Bryan Wild joined the RAF aged 18 in 1940. By 1946 he had flown 14 aircraft types, seen action over Britain, North Africa, the Mediterranean, Norway and Germany, and lost all but one of his nine lives. His memoirs in words and photographs offer an insight into the life of a night fighter pilot: the tedium, tragedy and thrill of war in the air.
After the War Manston became a Transport Command staging post. Between 1950 and 1958 Manston was under the control of the USAAF. The 60s were dominated by aircraft using the Foam Landing system which became operational in 1964. Until it closed in 1999 RAF Manston remained an important front-line station with a long history going back to 1916.
The story of one of Britain's most distinguished RAF stations. Not as well- known as Biggin Hill, Manston was the nearest airfield to the Luftwaffe and suffered accordingly. The station's motto was 'Arise to Protect' and in two wars Manston carried out that role. It was the only station that housed aircraft of every command as well as the USAAF.
Manston had its origins in the RN Seaplane Station, Westgate, later expanded for landplane operations. The first unit at Manston was 3 Wing RNAS that moved from Detling in April 1916. Together with RNAS Eastchurch, Manston's War Flight of Triplanes, Camels and Pups patrolled the coast. After WWI, Manston expanded and to become a training station.