What turns an ordinary man into an extraordinary one? The answer lies in the stories of six teenage volunteers for Second World War aircrew who exchanged school uniform for Air Force Blue & took a giant step into the unknown. Based on original research from flying log books diaries & family archives this collection of true tales describes the mens training for those coveted Wings; the nervous excitement of that first sortie over enemy territory; & flying into the hell of an enemy flak barrage & fighters. From the skies over Europe to jungles & deserts all endured hardship adventure & danger. They experienced action under enemy fire wounds burns & crash-landings escape & evasion in occupied territory & the privations of life as a POW. Seventy years on & these brushes with death are by any measure hair-raising encounters that turned adolescents into men
- some of whom survived the war while others paid the ultimate price.