Third Time Lucky

Sgt Ronald Richard Hanson was an eighteen-year-old wireless operator and rear gunner when he began his tour of duty in Bomber Command with 10 Squadron. It was November 1940 just after the Battle of Britain. The Squadron flew Whitley bombers on night raids to German targets. The dangers the crews faced, operation after operation, from enemy flak, fighters and atrocious weather conditions were immense.
Ron had an ingrained reluctance to discuss his war experiences, but through occasional conversations the family knew he had survived life-threatening incidents, endured four years as a prisoner of war in the Stalags, and had a secret ‘Hush Hush’ side to his RAF service.
Third Time Lucky tells the story of his son’s efforts to unearth his World War II history, validated by official records. The narrative references work by recognised historians or contemporary accounts by individuals to add context, facts and historical reasoning interweaved with the family conversations. It also considers the psychological effect on him post war through some light-hearted anecdotal short stories and gives answers to the questions: Was it worth it? Would you do it again? Did he want recognition?
What debt do we owe? And why is his younger son called Irvin?