Mike and Clarence at Croft, 1944.

In late October 1943 Mike made the decision to pilot the bomber aircraft, and was promptly assigned to an Operational Training Unit. For the next 6 months Mike and his crew would train in preparation to fly heavy bombers, he would also learn that a number of his classmates from flight school had perished.

On the 21st of March 1944, Mike and his crew were officially assigned to 434 squadron. Initially Mike flew a number of missions as "2nd Dickey" with an experienced pilot and crew, then on the 26/27th March, the Laffin crew flew their first “Op” striking rail yards at Courtrai, Belgium.

On the 16th of June 1944, ten sorties shy of their required 30 Op’s, which entitled them to leave back in Canada, Mike and his crew “FTR” from the Ruhr Valley Germany. The Laffin crew was shot down over The Netherlands, Mike parachuted safely but a few nights later he would be turned in by a small group of Dutch citizens whom were fearful of the Nazi’s.