Richard Hill was studying mechanical engineering when he was called up into the Air Corps. In March 1944 his crew were briefed as replacement sand took off on the very circuitous flight to England via N. Africa, Spain and Portugal. They flew the initial leg of 1800 miles across the Atlantic to Dakar at night. The crew spent three recreational weeks in Marrakesh because of bad weather over the Iberian Peninsula until they finally joined up with the 67th Sqdn at Shipdham with whom they flew 32 missions.