How I agree with DAK Keates's letter (May 13) headed "Remember VJ Day too", and how I deplore the BBC's frequent reference to May 8, 1945, being "the end of the Second World War".
As the war in Europe approached an end there was little need for me - a flying boat pilot with the RAF - and I successfully applied with a number of others to transfer to the Fleet Air Arm who were very busy in the Far East.
I flew Wildcats, others flew Corsairs, and shortly after VE Day we were posted to the British Pacific Fleet.
On reaching Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), the Corsair pilots carried on while the Wildcats stayed to transfer to the new Hellcat.
I didn't get any further - a few weeks later the two atomic bombs were dropped and the Second World War really was over.
Back in the UK waiting de-mob I had a rather gruesome job of sending kit and belongings to next of kin of those who were killed. I dealt with the kits of a number of those Corsair pilots that I had known so well.
I wonder how those next of kin feel at hearing "the war ended in May 1945"?
-Peter Shannon, Rottingdean
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