Greetings all. Just arrived home from Maui, and read Harry Yates "Luck and a Lancaster" on the flights there and back. Wonderful book, one of the best I have read, however I was astounded to read of Yate's casual use of George the autopilot. At one point in the book he writes of engaging George and then walking back through the aircraft to visit with his crew! And this was on the return leg of an op, not a training flight! My Dad spoke to me about George once, dismissing it out of hand : he felt that the second or two it would take to disengage it (assuming he was still in the pilots seat , not in the back of the Lanc! ) might mean the difference between life and death, and he never used it.
I would be very interested in any stories forum members have run across regarding pilot's attitudes towards autopilot use.
Cheers ! Clint.
PS Does anyone know if Mr. Yates is still with us?
I have just come across your site, and spent some time looking around it. An interesting project and a touching memorial to all our loved ones who flew with 75.
My father Harry Yates DFC skippered a Mepal Lanc over the last five months of 1944, the extended period of service being due to six weeks out in the September and October for eye surgery. All his boys survived to live long and peaceful lives, although they all died before him.
Harry passed away on 20th November, 2011, just a few weeks after you lost your own father.
Harrys memoir Luck and a Lancaster was published in 1999 and sold enormously well, indeed is still selling. Like you now, he received many hundreds of enquiries from readers; a lot of them old Mepal pals, but most relatives of those who were lost in those days or whose fathers survived but had said very little down the years.
Anyway, I just want to say that I fully understand your interest and your feelings towards those wonderful men. My thanks and regards to you.
