airframe could apply for 6 months release from the RAF to work in the aircraft factory closest to home. I applied and in Feb 1942 was released to work in civilian conditions on civi' wages & live at home, but to be on minutes notice recall to the RAF if needed....................."

" 1 night in Summer of 40. in response to an urgent Order from Sgt Batchelor 59 Squadron we were ordered to collect rifles & ammo, & go to the beach at Thorney Isle as jerry was on his way. (As reported by Sunderland fly-boat at Gosport). Instead I along with 2 or 3 more fitters & riggers reported to dispersal, much to the relief of Flt/Sgt Davies who wanted ground crew to look after the 9 Blenheims of "A' Flight which were standing by, each bombed up with 2 belly tanks, 60 gal each - 120 gal per plane of Phosgene gas, this having been loaded that afternoon. Thank heaven it was to be a false alarm & proved to be the Hitler boys pulling their accumulated no's of barges out into the Channel to avoid our bombers at night."

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