As an airforce brat I remember listening to this story growing up it still personifies Christmas for me. As aircrew my father was away for many of those Christmases and I think of him while listening to this story.
It is the short story of a Royal Air Force fighter pilot flying a de Havilland Vampire jet fighter back home from Germany in the winter of 1957 on Christmas Eve. The pilot is trying to get home for Christmas when everything that could go wrong does. He finds himself over the North Sea at night, in winter, in the clag and with out radio, navigational aid or time.
I was recently reminded of this story by Dave O'Malley's article on the Vintage Wings of Canada site.
It’s about 30 minutes long. But it’s a lovely story - apparently a Christmas gift from Forsyth to his wife. And the way Alan Maitland reads it - more than a mere nod to the sheer magic of radio.
Get yourself some hot cider/mulled wine/other traditional seasonal drink, sit back, and listen to The Shepherd
Merry Christmas to all especially to those men and woman serving for us all around the world.
http://community.livejournal.com/histor ... 16672.html