War-time experiences in the RAF and RASC

The contributor's father, Ronald Billings, worked for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Ronald started as an air trainee at a school in Newcastle upon Tyne called 'Magister'. He completed his training between 1938 and 1939, and joined the war as a Sergeant Pilot. He was later commissioned in January 1940.

During the war, Ronald flew air missions for Dunkirk; served as the commanding officer of a liberator squadron in Iceland between 1944 and 1945, and, in 1941, he acted as an instructor pilot at Squires Gate, Blackpool. Furthermore, when Ronald was flying a mission over the North Sea in Hudson, he was attacked by 9 ME-109s and crash landed a bullet-ridden aircraft in Bircham, Newton in North Northfolk. Ronald survived another crash in Blackpool which occurred when the plane's engines both cut off unexpectedly.

After the war, Ronald stayed in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAAF) until the 1970s. Afterwards, he served in the RAF coastal command, and retired in his 70s.

The contributor's wife's father, Dudley Stuart Ship, served in the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) as a Lieutenant colonel and was awarded an OBE for his actions in Arromanches-les-Bains. Dudley acted as the Commanding officer of the 39 RASC during D-Day, as well as for the preparations for D-Day in England. During the D-Day preparation, he was based in Stokes Bay. Furthermore, he ran war horse gymkhanas in Antwerp through 1945, remaining in Antwerp for much of 1944 and 1945. Dudley remained in his post until 26th October 1945. The contributor shared that Dudley was rescued from D-Day and that Dudley had told stories of laying in a ditch, waiting to be rescued.