Thomas Dobney applied to join the RAF in 1941, aged just 14, after a dare from a school friend. He flew a Tiger Moth of No 2 Elementary Flying School near Gloucester six days after his 15th birthday. He went solo after 12 flying hours.
After being sent to Canada to complete flying training, he gained his pilot’s wings whist still only 15 years old. He returned to Britain and was posted as a sergeant pilot to a squadron flying twin-engine Whitley bombers.
After completing at least 20 missions over Germany, his secret was discovered when his father, who was estranged from his mother and out of touch with Tom, identified his son among a group of airmen talking to King George VI on a visit to bomber bases in East Anglia. Mr Dobney then rang the Air Ministry to ask why his 15 year-old son was in an RAF uniform shaking hands with the King.
What followed was the life of a young man who rose to greatness during one of the bloodiest conflicts that the world has ever seen!
#worldwar2 #raf #airforce #royalairforce #english #greatbritain #germany
#1940s #canada #kinggeorge
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Lancaster Bomber
B-24 Liberator
B-25 Mitchell
B-29 Super fortress
P-51 Mustang
Avro Vulcan
supermarine spitfire
Battle of Britain
ME-109
DISCLAIMER: All materials in these videos are used for entertainment purposes and fall within the guidelines of fair use. No copyright infringement intended.
I do not own some of the pictures or some of the footage used in this video. It was taken from public domain and is being used for educational purposes. This footage is not to be duplicated or used without expressed permission.
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS
Stadium79 is a channel intended to encourage informed discussions, criticism and review of certain aspects of history and stories about the strange and unusual. These clips and/or photos and extracts are of a minimal nature and the use is not intended to interfere in any manner with the complete work by the owners of the copyrights. The use of works are in compliance with the fair dealing exception provided under Sec. 52 of the Copyright Act, and we asset our use of the works under the exception provided for criticism and review.
12 сен 2024
