Reluctant Hero

John tells the true story about his Dad, Bill's involvement in the Second World War. Bill grew up in the slums of Notting Hill, London and left school at fourteen. Despite his insecurities and self-doubt, while still in his late teens, and against all odds, he qualified as a skilled fighter pilot. Due to his lack of family connections he was assigned to the 'Bomber Boys' where thrust from boyhood to air combat veteran in just two years.
He desperately wanted to belong to the 'establishment' but rebelled against the powers-that-be when he realised how expendable they thought he was. Victim of their class conscious attitudes, he was unwilling to toe their line and so they punished him!
For this and his outspoken anti-establishment views he was penalised, but continued to cheat death many times. Needless to say he was held in high regard by his crew.
Loss of life and planes was horrendous and to Bill’s mind largely unnecessary. His attitude towards death in combat changed dramatically after he met and married John's mother to be, Alice.
After the raid over Dresden in February 1945, he became angry at the cover-ups, corruption and myriad of lies. Authorities disputed claims that British planes carried out machine-gun attacks on the civilian population but Bill knew otherwise!
Against all odds he survived the war, physically but was dreadfully scarred emotionally.
After serving his country he was finally dismissed without a commission or a job. Even told he was unfit to fly!
Angry and bitter at the age of 23, with a wife and child to support he needed to move on. Disillusioned, he decided to become wealthy and sell diamonds to Americans. This is the true story of how his combat experiences, especially the bombing of Dresden, changed the course of his and his family's life.
A no holds barred book that's honest about the role of Lancaster Bombers in the Second World War, one that challenges most preconceptions. A book not afraid to be honest about war.