On a bright day in 1944 Colin was cycling home for his dinner on the "top road" as the locals call it which ran along side the runway at RAF Manston in East Kent which at that time was being used for aircraft coming back from missions over Europe.
On this particular day a damaged American B17 bomber had crash landed on the run way and was heading towards the perimeter fence just ahead fo where Colin was cycling.He saw it coming and it passed in front of him followed by the American ambulances but undeterred he kept on as he was intent on having his dinner and any way what could he do.He did enquire as to what happened to the crew and found out they were ok as his Sister was engaged to an American GI on the base.