Bomber Command Memorial

[Canada Phil]

Hoisting a pint to honour the unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial.



They found 42 RCAF Veterans fit enough to travel ?

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/feature/bomber_command

Canada Phil

[Stu]

And its a lovely memorial ( yours as well Phil)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18633791

Personally I think that 67 years after the war when probably most of the people have passed away, its mint that they are still remembering them. Hard to explain to a lot of young people what them 'doddery old twats' probably went through. Carry on number 1.

[Nobby Diesel]

Wonderful, yet hugely overdue.
Thanks to all those brave folk.

[Lazy B'stard]

Great to see that they have finally got some recognition.

Back in the 90's there was a bit of a do over at Ladybower Res'r over in the Peak district. A few friends and I decided to walk the ten miles or so over the moors from The Flouch. We had a grand day out and being up on the edge got a birdseye view as the planes passed at eye level. The finale was a Lancaster which did three passes. They were using the rock formation we were stood on as a turning point and on each pass the pilot got lower and lower until on his final run we actually flung ourselves to the ground!

The day was made even more special on our return journey when we shared our walk with a Lancaster veteran and his two sons. This guy was well into his 70's but still fit as a fiddle and set a cracking pace. Over the two hours he told us many tales of flying missions in Lancasters and Wellingtons.

My generation has absolutely no sodding idea what those poor bastards had to do every night. I've been inside a Lancaster since that day, and that combined with this old guys stories makes me shudder. It must have been a terrifying experience just flying those things at night never mind being shot at.

Saw the memorial on TV last night and instantly thought about the old guy in the Peaks. I dearly hope he is still with us and can see that we havn't forgotten his friends sacrifices.

[PAFC OK]

Here Here. Sacrifice and courage outstanding by any standard. My heartfelt gratitude and admiration to them all.

[mgmark]

A fine memorial at last to the many.

MG Mark

[Boorish Grobian]

Nice tribute there Phil.
Since its July 4th, and I think its fair to mention the mighty Eighth Air Force who along with Bomber Command rained bad news on the Reich, thought I would would post this link.  I remembered mentioning Bomber week here in Cincy on another thread, and that they offer B-17 flights, as well as tours.  Here's the Cincinnati Warbirds article for this years bomber week.  The B-17 Aluminum Overcast will be there.
http://www.cincinnatiwarbirds.org/bomberdays.html