Truth behind heroes

The Battle of Britain air crews, credited with saving the country in the dark days of 1940, are generally thought of as dashing, public school-educated young men. Researchers at Edinburgh University are looking for the truth with a study of the pilots' backgrounds, prewar and wartime experiences, and careers in later civilian life. About 400 former pilots could be contacted. Backed by Pounds 52,000 from the Leverhulme Trust, Paul Addison, Jeremy Craig and Judy Wakeling of the centre for second world war studies are also seeking information about the Polish, Canadian, New Zealand and Czechoslovakian airmen in the RAF.