WWII Heavy Bomber Avro Lancaster in Colour R.A.F.

[Elaine11160]

Reply back to WorldWarCollector - based on your language ("mate" "cheers") I assume you are British - did you have a relative who was a WW2 vet? Although Canadian (5 plus generations on both sides) - I am of pure UK ancestry - mainly Scottish and Irish? And you? I also had great uncles who served as a Flying Ace and a Stretcher Bearer (Med. Corps) in WW1 and were both killed in 1917 & never married or had children - I am therefore as their grand niece their most direct living relative!

[WorldWarCollector]

@Elaine11160 nope, sorry for misleading you. i'm czech . born here and live here. i've stayed in uk in past and visited canada as well. so i might have cought some slang words .actually my english is pretty weak , i've had just compulsory russian lessons back in school. all my ancestors passed away long time ago...

[Elaine11160]

Oh my God! My father was a flight lieutentant Navigator RCAF Officer who flew many missions just like these from 1941 to June 1945 - back to back - Bomber Command - in Lancaster Bombers - including back up bombing for D Day June 1945 after which he was shot down --evaded capture --and was hidden by the French Underground until the end of the war!!! He was a multi decorated war Hero!! He lived from 1919 - 2006 - he has passed on but will always be honoured in my heart & for the lives he saved

[WorldWarCollector]

@Elaine11160 well said mate. cheers

[LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH]

@Elaine11160 Your father was the brains of the outfit then, as opposed to the 'bus driver!' Navigators were arguably the most intelligent of ALL aircrew. Their job was extremely difficult and they carried tremendous responsibility. I had a great uncle who was a Nav on Blenheims- he actually survived WW2. He washed out as a pilot on landings, so he was tranferred to the Nav course. He said it was extremely hard, especially learning astro-navigation. RESPECT to your father!

[guybough]

@LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH Liked your comment re navs being the brains. My grandfather was pilot in 467 RAAF lancs at Bottesford '42-43. He always said his maths got him by, but his nav was a rock for the crew. Unfortunately his nav was KIA on the final trip in july 43. Respect to all of that generation.

[LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH]

@Elaine11160 Apparently, doing the maths calculations was harder at 20,000 ft than at ground level. The brain operated slightly slower. In addition, being subject to the stress of flak & the attentions of night fighters made their job all the more difficult. I met a Lancaster Nav at RAF Cosford museum two years ago. Smashing bloke. Shot down on a daylight raid in Dec 44. Captured and spent several months as a POW. He was very blaise about the whole affair!

[LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH]

@Elaine11160 Get yourself a copy of Len Deighton's awesome book, "Bomber." It covers a 24 hour period in the lives of RAF/Luftwaffe aircrew, ground crew, radar operators, and German civilians on the receiving end of the BC HE bombs. It is absolutely superb, it is regarded as amongst the top 100 books of the 20th century. The descriptions of the night fighter attacks against the Lancs make your palms sweat! It is the closest you can get to the real thing. Fantastic read!

[Elaine11160]

@LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH Hi! Thanks for your comments re how intelligent the Navs (and brave) on the Lancs were. I am definitely getting the Deighton book! I am actually planning to write a book of my own on my father and his WW2 experiences as a Canadian Nav on Lancs in bomber command!

[LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH]

@Elaine11160 Elaine, you will find 'Bomber' an engrossing read. It is beyond any shadow of a doubt, a superb book. Deighton's technical knowledge is astounding. You will glean a comprehensive understanding of the nature and operation of the German air defense system- the Kammhuber Line. His book brings home how survival for the bomber crews was largely down to a large dose of luck. On reading it, I had a strong desire to jump in a time machine and go back as a Mosquito NF pilot!