Thank you for a most facinating interview. My uncle Reg was rear gunner on a Halifax. The pilot Benny saved the badly damaged plane and the close knit crew survived. This is so humbling as we remember those who gave their lives for us.
Cracking video. The nonchalant line about sending a Xmas card to the night fighter pilot who shot him down was great. Really down to earth bloke with a good memory.
Captivating. Good on you for recording his memories. My Uncle was a Wop/Ag who was lost 25/7/44. I never got to meet him, but did my best to record every detail about his service through contempary accounts in books and by researching his flight log book. To hear first hand what his role was like, through an interview like this, is spellbinding. My Uncle was killed when shot down, but his RG survived and went on the run. So hearing the account of capture and prison life is also important to me. The RG died before I found him. He was in Stalagluft 7 after Frankfurt Dulag interregation centre. I never got to meet anybody who remembered his crew, even after contacting their squadron association members. So I do honestly appreciate the importance of this recording. One thing to remember about Wireless Operators is that it was a very intense course to master. Only one in thirty who tried, made the grade. So many bright young men were killed. Over 55,500 out of 125,000 in Bomber Command. . . And none were thanked at the end of the war by our Country.
Fascinating video and it makes me feel so bad that I didn't make the time to do this with my father who was an RAF regular from 1935 and volunteered for Bomber Command in 1943 to become a Flight Engineer. The training and factory assignments took over 18 months and he took part in his first Op in a Halifax in May 1944 with 51 sqdn at Snaith. Interesting point not talked about much is that if you didn't complete the mission and had to return early (aircraft fault/shot to ribbons, etc.) then they didn't count it as an Op. My father's crew did 46 (more than a tour and a half) but only had 43 awarded, including once having to turn back after take-off as both starboard engines were jammed on full throttle. After dispensing with the bombs the Halifax was effectively crash landed at excessive speed, but all the drew survived thanks to the skill of my father and the Skipper keeping it straight with speed reducing manoeuvres and port engines manipulation. They went on to 78 (Breighton) and 171 (North Creake). My father died in 1998 and I have been very lucky (thanks to the internet) to locate three of his old crew, one of whom still survives to date (Oct'23) at the age of 98. How my father would have loved to met up with them. These were a special generation and they had a resilience that is almost totally lacking in succedding generations. Excellent video.
Lovely but chilling to hear. My mother's first husband was a Halifax pilot and after one tour (slightly over) was posted to an HCU where he was killed on a crash. He had requested a return to Ops after seeing the state of the HCU aircraft. All the good ones were on Ops. This is an interesting record of times that are slipping beyond memory. Thank you.
I discovered that fact myself. The Halifax l & ll were deemed to be unstable, so they were withdrawn from ops. So did they scrap them? No, they gave them to the Heavy Conversion Units for the trainees to fly. Many died.
Really interesting interview a real piece of history,just a minor comment but try to cut out background noise could hear interviewer’s seat and coat making noises. But none the less found it gripping interview , totally unique,a big thank you.
Thank you for a most facinating interview. My uncle Reg was rear gunner on a Halifax. The pilot Benny saved the badly damaged plane and the close knit crew survived. This is so humbling as we remember those who gave their lives for us.
Cracking video. The nonchalant line about sending a Xmas card to the night fighter pilot who shot him down was great. Really down to earth bloke with a good memory.
Captivating. Good on you for recording his memories. My Uncle was a Wop/Ag who was lost 25/7/44. I never got to meet him, but did my best to record every detail about his service through contempary accounts in books and by researching his flight log book. To hear first hand what his role was like, through an interview like this, is spellbinding. My Uncle was killed when shot down, but his RG survived and went on the run. So hearing the account of capture and prison life is also important to me. The RG died before I found him. He was in Stalagluft 7 after Frankfurt Dulag interregation centre. I never got to meet anybody who remembered his crew, even after contacting their squadron association members. So I do honestly appreciate the importance of this recording.
One thing to remember about Wireless Operators is that it was a very intense course to master. Only one in thirty who tried, made the grade. So many bright young men were killed. Over 55,500 out of 125,000 in Bomber Command. . . And none were thanked at the end of the war by our Country.
My Uncle was a WOP KIA 03/10/1943. That was a fascinating and detailed interview, thanks you Steve Darlow, that was TH-cam Gold for me.
Fascinating video and it makes me feel so bad that I didn't make the time to do this with my father who was an RAF regular from 1935 and volunteered for Bomber Command in 1943 to become a Flight Engineer. The training and factory assignments took over 18 months and he took part in his first Op in a Halifax in May 1944 with 51 sqdn at Snaith. Interesting point not talked about much is that if you didn't complete the mission and had to return early (aircraft fault/shot to ribbons, etc.) then they didn't count it as an Op. My father's crew did 46 (more than a tour and a half) but only had 43 awarded, including once having to turn back after take-off as both starboard engines were jammed on full throttle. After dispensing with the bombs the Halifax was effectively crash landed at excessive speed, but all the drew survived thanks to the skill of my father and the Skipper keeping it straight with speed reducing manoeuvres and port engines manipulation. They went on to 78 (Breighton) and 171 (North Creake). My father died in 1998 and I have been very lucky (thanks to the internet) to locate three of his old crew, one of whom still survives to date (Oct'23) at the age of 98. How my father would have loved to met up with them. These were a special generation and they had a resilience that is almost totally lacking in succedding generations. Excellent video.
Lovely but chilling to hear. My mother's first husband was a Halifax pilot and after one tour (slightly over) was posted to an HCU where he was killed on a crash. He had requested a return to Ops after seeing the state of the HCU aircraft. All the good ones were on Ops. This is an interesting record of times that are slipping beyond memory. Thank you.
I have heard that the learners got the worst planes to.learn on.
Very sad.
I discovered that fact myself. The Halifax l & ll were deemed to be unstable, so they were withdrawn from ops. So did they scrap them? No, they gave them to the Heavy Conversion Units for the trainees to fly. Many died.
Couldn't stop listening absolutely superb .
Thank you for making this! Absolutely fascinating.
A schools friends dad flew with 158, also as a radio opp. He was shot down on the infamous Nuremberg raid in 44. The only survivor of the aircraft.
Most fortunate
Really interesting interview a real piece of history,just a minor comment but try to cut out background noise could hear interviewer’s seat and coat making noises.
But none the less found it gripping interview , totally unique,a big thank you.
Too respectful to mention his throat clearing. I had ear Phones on jeeeeez. but it didn't deterr me, a fantastic recollection.
I am grateful for all the noises. Rather that than an awful interview
Smashing guy
hear hear