There must be many books which have remained unwritten because of lack of spare time, lack of energy, or doubt as to the public's interest in the everyday experience of an average person. Amongst the unwritten books there are surely many which could have been put together by engineers who worked on the rush programme of 1940 to 1944 for the Air Ministry. It is certain that many a thrilling saga could have been produced by better writers than myself, and I am surprised to see no books in the shops telling the public about the work that paved the way for the mightiest armada of all time - the air armada of R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. bombers which blasted at Europe in the last two years of the war. As a result the general public have no idea of the life and problems, the comedy and tragedy of the ordinary civilians who worked in isolated country places to that end.

An attempt has been made to avoid technical language and lengthy details of construction, since those interested in that side of the work have ready access to a wealth of technical data compiled by the professional institutions. This book is for my friends and others who wondered what I was doing "down South" for over three years, and who, when they asked me questions during the days when Security was spelt with a capital letter, received a noncommittal reply which must have made them wonder if I really was doing anything at all.

D. B.

Buxton, January 1947.