Cyril returned to being an instructor until the end of the war. There are just four more entries in Cyril’s Flying Log after having completed his two operational tours. It records some training flights in April 1944 at 11 OTU (Operational Training Unit) based at RAF Westcott, which is 7 miles NW of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. RAF Westcott was designated as one of the arrival bases for Operation ‘Exodus’, the repatriation of Prisoners of War liberated by the advancing Allied Armies in Germany. On 3rd May 1945, the first allied prisoners of war (POWs) arrived in seven RAF Dakotas and sixty Lancaster bombers. 

Wellington rear gun turret

20th April 1944 15.15hrs took off in Wellington K flown by Flying Officer Brown Posted Air Gunner Instructor, F/A instruction, Flying time 1 Hour

22nd April 1944 11.10hrs took off in Wellington K flown by Flight Sergeant Signal, Posted Air Gunner Instructor, F/A instruction, Flying time 1 Hour

22nd April 1944 12.35hrs took off in Wellington K flown by Flight Sergeant Oliver, Posted Air Gunner Instructor, F/A instruction, Flying time 55 minutes

28th April 1944 12.00hrs took off in Wellington X flown by Pilot Officer Kelly Posted Air Gunner, Gee Cross Country, Flying time 2 Hour 55 minutes

Air crew death rate - Cyril was so lucky
Over 44 per cent of those that flew died. Official figures show 55,573 Bomber command aircrew were killed during World War Two out of a total of 125,000 who served. The real picture is rather grimmer. Many of those included in the overall aircrew figure were still in training when the war ended and never saw action. The true figure is closure to 65 per cent. The chances of death were appallingly high and far higher than those facing solidiers and sailors. Another 8,403 were wounded and 9,838 taken prisoner.

DEMOB (demobilisation at the end of the War)
When Cyril left the RAF he went to work in a Motorbike showroom, Trinity Road, Balham as a salesman. Ron his youngest brother came to work with him as a Saturday job. Cyril later changed jobs and started up his own business selling Cards and gifts in a shop in Streatham Hill. He later decided to go back into the Airforce as a Sergeant instructor.