WITH such great concern over our Evesham Community Hospital and its future, says local historian Michael J Barnard, I feel this story is so appropriate at this time and, like the bond between these three pilots, our hospital today has the same bond between patients and staff and means so very much to so many people.

The story is of two Canadian pilots who delivered with great skill and determination two kit bags full of overnight kit to their pal laid up in Evesham RAF Hospital after trying to fly a Hurricane fighter upside down at zero feet above an orchard.

Most of the pilots at RAF Defford during the mid 1940s were veterans from front-line fighter and bomber squadrons during the Battle of Britain and coming to the almost tranquil surroundings of Defford, they were apt to get rather bored. But these three members of B Flight had their own way of making life a little more interesting.

While working on a Blenheim aircraft this day, Albert, with no questions asked, helped the two pilots to load two full kit bags the size of 500lb HE bombs into the bomb bay. The target was to be Evesham's RAF Hospital. Come hell or high water they must get these kit bags to their pal marked "Urgent".

On reaching the target area their reconnaissance run was at 175ft, another circuit by RCAF Pilot Officer Van-de-Venta then the dummy run was at about 100ft by which time all windows and doors had been flung open with patients and staff running about in all directions.

The final approach was at 50ft. Bomb doors open, steady, steady, right a bit, steady, left, steady - kit bags gone.

The kit bags landed across the front lawn, bounced Dambuster fashion, were duly collected and hurriedly delivered to a very lucky young pilot in more ways than one.

After weeks of great care and attention the young pilot, known as Ginger, returned to RAF Defford and rejoined his pals who, after this raid, had been grounded for some time. All three later re-mustered with the ASAAF and won many gallantry medals, happily to return to Defford at the end of the war to meet up again with their pals in B Flight.

I am greatly indebted to Albert Shorrock, who served as an airframe fitter on B Flight for four years at Defford, telling me of this incident in one of his marvellous letters to me. He has also told me of his wartime cycle rides round the Vale of Evesham during his off-duty hours and still talks of his love and affection for this district.

In his own words: "For a nice, gentle evening spin we would visit the lovely towns of Pershore and Upton-on-Severn.

"My preference on a day off was Evesham, passing through Pershore with its lovely old Abbey where a few of our lads have been laid to rest."