There were seven in the crew - seven very young and very inexperienced airmen who, nearly every night, flew their heavily-
laden Lancaster bomber into the exploding skies over enemy Germany. On almost their first flight Piers, the navigator,
managed to get them lost and Van, the pilot, nearly crashed the plane on landing. Charlie, the rear gunner, who was only
seventeen but who had lied about his age, spent his time reading poetry and trying not to spew his guts out on every flight.
They were from mixed backgrounds and nationalities but somehow, heroically, they welded together into a courageous fighting
unit, helping each other and desperately hoping they would survive their thirty bombing raids.
And on the ground were the women who waited. Assistant Section Officer Catherine Herbert, in love with Van but already
committed to another man. And Peggy, the little waitress who found herself being ardently wooed by the aristocratic Piers.
There was Ruth, the land-girl, falling in love in spite of herself. And Charlie's young and pretty widowed mother, living
right on the edge of the airfield, praying every night that her son would come back.

About The Reader
Michael Tudor Barnes. After reading Classics at London University, Michael Tudor Barnes trained at RADA and for five years
was a member of the National Theatre Company. He has also worked with the RSC, has played leading roles both home and abroad
and has over 600 radio broadcasts to his credit. Television work includes The Bill and Softly, Softly; but he is probably
best known to viewers as Willy Roper in EastEnder.

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