Foreword to the Second Edition

by

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach KCB CBE ADC BA MPhil DTech DLitt FRAeS RAF

This is a most useful update to an important book. In particular, many members of the current Royal Air Force aircrew community will be able to relate to the difficulties experienced by the first generation of observers, which it describes so well.

But, more than that, the bravery, courage and sacrifice of observers, navigators, air gunners, wireless operators and bomb aimers has become the stuff of legend, heroism and recognition. This book explains the context, the difficulties over policy – on badges, pay, recognition, which many contemporary readers would recognise. We should also remember the huge contribution made by aircrew from other countries; many of the ‘boys’ of Fighter, Bomber and Coastal Command were from other countries.

As the jet age dawned so the requirement for non-pilot aircrew continued and, in roles ranging from V-bombers, to maritime patrol, to airlift and to tactical fighter-bombers, there was (and is) a genuine sense of team and teamwork amongst those who fly.

In my own forty plus years of service I recognise much of what Jeff describes. And yet my dominant memories are of shared risks, shared missions and shared support.

In life, I believe you make your own luck. As a navigator I have held command in every rank and served for fourteen years in Joint Defence Appointments. For future budding authors perhaps another – difficult to define theme – might be the role and influence of Non-Pilot Aircrew through the history of military flying; in command, on multinational operations and providing influence and intellect in staff appointments. But that is another story. For now, I commend this excellent book.