Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
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210007
Henry "Piggy" Brett
Royal Air Force 9 Squadron
from:Sutton Courtenay, Berks
My father Henry Brett, first joined the Royal Flying Corp (RFC) 9th Squadron, in 1916 when he was 17 or 18 years old. He had previously been in the Royal Ambulance Corps.
At the beginning of World War II, Henry, or Harry as he was more commonly known, joined the squadron and became a flight controller. Harry earned the nickname Piggy, and was wounded a number of times while rescuing aircrew from crash landings, and for which he was twice decorated. There is a cartoon of him holding a mic talking a wounded pilot down on one engine, titled 'Piggy Control'; the cartoon is signed on the back by the squadron. Harry later joined Headquarters Bomber Command at High Wycombe where he worked with the New Zealander "Square" Mckee. Although not in the best of health, my father survived the war, and left as Squadron Leader. He returned home to my mother, brother and me,and we were lucky enough to have him with us until his death in 1957. Harry enjoyed going to reunions with his great friend "Batchy" Batchelor who did so much to support the RAF Bombers. Batchy and my father would be cheered no end to know that finally, and despite such controversy, a memorial was erected outside St Clements Danes in the City of Westminister to commemorate the efforts of the RAF Bomber Command.