An informative & personal account of a young man's flying experiences during WW2 Growing up in York shaped by the threat of war-Jack Colman achieves his long held desire to become a pilot joining the RAF in October 1940 just after his 21st birthday He is sent to Canada to learn to fly & becomes intrigued by the technical & practical aspects of flying & navigation Becoming a Pilot Navigator he joins Costal Command on Liberators based in Iceland The practical difficulties of flying over the North Atlantic & Arctic Oceans protecting the convoys & hunting U-boats are relived as he battles with atrocious weather & navigational uncertainties His brushes with death whether due to mechanical failure hitting the sea U-boat gun fire or running out of fuel in an ever changing hostile environment are described realistically & calmly (often with humour) situations helped by a confidence in the good advice given by others his knowledge skills & a trust in his crew When training he hears about the death of his father on leave he finds time to fall in love & marry