[Kyt]

Paul commemorated D-Day (turns out his dad took part on the assault too) with two guests. Was nice to see them.

Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE - Joining the RAF in 1932, after qualifying as a pilot, he served as an instructor until 1942, when he joined 15 Squadron at Mildenhall, flying Lancasters. Volunteering for the Pathfinder Force he joined 35 Squadron at Gravely on Halifaxes, followed by 582 Squadron on Lancasters, taking part in many bombing sorties over Normandy, including two missions on D-Day. He finished the war having completed 66 operations

And Happy Birthday S/L Carden - 96 today!!

Annette Hill, AIR TRANSPORT AUXILIARY -
Annette Hill says that her love affair with aeroplanes began in 1935 when Sir Alan Cobham arrived in her native Dublin with the famous Cobham Flying Circus. During a five-shilling joy ride the pilot let Annette briefly take the controls, and she was hooked.

In 1942 Annette left her neutral country to join the WAAF in Northern Ireland as an ambulance driver. The following year the 22 year-old applied for pilot training with the ATA. She says "We fell into bed exhausted, but it was an exhilarating time. When I graduated to the Spitfire it was a moment of pure magic mixed liberally with awe, excitement and dread."

Annette was posted to Prestwick as a Class II pilot to ferry mostly Fleet Air Arm aircraft to the Isles and the north of Scotland. She became known as "Queen of the Barracudas" - and a one-woman PR campaign for the capabilities of this high-wing torpedo/dive bomber monoplane.

From 1943 - 1945 Annette flew twelve different types of aircraft and clocked up 475 hours flying time.