A. Sfrrzmr! MacDonald D.F.C., MD. C..M. 
     
    
   
   
    
     other two. As a result, we had some trouble taking off, as 
     
     the plane would swing. Ken would roar at Sgt. Tossell and 
     
     the Engineer would sputter his Welsh, and as a result, we 
     
     often did not take off the runway. The other pilots called 
     
     my Pilot ”runway Roulston” - one time we even made a 
     
     group loop, a very dangerous complex turn. When we 
     
     came down, the Pilot shook the landing gear and said, ”I 
     
     think this should be fixed, it seems very loose." 
     
    
   
   
    
     MIDDLETON — ST. GEORGE 
     
    
   
   
    
     I was glad to see the last of the Halifax bomber. We 
     
     went to the Ghost Squadron, which got its name because 
     
     one night only three planes arrived back from a tour. When 
     
     we arrived we were placed in Nissen huts - this was like a 
     
     large half culvert with cement at both ends. 
     
    

    
     The place was filled with airmen, but next morning 
     
     there were a lot of empty beds, after a very bad flight over 
     
     Germany. I don’t recall how many planes were lost, but it 
     
     had its effect in making us realize that we were not joining 
     
     a pleasure camp. The loss of planes was about 5 per cent 
     
     each flying night, and when you multiply by 30 trips, 150 
     
     per cent gave one the impression that the chance of getting 
     
     the Old Age pension was not very great. 
     
    

    
     It was lucky that it was early summer, as these huts 
     
     were very cold in winter. We had to walk nearly a mile to 
     
     the airport. Shortly after I arrived, Head Office decided 
     
     that aircrew move closer to the airport and administration 
     
     go to the huts. You can imagine P/O.’s and F/O.’s replacing 
     
     high ranking officers. Only aircrew received penicillin for 
     
     illness, as at that time, the US was giving up to $50,000.00 
     
     for a trained Navigator. It made me appreciate the cost of 
     
     training. 
     
    
   
   
    
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