In Sierra Leone, navigator Johnny Smythe becomes one of the first West African airmen to join the Royal Air Force. His fellow crew consider him as a lucky charm, but as he faces a series of terrifying flights, will his good fortune run out?  Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.  A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.   Producers: Suniti Somaiya and Elaina Boateng 
Edit Producer: Melvin Rickarby 
Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader 
Executive Producer: Paul Smith  
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann  
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

12. Flying High with Johnny Smythe

Helena Bonham Carter shines light on extraordinary stories from World War Two.

History

Society & Culture

Charles Drew, an American doctor, led the creation and use of blood banks, saving countless lives both in war and in peacetime. But while he worked around the clock to save lives, he would be dragged into a battle on a different front: the battle for civil rights and racial equality in the United States.  Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.  A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.   Producer: Suniti Somaiya 
Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader 
Executive Producer: Paul Smith  
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann  
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

17. Charles Drew and the Blood Bank

A young circus performer from a traveling family in France breaks out of an internment camp and dedicates himself to bringing the Nazis down.   Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.  A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.   Producer: Suniti Somaiya 
Edit Producer: Melvin Rickarby 
Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader 
Executive Producer: Paul Smith  
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann  
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

16. Raymond Gurême: Escape Artist

After contracting Hansen’s Disease, then known as leprosy, Josefina Guerrero makes a remarkable decision. She becomes a spy for the resistance in Manila.  Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.  A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.   Producer: Suniti Somaiya 
Edit Producer: Melvin Rickarby 
Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader 
Executive Producer: Paul Smith  
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann  
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

15.  Josefina Guerrero: The Maid of Manila

A group of Native American soldiers use their language to devise a secret code for the Allies. Can the Navajo code help win one of the fiercest battles of the war?  Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.  A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.   Producer: Suniti Somaiya 
Edit Producer: Melvin Rickarby 
Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader 
Executive Producer: Paul Smith  
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann  
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

14. The Unbreakable Navajo Code

Thrill-seeker Christine Granville offers to ski across enemy lines and over the deadly Carpathian mountains, into Nazi-occupied Poland to gather intelligence for the British. Churchill would later call her his favourite spy. Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.  A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.   Producer: Suniti Somaiya 
Edit Producer: Melvin Rickarby 
Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader 
Executive Producer: Paul Smith  
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann  
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

12. Flying High with Johnny Smythe

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