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NOVEMBER.FOCUS.48.indd 26 Continued from page 23 Bob Grant was born in Toronto and had always possessed a keen eye for logic and engineering. At eighteen he was hired by Massey Harris, manufacturer of the Anson twin engine trainer and the Mos- quito bomber, both advanced aircraft in their leagues. Bob was imme- diately intrigued by the concept of airplanes and soon was promoted. to supervise critical construction of the planes. While working, Bob met a young woman whose job was to run design changes to the plant supervisors to allow them to ‘fix’ what was wrong. “I grimaced whenever I saw her coming, because she brought me nothing but headaches with her darn changes,” he said, smiling as he spoke. The two hit it off and an engagement was eminent. Bob enlisted in 1942, but was turned down due to the importance of his job with Massey-Harris and the fact that he was one of very few who were able to read complex blueprints. Bob was determined and applied several times, finally being allowed to serve his country in the way he wanted; by going to Europe. His training was completed in Manitoba and he was about to be sent overseas when Bob and Mary decided to get married. After a very short h Bob left for the initial landing place for all RCAF personnel. There, his squadron training began and he was given the post of tail gunner on the Lancaster bomber. Bob was assigned to the 419 Moose squadron and flew nearly 40 missions with the same crew. “No one ever talked about calling it quits or not wanting to continue. We were a pretty upbeat team and all got along well,” Bob reminisced. “We were hit twice, the second time causing an engine to burn. We were just able to make it back to the English border and ditched the plane just over the coast.” Fortunately for Bob and the seven man crew no one was hurt badly and the team went on to fly more opera- tions. After the war Bob was selected to train gunners with the RAF. “I had to teach these kids how to deal with 20mm cannons on the Lin- coln (British four engine bomber built by Avro). What a machine.” Bob paused a minute and I could see his thoughts had dwelled on events of so long ago. At last Bob made his way back to Canada and his wife Mary. They raised three sons and operated a very successful service centre Bob Grant in 1943. Port Perry Denture Cli A COMPLETE DENTURE SER New Full & Partial Dentures NEVER Implant Supported Dentures FORGET Denture Repairs (While you wait) VETS WELCOME. Tooth Whitening (Bleaching) DVA ACCEPTED. House Calls Mike Dunn DD 6 High St. (Unit 4) Port Perry IOS=98'5=8027'3 dunndenture@rogers.com SERVING PORT PERRYfZAND/JAREATEORIOVEREUISSYEARS) 26 FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2011 40/23/11 10:24:02 AM