Australia's Few. 28 August 1940

As it happened, John Crossman didn’t ‘crack off’ on the 27th. He had to leave his car behind as 32 Squadron ‘flew up to Acklington in formation’ on the afternoon of 28 August. ‘There was a raid coming over just as we left and the last thing I heard before we left was from the loud speakers round the camp: “All personnel not actively engaged in getting aircraft off the ground take cover.” ’ They arrived at Acklington late in the afternoon. ‘It’s a lousy place’, thought John. ‘Miles from anywhere and fearfully quiet. We’ll never see any action here.’