During a visit to Hanoi in 1992, I met Mr Nguyen Dan Long.  He spoke very good English and I asked him where he learnt the language.  He replied, "In England".  I asked him what he was doing in England and to my very great surprise he replied "During World War II, I served for three years in the RAF!"  Subsequently, he said that he served at Biggin Hill and that for a period he was a machine gunner in a bomber squadron.  I took him an old copy of "Nine Lives" by the late Wing Commander Alan Deere.  He read the book avidly and during a subsequent visit he showed me a photo, which he said a nephew had obtained from the internet, and the photo accompanied by French text showed manyof the pilots who flew from that base. 

He also said that he knew many New Zealanders and found them to be very brave men.

He passed away during the period 2001-2003.

I have been trying to authenticate his story.  At one time I asked the BBC correspondent in Hanoi to interview my friend.  However, the correspondent was not interested "in a UK related story" and passed up the opportunity.  He then became frightened that the Vietnamese Government would get to hear about him and he not only clammed up, he started to backtrack on his story.

If any one can help me obtain more information I will be most grateful.  My address is david@dba.org.nz