David Gunby was, before retirement, Professor of English Literature at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, specializing in Renaissance drama and poetry. He also has a life-long interest in military aviation, and particularly in Royal Air Force bomber operations, this originating in his father s service with 40 Squadron, the history of which was published in 1995 as Sweeping the Skies. He met Jo Lancaster, whose first tour of operations was with 40 Squadron, while researching the squadron history, and later persuaded him to record his memories of a long and distinguished ca...