Churchill Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 All service personnel, both past and present, get my respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armsid Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 saw an awesome sight in Melton today Lancaster and spitfire escort circling the town on its way back from Derwent water after the anniversary flight. brought alump to my throat very nostalgic and a great tribute to all the brave men who flew the mission Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ordnance Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 I watched a program about the dam busters. One of the crew that bombed a dam that was not destroy he said one of his biggest regrets was that the dam was not destroyed. He went and visited the dam and talked to people that were at the dam the night it was bombed and saw photos of the other dams that were destroyed and the people killed. At the end of the program he said he was glad the dam his crew bombed was not destroyed. I thought it was interesting his change of mind. Undoubtedly very brave men we should remember their courage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendersons Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 I believe my grandfather flew with 617 squadron but joined after the dam busters raid (I think). Would there be any way of confirming this without asking him? I'm planning a bit of a surprise. I know for definite that he was based at Scampton for a while as he took me there when I was a kid and showed me photos of the place. If it helps he was in the raaf and was a navigator. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 hendersons-if you contact the Air Historical Branch they will put you in touch with a company that holds all service personel records-they may require proof of ID but for a fee they can send you his records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashman Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 The Telegraph, of course, is running a good set of articles including: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/britain-at-war/10062861/Dambusters-Raid-Those-magnificent-flying-machines.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 Memorial service at Lincoln catherderal today open to all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 A chap I worked with for several years casually let drop one day that his brother was doing a tour as the Lanc pilot for the BBMF. His day job was flying AWACS. I asked if there was any chance........ he said hadn't even sat in it never mind flown in it. Can only agree with all that has been said. Unbelievably brave chaps. Psst wanna sit in a real life working Lanc? http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/ She should soon be airworthy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickS Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 I can thoroughly recommend a visit to Brooklands Museum where there is a display dedicated to the work of Barnes Wallis. My son and I were admiring a photo of 617 Sqn personel when one of the elderly volunteer guides pointed out where he was standing in the photo. He was retired ground crew although I understand the he sadly died recently. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaseone Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=10151679329883125" width="1280" height="720" frameborder="0"></iframe> good video of yesterday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 Psst wanna sit in a real life working Lanc? http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/ She should soon be airworthy! Yes but will need to save a bit first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 On more4 now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unapalomablanca Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 its on channel 5 now, with ****** the dog. Surprised the ludicrous do-gooders havent got it censored. An old boy told me that loads of people named their black labs ******, nothing derogatory, because they werent thinking like that. its on channel 5 now, with ****** the dog. Surprised the ludicrous do-gooders havent got it censored. An old boy told me that loads of people named their black labs ******, nothing derogatory, because they werent thinking like that. but its been censored on this site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 Watch out for the end of the film, after the raid when Gibson is talking to Barnes Wallis, note the black dog playing in the trees behind them. Funny thing is there were no black dogs on base that day (either owned by airmen, the MOD or bought on to play the naughtily named black Labrador) and nobody saw it until they screened the shot film. It is a real ghost! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted May 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 well i never, only just down the road... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2325708/Dambusters-models-Scale-models-built-Watford-used-test-air-raid.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagsy Posted May 19, 2013 Report Share Posted May 19, 2013 Fantastic stuff, I've really enjoyed the commemorations this week. Watched the film again yesterday followed by the programme following Johnny Johnson returning to the dam and finding the crash site of the original plane he flew in. It brought a lump to my throat on more than one occasion. We owe them all one hell of a debt of gratitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted May 19, 2013 Report Share Posted May 19, 2013 (edited) We certainly do-and how did we show our gratitude?-by treating them as murderers and refusing to give them any specific decorations to honour the incredible heroism each and every Airman showed everytime he flew over Germany.Even in recent years the hatred continues-remember the protest at the unveiling of the statue honouring Sir Arthur Harris-disgusting behaviour by the scum of society Edited May 19, 2013 by bruno22rf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted May 19, 2013 Report Share Posted May 19, 2013 (edited) Nice piece in the Mail online about the Dambusters film... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324297/Behind-scenes-The-Dam-Busters-How-crews-created-scale-models-targets-flew-real-Lancasters-make-classic-war-film.html My Grandfather worked on it - he's in the white overalls third from right standing on the ground - he had a brief cameo in it as well - he drives a bomb truck across the standings. you must be so proud really enjoyed the film yet again last night , it makes you so proud to be british Edited May 19, 2013 by delburt0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ordnance Posted May 19, 2013 Report Share Posted May 19, 2013 (edited) Fantastic stuff, I've really enjoyed the commemorations this week. Watched the film again yesterday followed by the programme following Johnny Johnson returning to the dam and finding the crash site of the original plane he flew in. I think that was the program I watched a while back, did he not change his view at the end of the program regarding the dam not being destroyed his crew bombed. Edited May 19, 2013 by ordnance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted May 19, 2013 Report Share Posted May 19, 2013 You've got to wonder what all the people who gave their lives to defeat our enemies would make of the situation today. Basically we are "legally" controlled by the very people defeated in the two world wars, via the EU. I'm not sure the people who made the sacrifices would think we've done very well by them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickS Posted May 19, 2013 Report Share Posted May 19, 2013 Actually, I think they would regard the continued peace in Europe to have been well worth while fighting for. Whatever you may think of the EU and all it's burocracy, it is insignificant compared to what a Nazi victory would have brought and those who fought or even supported the war effort in other ways did not do so in vain. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted May 20, 2013 Report Share Posted May 20, 2013 Actually, I think they would regard the continued peace in Europe to have been well worth while fighting for. Whatever you may think of the EU and all it's burocracy, it is insignificant compared to what a Nazi victory would have brought and those who fought or even supported the war effort in other ways did not do so in vain. Nick Another way of looking at it but I still can't help thinking that we could have done a lot more with what they left us with as a result of their sacrifices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickS Posted May 20, 2013 Report Share Posted May 20, 2013 I agree with you. Politics is full of squandered chances and the EU may be a beast impossible to control at times.... but at least we are not losing another generation of our young men. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.