Introducing Patrick Hollins, Coastal Command - WWII

Patrick joined the RAF because his father had fought in the trenches in WWI and the idea of being up to his ankles in mud didn't appeal. In fact he may have had a rethink after being assigned to Coastal Command, 502 Squadron. As a gunnery officer he found himself flying on  the Armstrong Whitley bomber, notoriously known as the “flying coffin”.  In this interview, Patrick is keen to point out that the bomber floats very well: his plane ditched into the Atlantic in the dead of night. In this entertaining interview Patrick also talks about his experiences in two other Coastal Command squadrons and reflects on just how lucky he was to survive the war. Watch interview Here






Thank you for your service Patrick, I salute you Sir.