Description
Mr. Estwick describes his survival instinct and eventually becoming hardened to death and injury.
Sam Estwick
Sam Estwick was a native of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. His memory of convoys passing the Cape Breton coast after the outbreak of war are vivid. Mr. Estwick aspired to become a pilot, but served overseas with the ground crew servicing Allied aircraft. Following the war, Mr. Estwick rejoined the regular force, working as a radar technician, and later as an instructor. He retired after 23 years, having attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
Transcript
We did our work Helped the air crews, test, I did air testing on equipment and all that. But then when they drop paratroopers and things like that, I got to a slit trench and you didn’t get hit you just lived another day. It’s difficult to explain in war time conditions. When you signed up you signed your name on the dotted line. You might die or you might not die. You do what you can to stay alive, you know. Aircraft come back with some of the crew shot up. You take the bodies out. You don’t worry about it. It’s just another event. That’s war time conditions.