The diary of a Darlington RAF pilot who flew in the Second World War, found by his family 30 years after he died, has been turned into a 12-part independent podcast.

Darlington-born Flight Sgt. Ron Chapman was posted to West Africa, the Middle East and Europe during the Second World War.

He died of cancer in 1980 aged 60.

The Northern Echo: Flt Sgt Ron Chapman relaxing on the River Nile in Egypt where he was based as part of a team of ferry pilots delivering fighter planes to North Africa 1941- 42.Flt Sgt Ron Chapman relaxing on the River Nile in Egypt where he was based as part of a team of ferry pilots delivering fighter planes to North Africa 1941- 42. (Image: NEIL CHAPMAN)

Despite war diaries being discouraged, he kept a detailed one for 1943 when he was just 22 years old.

And now his stories of gold smuggling, the sudden deaths of colleagues and secret supply missions have been turned into a podcast series ‘Blighty Thank God’.

For years, Mr Chapman never told his three sons about the diary, until it was discovered after their mother died that they found the document in her effects.

“The podcast is a mix of ‘The Repair Shop’ meets ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’”, said son, Neil Chapman, from Stockton, 69, who has produced and hosts the podcast.

The diary shines a light on previously little-known experiences and events in different WW2 arenas.

Neil, a former journalist on Teesside, said: “At first read, the diary has a lot of day-to-day stuff and apparent trivia.

"But when I transcribed the entries I started to find clues about bigger events that my father experienced or was affected by.”

The Northern Echo: Flt Sgt Ron Chapman, April 1943 inside the gun turret of the Bisley aircraft he and a team of RAF men tried to salvage after it crashed on a remote island in the Persian Gulf.Flt Sgt Ron Chapman, April 1943 inside the gun turret of the Bisley aircraft he and a team of RAF men tried to salvage after it crashed on a remote island in the Persian Gulf. (Image: NEIL CHAPMAN)

The podcast and an accompanying website - www.blightythankgod.co.uk - is the result of a 6-year research journey that took in the National Archives and many other historical resources around the world.

Each episode centres on diary extracts, read by Ron’s grandchildren - who never knew him.

They set up events that Neil’s research explains and puts into context.

“My father was like so many young men in the RAF, reluctantly forced to be thousands of miles away from home,” said Neil, who had known very little about his father’s service.

“Even though he wasn’t on the fighting front line, to my surprise I discovered he was always in danger.

Death from accidents and horrible diseases is featured throughout the diary.

Many he knew or worked alongside were killed in horrible circumstances.

“My father thought he’d never survive the War, hence the podcast title - words of relief he wrote in his pilot’s logbook on making it back to the UK, having been posted overseas very early in the war,” added Neil.

The podcast is available on a range of podcast platforms, including Apple and Spotify.

The website gives access to the fully transcribed diary and Neil’s research notes and images to provide historical background to entries.

It also has additional material associated with each podcast episode including maps and photographs.

Recommended reading:

‘Blighty Thank God’ is a tribute to all the reluctant warriors who served during World War 2," said Neil.

“In my research, I came across many people looking for information about their relatives who served during WW2. I was lucky to have my father’s diary and logbook.

“I hope I can inspire others to dig deeper into the experiences of their relatives using some of the available resources I discovered and to understand the tremendous courage they displayed going through the war."