Going Solo

In November 1939, Dahl joins the RAF to fight in the war and leaves his job at the Shell Company. He embarks on a solo journey from Dar es Salaam to Nairobi, encountering wildlife such as giraffes and elephants. When he arrives, he passes a medical examination despite concerns about his height and joins a group of 16 trainees. They train in Tiger Moths, a reliable and maneuverable biplane ideal for beginners. The training is rigorous, involving flying exercises and lectures from early morning to late afternoon. The Tiger Moths allow them to practice advanced maneuvers like loops, spins, and forced landings.

The initial training in Nairobi lasts eight weeks, followed by advanced training in Habbaniya, Iraq. This remote and harsh RAF outpost is equipped with Hawker Harts, a more powerful aircraft with machine guns. The intense heat requires a break from flying during the hottest part of the day, and the trainees faced various challenges, including scorpion stings and heatstroke. After six months, they earn their wings and are divided into fighter and bomber pilots. Dahl becomes a Pilot Officer and a fighter pilot, then moves to an RAF station on the Suez Canal before being posted to 80 Squadron to fight against the Italians in Libya.

On September 19, 1940, Dahl sets off from Abu Suweir in his Gladiator, navigating with a map and no radio. He searches for his squadron’s airfield but finds only rugged desert. As dusk falls and his fuel runs low, he is forced to make a crash landing, resulting in a fractured skull, facial injuries, and temporary blindness. A British patrol finds him and transports him to Alexandria.

The hospital stay is a grueling phase in his recovery. Initially, he is heavily bandaged, unable to see, and in considerable pain. He believes that his blindness will be permanent, but Nurse Mary Welland’s care helps him see again. Nurse Welland’s daily routine involves bathing his eyes and gently working to reduce the swelling and remove blood crusts. Her efforts eventually pay off when, after several days, one of his eyelids begins to open, allowing him to see light and colors for the first time since the crash. He undergoes multiple surgeries, including a facial reconstruction by a renowned plastic surgeon.

After four months of treatment, Dahl is finally able to leave his bed and begin walking. He spends additional convalescence time in Alexandria, living with a hospitable English family, the Peels, who provided a nurturing environment for his continued recovery. This period allows him to regain his strength and prepare for his return to active duty.

Eventually, he is declared fit for flying duties and is eager to rejoin his squadron. However, he learns that 80 Squadron had moved to Greece and transitioned from Gladiators to Hurricane aircraft. He faces the daunting task of quickly learning to fly the more advanced Hurricane and making a non-stop flight across the Mediterranean to join his comrades in Greece.

When he lands at 80 Squadron’s base in Elevsis, Greece, Dahl quickly learns the dire situation of the RAF in Greece. The British forces consist of a mere 15 Hurricanes and a few other small planes, vastly outnumbered by the German Luftwaffe. One of the first people he meets is David Coke, who ends up becoming one of his closest friends in the squadron. Coke is astonished at Dahl’s inexperience and appalled that he was sent into combat with no training on a Hurricane. He gives Dahl some advice about air combat, stressing the importance of constant vigilance and keeping an eye on his rear-view mirror.

The following morning, Dahl is sent on his first patrol. He is directed to intercept enemy bombers over Khalkis, a city in Greece. Flying over the mountains, he spots six Ju 88 bombers and engages them. He pushes his Hurricane to the limit, dodging tracer fire from the bombers’ rear gunners. He manages to hit the engine of one Ju 88, causing it to smoke and the crew to bail out.

Returning to base, he inspects his mostly undamaged Hurricane, except for a single bullet hole in the propeller. The Squadron-Leader’s reaction is terse, with no praise or acknowledgment of Dahl’s success. One of the few remaining pilots was killed that day, so the Squadron-Leader had bigger things on his mind.

Early in the morning, Dahl is ordered to patrol over Khalkis, where an ammunition ship is being targeted by German bombers. He arrives to find the ship still being unloaded by the Greeks, and he is distracted by the beauty of the landscape. Suddenly, a German Ju 88 bomber attacks, catching Dahl off guard. He narrowly escapes by pulling his plane into a vertical climb, temporarily losing consciousness. When he regains control, his Hurricane is sputtering, but he manages to stabilize it. Spotting the bomber heading for the ammunition ship, Dahl dives and fires, forcing the Ju 88 into the water.

As he momentarily revels in his success, Dahl is horrified to find himself surrounded by dozens of Messerschmitt 109 fighters. Realizing the danger of his situation, he decides to fly dangerously low over the terrain to evade them. He maneuvers slightly above the ground, leaping over obstacles and narrowly avoiding disaster. The German fighters eventually abandon their pursuit, and Dahl returns to his base at Elevsis. Returning to base, Dahl reports the news that the German fighters could now reach their airfield, signaling an imminent threat to their operations.