SFX:                Music. Outside ambience. Birds.

 

ANTIS:           Hello! Woof Commander Antis here and boy do I have an exciting story for you. Our Flight Lieutenant Percy the Parachuting Penguin isn’t the only one who saw some action. It’s time for me to tell you my story!

 

My human was Robert Bozdech. Robert was from the country Czechoslovakia, but was forced to escape to England after Nazi forces occupied his homeland in 1938. Poor Robert. He then joined the Royal Air Force to fight for the Allied Forces and I became his right-hand man. Or rather right-hand dog. Not the dogs have hands, we have paws…we became inseparable! Wherever Robert went, I went.

 

Robert Bozdech became an air gunner for the RAF. He often took on the role of a rear gunner, who were also known as Tail End Charlies. And do you know why they got that nickname? Allow me to explain! Just like my tail is at the back end of my body, Tail End Charlies got their name because their position was right at the back end of the aircraft. They faced the opposite way from the pilot. It was the job of Tail End Charlies to drive off any enemy aircraft getting too close to their tails. Just like you wouldn’t want to get too close to my tail or you might get whacked in the face from some serious tail wagging - or risk catching a whiff of a bad smell or two!

 

Now, this next part of the story is top-secret, okay? Let’s keep this between us. I don’t want Percy finding out I broke the rules!

 

SFX:               Inside aircraft ambience.

 

You see, if you were a Tail End Charlie, that position was the furthest from the rest of the crew. I guess it could be lonely. I think Robert sometimes wanted some company. So, even though it was strictly against RAF regulations….Robert let me join him onboard the aircraft! I got to be a Tail End Charlie, too!! It may have been against the rules, but imagine having me for company? I know I helped Robert do the best job he could!

 

And wow, flying was the best feeling ever. I remember it so clearly. We’d be squeezed in tightly together. Tail End Charlies did not have a lot of room! It was an even tighter squeeze then when I got stuck under the bed trying to rescue my favourite toy.

 

SFX:               Aircraft take-off.

 

We kept each other warm, tucked close together. I could feel the rumble of the engine as we prepared for take off. My tail flickered with excitement as we raced down the runway. Robert held me close as the ground got further and further away. We were soaring through the sky, it was soooo cool, but I had to be quiet, I couldn’t make a sound - not a growl or a grumble. Robert had to stay focused. My ears would twitch as the sound of enemy engines grew closer.

 

SFX:                Multiple flying aircraft. Aircraft motion.

 

But he already knew! He was lightning quick to defend the aircraft. Between rounds he was passing information forward to the pilot. When to swoop left, when to swoop right, rise higher, drop down - dodge and dive our way out of danger. Woah, my tummy feels funny just remembering it all. Nothing could beat the feeling of flying!

 

SFX:               Aircraft landing.

 

Only when the wheels touched down, did I let out a bark of relief. Another successful mission, and it was now time for a treat! Robert always saved the best treats for after our flights together. The rest of the crew greeted me with lots of post flight tummy scratches - even if I was technically breaking the rules!

 

Remember, don’t mention this to Percy!! This is Antis - AKA Tail End Charlies - over and out.

 

SFX:               All Fade.