George McBean's father (also called George McBean) was in the RAF during the war. He never left Britain but still served like millions of others.
There were a couple of stories that he told the contributor. One that the contributor managed to confirm after his father passed away - that his father captained his local RAF football team in the final in Wolverhampton. All the years McBean's father was in the RAF, he wanted to serve overseas like his two brothers. He was told he was to go overseas the week of the cup final but was passed unfit for overseas duty because he was the captain of the football team! A photo of McBean's father with the team and cup confirms that he played football for the RAF team, though it does not prove the medical exemption. But mother confirmed the story of father's medical exemption - we have the medical officer to thank for the increased life expectancy of father!
Father used to make model brooches out of pennies of spitfires for pilots to give to their sweethearts. Defacing coins was an illegal activity, so father kept it secret! But these pennies were very popular. For example, father put pennies on a tram track and then folded and shaped them with safety pin as a brooch.
Father also made model aircrafts, but the contributor did not bring these. Father's favourite nephew was a navigator in a Lancaster bomber and was shot down.
Rudolph Hess's plane was taken to father's airfield, and it was broken into many pieces. Father kept a small piece of the plane, labelled it, and left it in a box with other stuff. The contributor said that they can't confirm whether it was true but had no reason to doubt it and the plane was certainly brought there in various states of repair. Father tried to make a ring out of the piece of Hess's plane - the contributor saw this and thought it was a bullet hole! But it was inappropriate material for a ring.
Alongside playing football, father was an artist. He used to draw and paint woodgrain during the war. When he came back, he became a house painter. The contributor is an artist, hence his artistic roots come from his father. The contributor still has his brushes and combs for making grain.
The contributor vaguely remembers occasions when father took him to a place in Stafford: the base he was at and the family that his father had stayed with. The contributor remembers, when staying with this family, a woman tucking him in so tightly that he couldn't move, like he was embedded in the mattress.
The contributor's mother was in the Women's Land Army, and she lived on a farm in the Scottish Borders. All mother's stories were about having a good time, and she made lifelong friends! The contributor has brought photographs of her. Lots of people talk about the frontline but camaraderie and work of people behind the scenes goes missing! Also, the ones that go through the emotions of losing family.
Father and mother met before the war.
Father rarely talked about the war. Although he was a spokesperson and was captain of the football team, he felt he had nothing to say. But his brothers and other friends' parents served in action overseas. The contributor felt lucky that his father did not see the horrors of the war firsthand! He was a standout parent in youth as he taught football to children in the school and gave them encouragement. The contributor grew up in poor neighborhoods in Leith. Father could only afford to buy one set of football boots for the contributor and his brother, so they each got one boot as one was right-footed and the other left-footed.
Father's older brother was in the RAF. He went overseas but the contributor doesn't know much about his experience.
Father's younger brother was in the North African campaign; he was a driver for a general, but the contributor said they weren't sure who the general was. Father's youngest brother drove him all over, including to Germany (for Nuremberg Trials) at the end of the war at the Nuremberg trials. He brought home toys from Germany that he later gave to the contributor, including a model aircraft that dropped bombs, a car, and a tank. Later found document from Nuremberg trials the contributor had kept for some reason. Father said the plane was too precious to play with! The contributor's uncle also gave him an Italian sportscar and a tank that fired caps. The plane worked with clockwork to drop the bombs, and it still works! But because it has a swastika on, the contributor keeps it in a cupboard, as he said he "doesn't want these things getting in the wrong hands these days."
The contributor brought in photos of his father's football team and a ticket, with one photo taken before the war.
The contributor also brought photos of themself with their father and mother in Portobello.
The contributor also brought in a German hat band, that was taken from a merchant ship that had been captured in Leith in 1940. The contributor has no idea how he ended up with it!
FAQs
Most joined before the United States entered the war in April, 1917, either through a desire to help Britain or simply for adventure. Others joined even after America entered the war, believing that the British flying services had better aircraft and greater experience than the new US Air Services.
How many RAF died in WWII? ›
There were about 85,000 members of the RAF killed during the war. Did you get the uniform for free? The “other ranks”, ordinary people who were not officers, did not have to pay for their uniforms. If you damaged it by being careless you might have to pay for a replacement.
What was the role of the RAF in ww2? ›
For over 100 years the Royal Air Force has defended British skies. In 1940 it experienced its greatest test in the Battle of Britain. Using science, ingenuity, and support from across the UK and overseas, the RAF defended the UK from Nazi Germany's air force, the Luftwaffe.
What was the Air Force of Great Britain called? ›
Royal Air Force (RAF), youngest of the three British armed services, charged with the air defense of the United Kingdom and the fulfillment of international defense commitments. It is the world's oldest independent air force.
What is a pilot called in the RAF? ›
In the Royal Air Force (RAF), the term for a female pilot is the same as for a male pilot: they are both referred to as "pilots." The RAF does not have separate titles for male and female pilots; they are all known simply as pilots.
How many RAF pilots were killed in the Battle of Britain? ›
It was a decisive defeat for the Luftwaffe, and since then this date has been celebrated as 'Battle of Britain Day'. 544 RAF aircrew were killed during the Battle of Britain. 312 RAF personnel were killed on the ground, as RAF stations were often targets for Luftwaffe bombing.
Did ww2 RAF pilots carry guns? ›
In WWII during the Battle of Britain (1940), RAF pilots operating the Hawker Hurricane WERE CARRYING the Webley . 38 revolver. They carried it in a holster that was later changed by a large pouch carried around the neck, on top or under the vest.
What was the life expectancy of a WWII bomber crew? ›
Everyone had to play their part to stay alive. The Lancaster was one of the most dangerous places to be in the entire war – the life expectancy of a new recruit was just two weeks. Find out if you have what it took to be part of the crew.
What was the average age of an RAF pilot in ww2? ›
They were often very young, too: the average age of an RAF fighter pilot in 1940 was just 20 years. Of those killed, the average age was 22. As the battle wore on, RAF Fighter Command had ever fewer reserves of experienced pilots to draw on and men were sent into combat after only a few hours of training.
What is the motto of the RAF? ›
The motto of the RAF, Per Ardua ad Astra (Through Adversity to the Stars), sums up the Air Force spirit. After its formation in 1918, when the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service were merged, the new RAF was keen to foster this spirit.
The minimum age to apply is 17-and-a-half years old. The maximum age on entry to Direct Entry Pilot is age 23, Phase One training at RAF Cranwell must be started before your 24th birthday.
What was the survival rate of the RAF during ww2? ›
The most dangerous were the first and last five trips. During the whole war, 51% of aircrew were killed on operations, 12% were killed or wounded in non-operational accidents and 13% became prisoners of war or evaders. Only 24% survived the war unscathed.
Does the RAF still exist? ›
There are currently four RAF groups. We also form Expeditionary Air Groups (EAGs) to deliver operations overseas. Each group is commanded by an Air Vice-Marshal or Air Commodore.
What is the RAF flag? ›
The Royal Air Force Ensign is the official flag which is used to represent the Royal Air Force. The ensign has a field of air force blue with the United Kingdom's flag in the canton and the Royal Air Force's roundel in the middle of the fly.
Was the RAF better than the Luftwaffe? ›
However, during the campaign, German loss rates were relatively lower than the British and, given their output of replacements at the time, the Luftwaffe kept up its numbers. But comparatively speaking, the RAF not only had more pilots during the campaign but could absorb losses easier than the Luftwaffe.
Why did Roald join the Royal Air Force RAF to become a pilot? ›
After he left school, he wanted adventure so he worked for Shell Oil Company. He was sent to Africa for 3 years, but after only one year, the Second World War broke out, so he enlisted with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and became a pilot.
Did Americans fly for the RAF? ›
The Eagle Squadrons were three fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force (RAF) formed with volunteer pilots from the United States during the early days of World War II (1940), prior to America's entry into the war in December 1941.
Why do people want to join the RAF? ›
As a member of the RAF, your family member will become a skilled professional, a leader and a manager – and we'll give them the opportunity to prove themselves sooner than their contemporaries in civilian jobs. In short, they will join the ranks of the best and brightest. on base.
How many WWII RAF pilots are still alive? ›
As of 2022, there is only one surviving member of the group still alive, John Hemingway.
