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This story was given to Conor Garrett and transcribed by volunteer Mairead Gilheany

James Starke

I came from Bangor and joined up in 1940. I did all my training in England and Scotland. I did 11 trips bombing over Germany before I was transferred to coastal command. We flew over the Atlantic hunting for U boats. We would fly for 12-14 hours every 3 or 4 days.

We spotted a U boat in the Atlantic and attacked it with a depth charge. After about 45 trips I was moved to train twin engine pilots to fly four engine aircraft. This was more horrifying than flying anything myself, but I got used to it.

Eventually I was put back on operations in Dorset. I was on the Rhine crossing at Arnhem on D Day. The Germans never flew at night. I did about 85 trips in four engine aircraft. On the second day at Arnhem, I was hit and the whole aircraft shook terribly but luckily we survived.

After the war I was offered a four year service commission but I thought this would keep me out of the labour market for four years. Looking back I think this was a mistake and the short service commission might have resulted in a permanent commission.

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