Bill Oarley
RAF 65 Hornchurch
July 12, 1940

Second day on the job. Yesterday our patrol was uneventful, but it gave me a good chance to get a feel for the tension of waiting...waiting for combat. Today the waiting stopped. We weren't expecting trouble, but after circling around down by the Ilse of Sheppy, Leader called out Bandits, 12 O'Clock!
It was several 110s, already scattered from dropping their bombs on the ships below. To my horror, I saw cargo vessels go up in flames and huge spouts of water as they were hit! Trying to remember my training, I grit my teeth together and jumped into the fray! As I ... oh, I am not the typist that 33lima is, I will let the video do the rest of the talking...


The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...