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A full documentry made in 1943 and covering all the aspects of life and action of a bomber command squadron.
Two of the surviving Dambuster airmen attend a ceremony after an earlier flypast to mark the 70th anniversary of the World War II raid on German dams.
When Jim Munro wanted to join the RAAF he had a medical problem with his kidneys so he arranged another person to provide the test sample and Jim was soon training for his Pilot's wings. Like many others, he was "scrubbed" as a pilot and became a bomb aimer and was soon on his way to the United Kingdom. After further training, he was sent to 460 Squadron RAAF flying Lancasters and then the night raids over German occupied Europe began.
Bomber Command was not an Australian story. In fact the Australians in Bomber Command played a relatively small role. For the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings officials were worried about the level of the Australian representation at the ceremonies. Should the prime minister go? Were there enough Australians involved to justify that or should the leader of the delegation be at a much lower level? Look at the panels of the Australian War Memorial's Roll of Honour someone counselled. Panel after panel for each First World War battalion, fortunately not replicated for the Second World War in such extremity. Except when you come to 460 Squadron, or 463 or 467. Panel after panel after panel of the names of men who had given their lives for a cause in which they passionately believed. Prime minister Keating represented Australia at the D-Day anniversary.
All about bomber command and the role that the Avro Lancaster bomber played in winning the war against Nazi Germany.
Of the 10,000 Australians that served in Bomber Command, only 6,000 survived to return to Australia. Today only 400 of these remain and here are some of the few from 460 Squadron that PM Winston Churchill spoke about in his speach "Never in the field of human conflict, was so much, owed by so many, to so few".
Tears for the father she never met Central Western Daily The Lancaster bomber, which was part of the 460 Squadron of the RAAF, took off from RAF Binbrook at 11.40pm on April 10, 1944 to bomb the railway junction and marshalling yards at Aulnoye in...
Three designs for a memorial to Bomber Command personnel who died in World War II are being put on public display in six locations.
Late April 1945 Bomber command traded iron rations for food rations and saved the lives of thousands of starving Dutch.
Romford Recorder Bomber Command veteran Bob Pickford on finally being decorated - 69 years ... Romford Recorder Bomber Command veteran Bob Pickford on finally being decorated - 69 years after he was taken prisoner.
Arthur Harris led RAF Bomber Command in World War II, earning him the nickname 'Bomber Harris'. After 35 years of collecting dust in the RAF's film archive, the film was tracked down by retired Air Vice Marshall Tony Mason who interviewed the commander in 1977. In the interview Harris shoots down the myth that the controversial 'area' bombing was his idea and says it was already government policy.
DAVID FELLOWES, a war veteran of WW2, speaks out about the British governments handling of Bomber Command and 'Bomber' Harris - the fact Bomber command was only recognised for its service in WW2 JUST LAST YEAR is appalling...
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Even though the events in this story took place a long time ago, they are still vivid in my memory. Perhaps the setting down of this one of many experiences may help to exorcise some lingering effects. This story is not unique. Like hundreds of other twenty year olds, I was the pilot and captain of a Lancaster four-engine heavy bomber. The target for the night of the 24th June 1943 was the German city of Wuppertal in the Ruhr valley. Dusk was falling and with propellers lazily ticking over, my bomb laden aircraft was one of 15, queued nose to tail, at RAAF Station Binbrook, Lincolnshire, waiting its turn to take off. 460, Squadron, one of five Australian heavy bomber squadrons in Bomber Command, had already achieved a proud record. Even so, by the end of World War 11, my squadron had flown more sorties (6,264), dropped more bombs (24,856 tons) and received more decorations than any other squadron in the history of the Royal Air Force.
There is much in these two books that presents understated heroism and informative description of weaponry, the respect for the Lancaster bomber and the uncertainty, indeed morality, felt by some aircrew over the purpose of area bombing. Serious examination of Australians in Bomber Command in both books is offset well with humour and not a little wonder.
Petticoats and Parachutes, Women of World War Two, The WAAF. A tribute to the bravery, determination, and accomplishment of the women of Britain who stepped into traditionally male roles to serve their country during World War II as part of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force.
The attached potos are from the collection of Betting Errington, a WAAAF who flew with the Lancaster Bomber "Q" for Queenie during its Liberty Loans Campaign in Australia during World War II.
Cullen's ANZAC spirit PGA of Australia Learning to fly a war plane before he had driven a car, Cullen was part of the 460 Squadron piloting Lancaster Bombers in World War Two.
Launching a new book on Australia's role in the WWII bomber offensive - entitled Lancaster Men by Canberra author Peter Rees - former defence chief Angus Houston said casualty rates meant each bomber crew flew an average of just 16 missions. "While fewer than two per cent of all Australians who enlisted in the Second World War fought in Bomber Command, they accounted for almost 20 per cent of all deaths in combat," he said.
Hundreds flocked to The Wings Museum in Sussex to meet 14 veterans of Bomber Command. It may end up being one of the last events of its kind in the South as the former flyers and air crew are all in their 90s now. Our reporter Derek Johnson speaks to Wing Commander John Bell and Air Commodore John Langston as well as Daniel Hunt from the Wings Museum and Aidan Mars, whose grandfather was a navigator on Lancaster bombers.
Scottish Daily Record At last, a golden day for our Bomber Command heroes Express.co.uk The creation of the Bomber Command clasp follows a long-running campaign spearheaded by the Daily Express and backed by our army of readers.
Battle Stations - Lancaster Bomber
Her Majesty The Queen has approved designs for the new awards on the basis of recommendations made by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee. The design for the Arctic Star is based on the other World War Two Stars and the Bomber Command Clasp, to be worn on the ribbon of the 1939 to 1945 Star, follows the design of the Battle of Britain Clasp.
With each passing week, staff at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre are moving closer to the date when their Lancaster Bomber will be in an airworthy condition. NX611, better known as ‘Just Jane’, is set to become the third airworthy Lancaster Bomber in the world, and the second in the UK. The Heritage Centre at East Kirkby has received the fourth airworthy Merlin engine returned after restoration, and are awaiting completion of the undercarriage and a turret. Reporter John Fieldhouse visited the centre to learn more about the aircraft.
From 1942 onwards, Bomber Command’s effectiveness was transformed by new heavy bombers including the legendary Lancaster, a new commander – Sir Arthur ‘Bomber’ Harris - and new navigation equipment with code-names such as GEE and OBOE.
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60 minutes of real time video taken at the time the Lancaster bomber squadron was operational in 1943.