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This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
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assistance required RAF Lancaster Navigator Cyril Desborough

Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:58 am

fellow wixers i am hoping someone on here may be able to help fill in some detail for me as below:

a couple of days ago i had the pleasure and indeed privilege of meeting a former WW2 WAAF: Grace Logan (maiden name).
she was a wireless operator from 1943 to 1946:
trained at Compton Bassett and served at RAF Wick (beaufighters), Bletchley Park ( Station x), Algiers and Cairo. Incredibly she was also pulled out from rubble on 20th June 1944 in London after the building she was billeted in was blown up by a V1.....with 1 friend next to her pulled out alive and the other unfortunately never made it. She heard the buzz bomb engine cut out and said to her friends...this ones got our name on it (a week later by the way she was back at work)

Now if the above was not enough to share with me and the family,she went on to tell me that she met her husband after the war and that during the war he was a navigator on Lancasters. He moved crews at some point and apparently the former crew were shot down so he was extremely lucky. He survived a tour and then was told he had done enough to retrain as an air traffic controller. indeed post war he went to Prestwick in Scotland and was a controller there,which is where they met and where she still lives today. (sadly he passed many years ago)
Post war she was involved heavily in running the annual Prestwick airshow too and remembers fondly having to take care of "the RAF big wigs"

Most of her husbands photos he threw away after the war as he said he had too many

Name Cyril Desborough, born India..known affectionately by all as "Des". Got no more detail than this to hand so far

Anyone able to help fill in his service career, photos etc..it would be fantastic to share with her next time we catch up

thanks all in advance

Clive
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