D-Day to VE-Day
with the Second Tactical Air Force 1944-1945
by
Book Details
About the Book
This book is a personal account of the experiences of a member of the ground crew of a Royal Air Force fighter-bomber wing during the invasion of Western Europe during World War 2.
This wing was one of many such units that made up the combined Allied Air Forces charged to ensure the maximum destruction of enemy forces on the ground and in the air. To achieve this goal each unit had to be fully mobile and capable of maintaining close support to all forces on the battlefield.
The chapters of this book follow the progress of the author and his unit through France, Belgium, Holland and finally, to the heart of Germany and victory. Included are personal photographs taken at various locations during the campaign together with a few taken at the same location sixty years later during a return visit.
About the Author
Greg Hayward was born in London but spent most of his boyhood in Southern England. At the age of 16 he enlisted in the Royal Air Force as a technician apprentice. On completing his training in 1944 he moved on to the regular Air Force and in June of that year he joined 'The 2nd Tactical Air Force', the British arm of the Allied invasion air forces.
After the war he continued in the Air Force until completing his service in the mid 1950's. He subsequently enjoyed a civilian career as an electronic service engineer in the aviation and allied industries and retired in 1990. He has been married for almost fifty years and he and his wife are currently enjoying retirement in rural England.