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b'Many of the WW2 generation faced hardship in their youth (they did spend their childhood in the Great Depression), but few had as bad of an early life as Denis Elliott, who became an RAF Flight Lieutenant. At age three he was placed in a brutal and abusive orphanage in London and was later subject to beatings by his first foster father. It wasn\\u2019t until the Second World War that everything in Denis\\u2019s life began to change \\u2014 he finally overcame the lack of confidence and self-esteem that had plagued his childhood in Kent and went on to become a skilled, confident, brave pilot flying operations against Japanese forces in Burma, Malaya and Thailand.

He spent two stints serving in the RAF, which saw him posted across Africa, the Middle East, the Far East and Europe, flyingearning to flying B-24 Liberators and Avro Lancasters.

Today\\u2019s guest is Phillip Martin, author of \\u201cFrom Orphan to High-Flyer.\\u201d We discuss these stories, along with those of Denis\\u2019s personal growth, friendship and overcoming adversity.'