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I met Henry in London and we celebrated the end of WW2 in London in Piccadilly Circus. The crowds were just packed everywhere. There was no room for cars. It was still late into the night. I was returning to Binbrook and we sat on a kerbside and drank coffee and ate ice-cream. We missed all the “heigh-ho” at Binbrook. I believe they all had a merry-old-time setting fire to the furniture in the officers mess. Burning a lot of it on a Big Bonfire outside the Ante-room.
The state of most people was utter relief. Henry, however had different ideas. He joined 460 squadron posting at East Kirby (Tiger Force) to fly out to Japan and finish off the Japs.
His crew of his first tour was,
Harry Ellis – Wireless Operator
Jack Goulding – Mid Upper Gunner
Jack McQueen – Rear Guner
Fred Smith – Navigator
Ian Hall – Flight Engineer
Jack Trist – Bomb Aimer
Not all these guys were interested in a Second Tour and in fact only Fred Smith
