"Please take a mo to remember "

[Topdad]

Very much of our subject but if you can please take a mo to remember the brave guys of 617 sqn( inc 29 canadians, 13 ozzies 2 nz and 1 usa ) all tour expired volunteers who carried out the Dams raid 70 yrs ago last night in 1943 ,particularly the ones who didn't come back, thanks BobH

[RichardL]

The story has always stuck with me, ever since seeing the movie 50 some years ago. I assume you have a personal connection, father maybe? I go along with the saying, "the generation that saved the world." Glad you made me remember this.

Richard L.

[metalflake11]

Well done for that post Bob. A truly incredible feat of bravery and skill.
Me and the A10 had the honour of seeing a Lancaster fly over the Derwent Valley Dam on the 50th anniversary.
In perspective, within a few months of the raid, three of Guy Gibson's crew were killed in action. Within a year they were all dead. Gibson himself was lost over Holland a few months before the end of the war.
It was a poor show the lack of recognition Bomber Command got after it was all over, and an insult to the families of the 55,573 men who lost their young lives serving it.
                               'Apres Moi Le Deluge'
                               'After Me The Flood'
                                  617 Squadron.                                 mf

[lawnmowerman]

"Never have so many owed so much to so few"

[Topdad]

No Richard, no family connection (,Dad was a sergeant in the royal engineers) ,with the RAF just unbounding admiration for my dad and mums generation , they just got on with it, no histriolics no counselling makes us seem like whimps by comparision. They also loved life and got on with it ,hopefully instilling a little of there spirit in us before they left.Best wishes BobH.

[A10Boy]

Thanks for the post Bob.

[muskrat]

 We are lucky to have had them.
Lest we forget.
Cheers

[A10Boy]

I always hold my breath when I see the old "Lanc" flying around, I think I'm right in saying she's the only one that flies now.

[bsa-bill]

saw the show on Beeb2 last night.

It was a poor show the lack of recognition Bomber Command got after it was all over

Yep politicians again

[A10Boy]

Bomber Harris got a statue, thats about it.

[metalflake11]

There's a Lancaster in Canada that's privately owned by some folks, other than that you are correct. Arthur 'Bomber' Harris has indeed got a statue, but it took about 60 years to do it.

[Stephen Foster]

Amen to that Bob !
Top post !

Steve ..

[morris]

"Never have so many owed so much to so few"

Back that up a 100%...

We have a club in our village who collect allied WW II stuff. Every year in the month of May they hold an exhibition to commemorate the end of the war. I went have a look last weekend, and one thing has struck me deeply. They had installed a monument with the flags of all the nationalities who fought to free Europe from tyranny, and a bit further up the path had a sign up in English that said;" For the fact you can read this you owe your English teacher. The fact you are allowed to read this you owe to them"
Couldn't have said it better...

[Briz]

Lancasters; Merlin engines; Bsa's. All part of the same thing really.

[Tumbleweed]

a thoughtful post bob thanks, men were men in those days