World War II
He was over 40 when World War II began, and with No. 57 Squadron RAF, he moved to Metz as part of the Air Component of the British Expeditionary Force, equipped with the Bristol Blenheim light bomber. He volunteered to carry out the squadron's first operational mission, a flight from Metz to reconnoitre Hamm-Hannover-Soest on 13 October 1939. His Blenheim was however shot down by a Me109 flown by Uffz. Stephan Lutjens, of 11./JG 53, near Birkenfeld. Day managed to bail out, suffering burns to his face and hands, but otherwise landed safely by parachute. He was immediately captured by the Germans and placed in the custody of Luftwaffe doctor Hermann Gauch. His two crew-mates, Sgt E.B. Hillier and AC1 F.G. Moller were both killed.
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Famous quotes containing the words world and/or war:
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