Desmond Tarrant

Desmond Tarrant is a poet, novelist and author from near Bournemouth, Dorset. The well-travelled 76 year old {as of 2001?} author was educated at King Edward VI School, Southampton and Poole. Aged 17 he joined the RAF during World War 2. He was commissioned as Squadron Signals Leader for 270 Squadron and flew in Sunderlands of Coastal Command in Lagos, Nigeria, on convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols. Having come top in a conversion course for Transport Command, he went to the VIP Metropolitan Communications Squadron at Hendon, London; he flew Chiefs of Staff, Prime Ministers and Royalty all over Europe. He was seconded to the Foreign Office to carry British and American observers all over Greece and Crete. He helped fly Field Marshal Montgomery to the Channel Islands, on his first state visit there after the war. He has lectured in English & American literature at many universities in the UK & USA.