248161 Sgt. David John Topley Royal Air Force 500 Squadron from:Maidstone, Kent My father was known as both Dave and John Topley, he joined up before the start of WW2 as a volunteer at Detling. He was with 500 Squadron at Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Coastal Command. I heard stories of the postman waiting for some kippers that Dad had sent home.
He volunteered for a special assignment that took him to North Africa, Italy and to the Balkans as the Flight Engineer for the B-25 Mitchell used by Air Vice Marshall Slessor, who was the Commander of the Allied Air Forces in the Mediterranean and Middle East. He loved that plane, it was polished aluminium, no armaments but quite fast. Dave/John maintained his attachment to 500 Sqadron long after peace returned and he was de-mob'd.
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