The Proposal

A lone Stirling steals across a moonlight sky, flying like a ripple over the dark forests of occupied France. She doesn’t share a formation with 1000s of other aircraft, she doesn’t have the luxury of a fighter escort. Flying at 500 feet, the Stirling avoids radar. Just. Tony Adams sits at his Wireless Operator station surrounded by a complicated entanglement of valves and wires weaving in and out of his machine. Without warning, his radio set stops working. “Wireless Operator to Pilot, my radio just died.” Now the crew are flying completely and utterly alone. 

 

World War II was the climax of conflict during the 20th century, and none played a more significant role than those who flew in the Royal Airforce's Bomber Command. Towards the end of the war, Nazi-Germany was weakened and battered. The Allies (the USSR,  USA and Great Britain) were closing in on multiple fronts. However, the destruction of Germany's industrial sector would be vital to winning the war, and that is where Tony Adams comes in. Tony was a wireless operator flying in a Stirling aircraft dropping supplies to the French Resistance, then onboard a Lancaster bombing German industrial targets. It was a dangerous job, Tony recalls how his life rode on chance: "There were instances during the war where I should have been killed –pure luck." 

 

The crews of Bomber Command are some of the most courageous people the world has ever seen, and Tony is no exception. He is one of the bravest men going around, staring down indomitable odds of survival - 51% of Bomber Command's aircrew was killed in action. Tony recites the dreadful experiences he had during his time in Bomber Command to a documentary crew “I saw a number of aircraft shot down and some horrifying cases... aircraft with seven men inside it burning. They couldn’t get out, the centrifugal force kept them in and they couldn’t get out with their parachutes. It is very, very disturbing”. Such an incredible man who not only fought with such soul-dampening chances, but survived them. I'd Tony is more than worthy of recognition in our Night of the Notables Project. 

 

‘A notable person is someone who has a positive influence on our lives and the progress of humanity’. In addition, Tony meets the Notable criteria with flying colours (literally). He fought in the single most challenging and fate-deciding event in history. I’d call that more than just a ‘positive influence on humanity!’ 

 

Tony was a man of truly historical proportions, and he has plenty of fight left in him. I can – and very luckily at that – describe the great man from my own experiences. Our family had Tony over for tea and scones (he lives not far down the road from us) and I got to meet him. He described some of his mind-boggling stories to us during his visit. As he was leaving it started to rain so we offered to drive him home – he was 96 and had walked over. I still remember his words and actions to this day: He jogged down the steps and said “don’t worry, I’ll run.” He trotted a couple more meters before turning around smiling, ‘It’ll get me in shape for ANZAC Day!” and with that he ran off down the path and in the next few seconds was gone. 

 

If there was any person I would choose to research for an entire term, it would be  someone who has had and continues to lead a fascinating life, filled with excitement and danger. Tony Adams; The Living Legend.