A Trenchard Brat At War

the long version

"The announcement of my intention to apply for entry into the Royal Air Force was met by abject horror from my mother and she was quite adamant that no son of hers was going to join the armed forces."Thomas Lancashire joined the RAF in 1936 and became a "Trenchard Brat" at RAF Halton. He was posted to 7 Squadron in 1939, flying Whitley bombers but decided to become a flight engineer on the Stirling heavy bomber. Posted to 15 Squadron he was involved in the Lnbeck raid. In 1942 he became an instructor until posted to 97 Squadron flying Lancasters. Attacked over Belgium he successfully baled out only to be betrayed by a German agent and placed in captivity.