David Shuttleworth’s Story

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David Shuttleworth from Eaglescliffe in Stockton was 19 on VE Day, and training to be an RAF Navigator. He recalls how he heard the news whilst on a training mission, flying over Canada: "I was flying with the Navigation Chief Instructor on a normal training exercise, and I got myself lost. It would have been a black mark on my log book. I expected him to say ‘where are we?’ and I didn't know! “He did turn around – and my heart skipped a beat – but fortunately he said forget your plot, the war's over, we're going back. My feeling of relief - you've no idea." David admits receiving the news mid-flight helped him achieve his dream of becoming a Navigator because the instructor abandoned the exercise. This year, on the 70th anniversary, David will be gardening with his battle dress uniform on. Image: David then; as a young navigator and, now