Recorded interview with Flight Lieutenant John Ford, 10 December 2025

John Ford trained as a pilot in Canada and flew Vickers Valiant bomber aircraft with 49 Squadron. He later flew English Electric Canberra reconnaissance aircraft with 31 Squadron in Germany.

John Ford joined the RAF for his national service and trained as a pilot in Canada, flying Harvard and T33 aircraft. He flew Vickers Valiant bomber aircraft with 49 Squadron, including a deployment to Australia, and English Electric Canberra PR7 low-level reconnaissance aircraft with 31 Squadron at RAF Laarbruch in Germany. He remembers bombing and reconnaissance competitions against other nations, planning for war and leaving the RAF to fly airliners.