Rex Tate served some months in the Army but was reserved as aircrew and was sent to 11 EFTS Benalla on 31 Course for pilot training. He gained his wings at Mallala on Ansons and was posted to England where he had further training in Airspeed Oxfords at Banff in northern Scotland. His next posting was to Palestine where he completed his training on Wellingtons before an operational posting to 7 Squadron RAF flying B24 Liberators based at Foggia in Italy. He completed 27 operations before VE Day. His story is about being hit by incendiaries from another bomber.