Hi there! Can you let me know where this footage is coming from? I would like to use it in a documentary film about a Canadian tail gunner. I have contacted the Free French Forces foundation, but they do not own this footage. Thank you!
My Dad, Bob Shepherd, flew Halifaxes in 518 squadron coastal command from Iceland and Tiree, Hebrides. He was a meteorological observer and theirs was the squadron that spotted the bad incoming weather that delayed D-Day. There were airmen of various nationalities in the squadron - especially Canadians I think.
My father was a pilot during the war. His last squadron was 77 Squadron who flew out of Full Sutton. His name was Duncan Graham. He died in 2006 aged almost 96. He told some great stories.
My other Great Uncle Norman, flew as a Pilot in a Halifax for 158 Squadron, completed 35 sorties and awarded the DFC. He even flew the famous "Friday the 13th" Halifax Bomber stationed at 158 Squadron at Lissett Airbase. One of the few Bombers to make it over 100 sorties. Too bad some guy decide to scrap such a historic item. Great though, that the Yorkshire Air Museum Restored a Halifax and named her" Friday the 13th" .
My Great Uncle and his fellow crew mates of 77 Squadron ( six Canadians and one Scott) were shot down in their Halifax Bomber, while returning from a Bombing Raid, over DusselDorf Germany. All seven were KIA. Them and so many others like them, paid the Ultimate sacrifice, so we could be free. A Sacrifice that should always be Remembered. The true meaning of the word " Hero". I have a tribute video on my channel, for my Great Uncle and his fellow crew mates, called " the Last flight of.....
Thanks a real bunch for this my father was a navigator RAAF seconded to the RAF 76 Sqdn Holme On Spalding Moor. He moved in to better things a few years ago now. Amazing bit of film it brings a tear to my eye every time I watch it, truly wonderful to se the sort of things that were routine to those men… men.. crikey my dad was the oldest in the crew 22 and 5 months when he crewed up… amazing stuff indeed… thanks again Roger Skinner Australia.
I am no aviation enthusiast but thanks for that video it a least gave me an idea as to what the inside of a Stirling looked like...And also to remember the brave crews who flew them.
My grandad flew one of these and he said it was not uncommon to be flying back with one or two of the engines working.. Most of his friends didn't make it.
He doesn't talk much about it.
However, he did just randomly mention the fact that after the war, they just took a plane and flew round the world because the army was in a major state and didn't really care about much of its equipment (he didn't specify what plane it was).
Good video, thank you. The Halifax meant a lot to my family. My father, aunt and mother in law all worked at the Rootes factory in Liverpool building them. Dad was a foreman in charge of building the centre section incl. inboard engines and under carriage, my aunt was a riveter and mother in law painted them (including messages of good luck to the future crews!) On completion the aircraft were rolled out of the factory, across the road onto the runway of Speke Airport (now Liverpool John Lennon)
Great video...Hard to find Halifax Bomber footage!My great uncle was a Navigator ( RCAF) in a RAF Squadron...Squadron 77 out of FullSutton, Yorkshire England. He and his fellow crew mates were shot down and KIA on Nov2 1944. True Gingerzilla in regards to painting a better picture about what went on inside the Halifax. What a terrifying experience they had to go through!
@MrBNaylor Wow, my Dad was a Mid-Upper Gunner for 77 Sqn out of Full Sutton. We went to visit Elvington just a few months before he passed away. The best days of my life! Thanks for posting, so nice to see so many people interested, let's always keep the memories alive, my Dad was a hero in my eyes, and the Bomber Boys were so brave. E
My Grandfather was in the Royal Australian Air-force as a Navigator in a Halifax from 42 to 45. It was an extremely terrifying time for him and he had his life changed forever. So for me this video gave me a small window into his amazing life during that time. It helped me put pictures to his stories. Also It reminds me how much he and others risked and sacrificed for our way of life and how we must never forget. Thank you so very much for your post much.
Great footage, my late grandad was a tail gunner in an halifax bomber during WW2 with 78 squadron (Breighton,Yorkshire). Got anymore clips like this???
Thanks very much for this wonderful treat ! The shots of the A Mk VII with cargo pannier are really interesting. Also noteworthy is the variety of aircraft with/without mid upper turrets and H2S fairings.
Thanks so much. My Dad who was a navigator on the Halifax based in Lemming 427 Squadron. Hes blind and bored and lives 3000 kms from me. I played the sound bite from this and he got so choked up at hearing it he cried. he said the start up instructions and sounds were exactly what they would say and experience. What a great piece . "Per Ardua ad Astra",
Tech for MkIII Four 1,675hp Bristol Hercules XVI engines. Max. speed: 277mph @ 6,000ft. Cruising speed: 225mph @ 20,000ft Service ceiling: 20,000ft Range: 1,770 miles Eight .303in Browning machine guns in mid-upper & tail turrets and provisions for one Vickers K gun in the nose. Some RCAF aircraft carried a 0.5in machine gun in place of the H2S. Bomb Load: 13,000lb. Empty:38,332lb. Loaded: 65,000lb Span:104ft 2in Length: 71ft 7in Height: 20ft 9in
My father Pilot Guy W. Sicotte DFC and others, he complete a tour also rare, member of 425 RCAF Alouette Squadron, his crew was also french except one british.
Mon père un des ces héros oubliés, died at 86 years old in 2006.
@MacSic There as only 1 school for flight engineers for the big bombers and this war in England and so nearly all flight engineers on the big bombers were British despite the nationality of the rest of the crew
@binaway Thx for this info, exact Ronald .L. Smith was the engineer and british, Wireless Op. J. Lanthier, Mid-Upper Gunner J.P. Lebel, Rear Gunner Rudy Lavoie, Bomb Aimer J. Leboeuf, Navigator K. Durocher and the pilot, my father completed is tour the 45-02-22 on Halifax III 425 Alouette Squadron.
Thank you very much for posting this. It is very relevant to my uncle's experience during WWII. He was a Leading Aircraftman on a Halifax MK IV that had to ditch in the sea near Gibraltar. This really helped me to visualize what he experienced. Thank you. :)
My grandfather was the navigator of a halifax with 161 (special ops) squadron that crashed near St.sauvier, france 1943 while dropping supplies to the resistance.
Cracking bit of footage, really enjoyable watching, even my partner stopped what he was doing in the other room when he heard and came through to watch.
Great film, very nostalgic,I was a Flight Engineer on Halifax111's in WW2 and the film brought it all back. Thank you. One very minor point, I never heard a rear gunner call himself " tail-end Charlie" only the Press!
Wonderfull stuff, I'm researching halifax bombers from 1663 & 1658 HCU, in the hope of commissioning a new memorial for two that crashed here in 43, thanks for posting that it was great to see
you ever hear from the Halifax Bristol Hercules Engine that was found near by Duesseldorf?
In that case 5 Crewmember died after a German ME110 Fireattack-one survived by Parashut and this Hero ist still allive!He visit"his Engine"here in Germany last Summer!
Ouer Homtownresaercher's Hanna Eggerrath and Thomas Boller wrote the hole Story down:
Yes I did know that this was part of a film made by the Free French at Elvington duriing WW2. However it was a silent film without sound track so I had to provide ALL the sound including engine noise. Synchronizing sound to lip movements was the trickiest job. Incidentally I made the crew voices by using radio walkie talkies given to 7 volunteer workers at for the Yorkshire Air Museum where I too was the volunteer Co-ordinator.
Wonderful video. My late father flew with 640 Squadron, based at Leconfield. One of the aircraft in your video appears to have squadron code C8, which is 640, but the tail fin doesn't match. Any clues as to this apparent anomaly?
A unique and rare piece of film. Interesting voice over but should have been in french, 347"Tunise" squadron at Elvington,note uniforms and insignia, but I guess you know that.
Truly amazing to watch what my Grandfather had to do each and every time he climbed into the cock pit of his "Hali"..Thank you for sharing!
bradnmack1 2 months ago
You are nit picking squeeth. 28,391 other viewers gave favourable remarks.
UUPIGUY 7 months ago
Notice the sly switch of aeroplane? one has the mid-upper turret and the othr has a transport pannier.
squeeth 7 months ago
Hi there! Can you let me know where this footage is coming from? I would like to use it in a documentary film about a Canadian tail gunner. I have contacted the Free French Forces foundation, but they do not own this footage. Thank you!
MariePVP 8 months ago
I understand what you were trying to achieve with the soundtrack and really enjoyed it. Well done and thanks for uploading.
MoaSize 8 months ago
Great Effort !!! Thoroughly enjoyable.
richvtr 9 months ago
My Dad, Bob Shepherd, flew Halifaxes in 518 squadron coastal command from Iceland and Tiree, Hebrides. He was a meteorological observer and theirs was the squadron that spotted the bad incoming weather that delayed D-Day. There were airmen of various nationalities in the squadron - especially Canadians I think.
shephia 11 months ago
My father was a pilot during the war. His last squadron was 77 Squadron who flew out of Full Sutton. His name was Duncan Graham. He died in 2006 aged almost 96. He told some great stories.
duncan3623 1 year ago
My other Great Uncle Norman, flew as a Pilot in a Halifax for 158 Squadron, completed 35 sorties and awarded the DFC. He even flew the famous "Friday the 13th" Halifax Bomber stationed at 158 Squadron at Lissett Airbase. One of the few Bombers to make it over 100 sorties. Too bad some guy decide to scrap such a historic item. Great though, that the Yorkshire Air Museum Restored a Halifax and named her" Friday the 13th" .
MrBNaylor 1 year ago
My Great Uncle and his fellow crew mates of 77 Squadron ( six Canadians and one Scott) were shot down in their Halifax Bomber, while returning from a Bombing Raid, over DusselDorf Germany. All seven were KIA. Them and so many others like them, paid the Ultimate sacrifice, so we could be free. A Sacrifice that should always be Remembered. The true meaning of the word " Hero". I have a tribute video on my channel, for my Great Uncle and his fellow crew mates, called " the Last flight of.....
MrBNaylor 1 year ago
That was great!.
Thanks.
fluffycat087 1 year ago
Thanks a real bunch for this my father was a navigator RAAF seconded to the RAF 76 Sqdn Holme On Spalding Moor. He moved in to better things a few years ago now. Amazing bit of film it brings a tear to my eye every time I watch it, truly wonderful to se the sort of things that were routine to those men… men.. crikey my dad was the oldest in the crew 22 and 5 months when he crewed up… amazing stuff indeed… thanks again Roger Skinner Australia.
rojpix 1 year ago
I am no aviation enthusiast but thanks for that video it a least gave me an idea as to what the inside of a Stirling looked like...And also to remember the brave crews who flew them.
myketyke1 1 year ago
3:10am Saturday (AST) - Time in Halifax, NS, Canada
C-J
GelandnaleG 1 year ago
OMG The overdubed "sound" is painfully bad
"starting port outer" !
GREAT old film footage...but lousy "writing", sfx, and mixxing
JoFergusons 1 year ago
My grandad flew one of these and he said it was not uncommon to be flying back with one or two of the engines working.. Most of his friends didn't make it.
He doesn't talk much about it.
However, he did just randomly mention the fact that after the war, they just took a plane and flew round the world because the army was in a major state and didn't really care about much of its equipment (he didn't specify what plane it was).
popspie 1 year ago
You dubbed the sound on this? Great job, very convincing!
davidrodgersNJ 1 year ago
Good video, thank you. The Halifax meant a lot to my family. My father, aunt and mother in law all worked at the Rootes factory in Liverpool building them. Dad was a foreman in charge of building the centre section incl. inboard engines and under carriage, my aunt was a riveter and mother in law painted them (including messages of good luck to the future crews!) On completion the aircraft were rolled out of the factory, across the road onto the runway of Speke Airport (now Liverpool John Lennon)
Hereman7 1 year ago
Not a patch on the Lanc eh?
eezy1972 1 year ago
@eezy1972 well they certainly don't get as much attention - but they did a stirling job during the war.
naggip 1 year ago
@naggip Have never heard much about them, thanks for reply.
eezy1972 1 year ago
A great video. A close relative was a Halifax pilot operating in S E Asia towards end of WW2. Anymore like this ??
dickreast 2 years ago
God...theyre gonna bomb Bridlington!
SOLDIERF1 2 years ago
I suspect the crew on film were Canadian as were ground tower crew (or yank)....
macbrack 2 years ago
Great video...Hard to find Halifax Bomber footage!My great uncle was a Navigator ( RCAF) in a RAF Squadron...Squadron 77 out of FullSutton, Yorkshire England. He and his fellow crew mates were shot down and KIA on Nov2 1944. True Gingerzilla in regards to painting a better picture about what went on inside the Halifax. What a terrifying experience they had to go through!
MrBNaylor 2 years ago
@MrBNaylor Wow, my Dad was a Mid-Upper Gunner for 77 Sqn out of Full Sutton. We went to visit Elvington just a few months before he passed away. The best days of my life! Thanks for posting, so nice to see so many people interested, let's always keep the memories alive, my Dad was a hero in my eyes, and the Bomber Boys were so brave. E
limitedsdotcom 1 year ago
My Grandfather was in the Royal Australian Air-force as a Navigator in a Halifax from 42 to 45. It was an extremely terrifying time for him and he had his life changed forever. So for me this video gave me a small window into his amazing life during that time. It helped me put pictures to his stories. Also It reminds me how much he and others risked and sacrificed for our way of life and how we must never forget. Thank you so very much for your post much.
Gingerzilla 2 years ago 2
Great footage, my late grandad was a tail gunner in an halifax bomber during WW2 with 78 squadron (Breighton,Yorkshire). Got anymore clips like this???
daveyb7375 2 years ago
Fantastic,,,THANKS!
hoplite1766 2 years ago
very good
tojoconfused 2 years ago
Splendid ! Many thanks, merci beaucoup pour cet excellente reconstitution.
Fridomfry 2 years ago
This amazing..i was standing in that tower at elvington, Yorkshire 2 weeks ago.
They have rebuilt a Halifax there and it's amazing to see..well worth a visit and the whole airfield..it's like going back in time
seanpianoman1 2 years ago
Thanks very much for this wonderful treat ! The shots of the A Mk VII with cargo pannier are really interesting. Also noteworthy is the variety of aircraft with/without mid upper turrets and H2S fairings.
sx976 3 years ago
Thanks so much. My Dad who was a navigator on the Halifax based in Lemming 427 Squadron. Hes blind and bored and lives 3000 kms from me. I played the sound bite from this and he got so choked up at hearing it he cried. he said the start up instructions and sounds were exactly what they would say and experience. What a great piece . "Per Ardua ad Astra",
WonDrEngY 3 years ago
Bloody brilliant.....Awesome video.....Thanks for posting.
sgtgrech 3 years ago
MacSic 3 years ago
Thx !
Never see this before.
My father Pilot Guy W. Sicotte DFC and others, he complete a tour also rare, member of 425 RCAF Alouette Squadron, his crew was also french except one british.
Mon père un des ces héros oubliés, died at 86 years old in 2006.
Thank you very much UPPIMAN
MacSic 3 years ago
@MacSic There as only 1 school for flight engineers for the big bombers and this war in England and so nearly all flight engineers on the big bombers were British despite the nationality of the rest of the crew
binaway 7 months ago
@binaway Thx for this info, exact Ronald .L. Smith was the engineer and british, Wireless Op. J. Lanthier, Mid-Upper Gunner J.P. Lebel, Rear Gunner Rudy Lavoie, Bomb Aimer J. Leboeuf, Navigator K. Durocher and the pilot, my father completed is tour the 45-02-22 on Halifax III 425 Alouette Squadron.
MacSic 7 months ago
Thank you very much for posting this. It is very relevant to my uncle's experience during WWII. He was a Leading Aircraftman on a Halifax MK IV that had to ditch in the sea near Gibraltar. This really helped me to visualize what he experienced. Thank you. :)
FrancisRidley 3 years ago
My grandfather was the navigator of a halifax with 161 (special ops) squadron that crashed near St.sauvier, france 1943 while dropping supplies to the resistance.
littlelordfauntleroy 3 years ago
Those Mk IIIs certainly had cleaner lines than the .Lancs
ROCKYROSIE2 3 years ago
great video,
I made a 1/72 halifax but it seems to be an other version. Mine is the GR II version.
jasser333 3 years ago
Cracking bit of footage, really enjoyable watching, even my partner stopped what he was doing in the other room when he heard and came through to watch.
Thanks for posting :-)
AldbroBev 3 years ago
Great film, very nostalgic,I was a Flight Engineer on Halifax111's in WW2 and the film brought it all back. Thank you. One very minor point, I never heard a rear gunner call himself " tail-end Charlie" only the Press!
dunelmian83 3 years ago
Wonderfull stuff, I'm researching halifax bombers from 1663 & 1658 HCU, in the hope of commissioning a new memorial for two that crashed here in 43, thanks for posting that it was great to see
Jim
Teddyboy53Rocker 3 years ago 2
Thanks for the video! My Grandfather was in the RAF and was a tailgunner in a Halifax throughout WWII
FarmallDoctor 3 years ago
fotocommunity de 12455201
GpunktHartman 3 years ago
You did a fine Job-
you ever hear from the Halifax Bristol Hercules Engine that was found near by Duesseldorf?
In that case 5 Crewmember died after a German ME110 Fireattack-one survived by Parashut and this Hero ist still allive!He visit"his Engine"here in Germany last Summer!
Ouer Homtownresaercher's Hanna Eggerrath and Thomas Boller wrote the hole Story down:
Der alte Flugmotor von Hochdahl-Trills
You also can see him in fotocommunitydotde
GpunktHartman 3 years ago 2
Yes I did know that this was part of a film made by the Free French at Elvington duriing WW2. However it was a silent film without sound track so I had to provide ALL the sound including engine noise. Synchronizing sound to lip movements was the trickiest job. Incidentally I made the crew voices by using radio walkie talkies given to 7 volunteer workers at for the Yorkshire Air Museum where I too was the volunteer Co-ordinator.
UUPIMAN 3 years ago
Wonderful video. My late father flew with 640 Squadron, based at Leconfield. One of the aircraft in your video appears to have squadron code C8, which is 640, but the tail fin doesn't match. Any clues as to this apparent anomaly?
nich008 3 years ago
The sound's so well done I would never have imagined it was added. Thanks for going to so much trouble!
theelfkillers 2 years ago
A unique and rare piece of film. Interesting voice over but should have been in french, 347"Tunise" squadron at Elvington,note uniforms and insignia, but I guess you know that.
organicpaul 3 years ago
very good, this is just what i need to help me in my quest for building a 1/48 halifax.
thankyou.
ianlanc 3 years ago