Episode 151 – Connie Bickford

Guest: Connie Bickford (Constance Elsie Bickford, Wartime WAAF 2003787, known as “Lucky”) Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 9th of June 2017 Released:  7th of July 2017 Duration: 1 hour 24 minutes 4 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood talks with 97-year-old WWII Women’s Auxiliary Air Force member Connie Bickford. Connie was a window dresser in London before she joined the British WAAF and was trained as a plotter and a RADAR Operator. Her training in these specialist roles took place at Portreath in Cornwall, and then she was posted to a RADAR section at Swannage, in Dorset. She also served at RAF Colerne. Connie’s memories of the war, her work, her bending of the WAAF rules, her marriage to a Spitfire pilot and much more make for a very rich and enjoyable episode. Thanks to Lance Bickford and Gary at New Zealand Warbirds Association’s Office for their valued assistance in setting up this interview!