IN the years before the Second World War, Bernard Clayton and Ian Robinson were the best of friends, schoolmates who studied and played together.

And on the outbreak of hostilities, they both volunteered to fight for their country with the RAF.

From then on their lives diverged, although both played crucial, if largely unsung, roles in fighting the Nazis.

Both survived the war, but while Ian left the RAF and now lives in retirement in Canada, Bernard stayed on, took part in the Berlin airlift, became a test pilot and was killed in a training accident in 1951.

Now for the first time, their stories have been told in a book written by Northallerton war historian Tony Eaton.

Mr Eaton is a former firefighter who has become renowned for the depth of his research into the past and his latest work is no exception.

Two Friends, Two Different Hells is fully-illustrated and is, in essence, two books in one.

The first, From Choirboy to Bomber Pilot, is the story of Bernard, one of seven children born into a farming family from Aldborough, near Boroughbridge, who went on to serve with 617 Squadron of Dam Busters fame.

The second, The Fickle Finger of Fate, is Ian's story in his own words, from his time as a choirboy in his home village of Copgrove, near Ripon, to his exploits during the war in Europe and the Far East.

Both men went to the King James Grammar School, Knaresborough, and joined the RAF when war broke out.

Bernard went on to fly Halifaxes on raids in Europe, many of them highly dangerous specialist operations, and he survived several close shaves.

Switching to Lancasters, he joined 617 Squadron and took part in many sorties.

His skill and bravery led to him becoming the only RAF man to be awarded the Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

Meanwhile Ian, who flew in 110 operations, started on Blenheims and survived being shot down during a low-level raid over Calais.

He was later sent to the Far East, where he flew Hudsons in support of the Chindits and the Gurkhas before transferring to Dakota transports.

In 1944, he returned to Europe, dropping paratroopers for the first assault on D-Day and later taking part in the aerial operation against Arnhem.

"These are two stories that I felt were really worth telling," said Mr Eaton. "It is because of people like them that we live in freedom now."

Two Friends, Two Different Hells, priced £14.95, from ReCall Publications, can be bought from Ottakars bookshops or from Mr Eaton, at 50 Turker Lane, Northallerton, DL6 1QA.