This Anderson Memorial Lecture was given to the Boscombe Down branch of the Institute on 19 February 2004. In the lecture Pinky Grocott, a distinguished navigator and past President of the Institute, recounts the history of the formation of Ferry Command set up to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of aircraft from North America to the UK during World War II. He then provides personal insights into his role as a young first-tour RAF navigator employed in the Command and describes the contemporary navigation practice.