Ken Cothliff has been an aviation enthusiast since childhood. Adopted at a young age, it was not until British adoption laws changed in 1977 that he was able to uncover the identity of his birth father, a Canadian airman who was killed in the Second World War. From that point forward, Cothliff made it his mission to find out all about his father, a search that eventually laid the foundation for idea his book. Cothliff has been involved in organizing several Canadian Air Force Reunions since 1990, founded the No. 6 (RCAF) Group Bomber Command Association, and has become well acquainted with numerous Canadian veterans of the conflict.