A 90-year tour of duty

This week marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Peter Hurcomb gives a dramatic account of the war-time experience of Stewart Harris and the rehabilitation he has received at St Dunstan's, the visual impairment charity for ex-servicemen which is celebrating its 90th annversary

In February 1943, Flying Officer Stewart Harris and his fellow crew-members were posted to 50th squadron, flying a Lancaster bomber. An early mission to the German naval port of Wilhelmshaven almost ended in disaster. The pilot embarked on a rapid descent to avoid anti-aircraft fire and would have flown into the sea were it not for the strong language of the bomb aimer telling the pilot to gain some altitude. Fortunately, the only casualty to the water was a radio aerial.