In this episode Dave Homewood chats with WWII Air Gunner Eddie Leaf, who served with the Royal Air Force in Vickers Wellingtons, Short Stirlings, Handley Page Halifax and Avro Lancasters.
Eddie was born in the UK but grew up in the USA during the Depression years, and returned to Britain before joining the RAF. Postwar he moved to New Zealand.
His daughter Christine also sits in to help Eddie with his fading memories.
Eddie’s wartime bomber crew on No. 90 Squadron in the Summer of 1943: Left to right are Roy Mitchell (Mid-Upper Gunner), Harry Sherman (Wireless Operator), Eddie Leaf (Rear Gunner), Charles Corley DFC (Pilot), Bob Ludham (Flight Engineer), Arthur Beresford (Bomb Aimer) and Cyril Paul (Navigator). From Eddie Leaf’s Collection.Eddie Leaf during his RAF days. From Eddie Leaf’s Collection.A photo of the English-born members of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association who were treated to a trip back to the UK to tour museums and visit the Bomber Command Memorial. Here they were visiting the Avro Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ at East Kirkby. Left to right are Harold Panton, owner of ‘Just Jane’, Eddie Leaf, Des Hall, ?, Wally Halliwell, Harry Cammish and Doug Williamson. From Eddie Leaf’s Collection.Eddie Leaf, standing left, with his daughter Christine, talks with Ron Mayhill (back to camera) and Jonathon Pote, with Keith Boles DFC in the foreground at an NZBCA veterans morning tea in December 2019.Photo Dave HomewoodEddie greeting Keith, with Ron and Christine looking on. Photo Dave Homewood
NB: The music at the end of this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud
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