S/Ldr K. R. Lusty
Born in Sale, Cheshire on 9th February, 1920, Lusty was working in Manchester before the war, in the Eastern Shipping Department of a cotton manufacturer.
At the outbreak of war he volunteered to join the RAF, however, when he arrived at recruiting office he found plenty of other volunteers and he was the 51st in the queue, but there were only 50 places available. Having been turned away, Lusty had noticed that the recruiting Sergeant was issuing pink raffle tickets to successful applicants so he purchase a book, and the following morning duly turned up with a pink No.6 in his hand. His resourcefulness and quick thinking meant he joined the RAF as an Airman u/t Air Gunner (966007) on September 4 1939. After call-up, he did his basic training at Padgate and then went to RAF Aldergrove on December 30 for a gunnery course.

On 24th February, 1940, Lusty joined 235 Squadron, as a Coastal Command Squadron, the need for Wop/AGs in the crews meant that Lusty was posted away on 14th May to 25 Squadron at North Weald. He served with the squadron throughout the Battle of Britain first flying Blenhiems and then Beaufighters.
He retrained as a Radio Observer and was commissioned in May, 1941, and on 16th July he joined 1453 Flight, equipped with Turbinlite Havocs.
On 2nd April, 1943, he joined 410 (RCAF) Squadron at equipped with Mosquitos. Lusty and his pilot were both posted to 406 (RCAF) Squadron on 25th August, but Lusty was posted once the squadron became all-Canadian in October to join 264 Squadron equipped with Mosquitos on 9th October, 1943.
He was posted to 132 Squadron at Vavuyina, Ceylon on 28th November, 1944, as Adjutant. He moved to BHQ, Colombo on 23rd June, 1945, as Senior Admin Officer.
He was released as Squadron Leader from the RAF on 21st January, 1946.