This is great, watched it a few times. My dad was navigator on Halifaxes at 105 (Ceylon) Sqdn RAF, flying out of RAF Pocklington. The station is owned by a gliding club now, but inside the clubroom there are some maps (e.g. of all planes lost from Pocklinton) and photos of planes and crew, including my Dad's crew. Pocklinton is close to Elvington where the Yorkshire Halifax is in the museum.
This is superb, thank you for making this film. My grandfather was a Halifax crewman with RAF 568 Squadron based at RAF Burn, with 431 RCAF. Europe owes a huge debt of gratitude to the boys of RCAF.
Awesome video! My great uncle Donald L. Jarrett was a navigator on a Halifax in 408 sqd (RCAF) and was lost with his crew on his 14th mission returning from Essen April 3/4 1943. Great to see some many younger Canadians still remember the sacrifice!
My father told and retold his stories throughout my life. I have four younger sisters who each heard less and less. The second to last would say, "Dad was in the war?" The last said, "There was a war?" When he wrote a book about his experiences, "Cradle Crew", I had to help him remember the details from his stories. He wrote another book about his experiences trying to find the Nazi pilot he faced, "Who Shot Down EQ-Queeie?"
Excellently done, Jeff. I really felt as if I was in the bomber during the the hair raising raid. You couldn't have chosen a finer musical back round score to highten the dramatic mood of the bombing sequence. It's very hard (although a true fact) that 30% of the crews never made it back. Such uniquely brave men. Many thanks for sharing, sir.
Well done Jeff. My great uncle F/O Harold F. Le Noury ( RCAF),served as a Navigator of a Halifax Bomber with 77 Squadron Raf. Him and his crew were shot down and KIA on Nov 2 1944, while returning from a bombing raid over Dusseldorf. Most likely, your father may have been on that same raid. A raid of 1000 bombers that night. May we always remember these brave airmen, and the freedom we have because of them & many other allied soldiers.
my great grandad flew with the RAAF 462 squadron during ww2 and during a raid on neuss his aircraft was lost near krefeld on 24 febuary 1945 and was lost from night fighters. his mission was to dispense CHAFF or radar jamming equipment ahead of the main bomber force as part of a diversionary sweep to lure night fighters away from the main bomber force, his best friend Allan John Rate and his crew all died in the crash but miraculously he survived along with some crew from MZ448 which was fl/lt ridgewells crew and were captured after midnight by a crew of Wehrmacht soldiers who saw the aircraft come down. They were held in a barn until they were interrogated by the gestapo to which somehow my grandad (reg) conviced them he was a fighter pilot by stripping his bomber wings before capture so to spare his life. had he not done this he would not have made it home and i would not be here today so i can say with 100 percent these guys deserve a LOT of credit for the difference they made.
I came across this just looking for something to watch. I'm currently travelling back to the UK on the Eurostar. My Grandad was a bomb aimer on a Halifax in 578 squadron. I never met my Grandad. He died of cancer in the early 70s (I was born December 82). I'm extremely proud of what he did in the war - I couldn't have done it.
This is amazing. My uncle was a Canadian tail gunner on a Halifax, assigned to 10 Sqn. RAF. He was shot down over Holland, after a raid on Essen in 1943. Spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft III.
This is a really good video that gives perspective to being on one of the operational sorties during WWII. My father, F/O George Mollins (J42280) was RCAF Mid-Upper Air Gunner in Halifax III (AL-L; AL-S; AL-W; AL-N...) and served with 429 (Bison) Squadron on operations over Germany. Your video and the work you put into it, is a tribute to all the honourable souls whether operational or non-operational who contributed to defeating a scourge on humanity.
You're correct in your observations, however, at the time I made this film, I could only find modeling information on 109s. My father's stories about that moment when the target was lit up and they could finally see the planes all around them was the inspiration for this film. He often mentioned discovering you were too close to another aircraft (such as directly under someone opening their bomb doors). With no running lights, it's a wonder more planes didn't knock each other out.
My father flew with 408th "Goose" Squadron from Linton-on-Ouse. They were the "Cradle Crew" because they were all so young. He was shot down over Hamburg, March 31, 1945 and spent the last of the war in Stalag Luft One. He met lots of Lanc fliers in the POW camp.
my grandfather was a tailgunner from age 15-17,lew 18 missions and d-day before he was sent back as underage,anyway here is a good site ive found recentley that shows these heroes, thanks for the video :)
That, my friend is a great peice of film. My dad was a flt/engineer on the Halifax bomber with 434 Squadron, he would have loved to see your film. I have put a piece on You Tube with him talking about 434 Squadron. just type in 434 squadron ...my dad. Again....well done mate.
Steve, at what hight were the flying on there way to Germany. A Halifax came down in Renwoude (Netherlands) on 22 june 1943. They were hit by ground fire. I am writing a song about this Halifax.
Any chance you might be able to mention how you got so much information on your dad? My grandfather was also assigned to the RCAF flying in the Halifax. He was shot down on a night raid as well. My dad just told me today that apparently it was on the first big night raid into Germany by the allies. At one time my dad did have a contact over in England who was helping us dig up some info on my Grandfather but sadly this guy died and our computer happened to crash so we lost a lot of info..Thanks
Very good video, my father also served in Halifax bombers, he was shot down over kessel and was a pow. He escaped from 3 stalags and ended up in cold it's castle, there is a short viideo of a poem he wrote about his aircraft in 1942. It's on my you tube site. Hmsmaggit
Hi Emma, I am writing a song for a Halifax that came down in Renswoude (Netherlands) 22 juni 1943. I am very interested in this poem. I have seens films on TH-cam in wich pilot show great respect for this airplane. By the way : do you know the origin of the name Hali Fax . I have seen some where Holy Air? Is that wright?
Nice numeric video and realisation ! It' s the first time that i see numeric video of Halifax night attack But some mistakes as german Me 109 E with tropical paints as nigtfighters.They had never flown against Halifax in night actions and also the bomber man which is not lied down during her sight
Hi Jeff! Can I use some footage from this film for a documentary I am making for our foundation? We are erecting a monument for the crew of Halifax JB803 which crashed in my hometown on May 1st 1943. You can find more information here: www.Halifaxmonumentmuiden.nl Kind regards, David van Coolwijk Halifax Monument Muiden
This is great, watched it a few times. My dad was navigator on Halifaxes at 105 (Ceylon) Sqdn RAF, flying out of RAF Pocklington. The station is owned by a gliding club now, but inside the clubroom there are some maps (e.g. of all planes lost from Pocklinton) and photos of planes and crew, including my Dad's crew. Pocklinton is close to Elvington where the Yorkshire Halifax is in the museum.
This is superb, thank you for making this film. My grandfather was a Halifax crewman with RAF 568 Squadron based at RAF Burn, with 431 RCAF. Europe owes a huge debt of gratitude to the boys of RCAF.
Awesome video! My great uncle Donald L. Jarrett was a navigator on a Halifax in 408 sqd (RCAF) and was lost with his crew on his 14th mission returning from Essen April 3/4 1943. Great to see some many younger Canadians still remember the sacrifice!
Thanks, Jeff. I wish my dad who was a FE on Halifax Mk 7 could have lived to see your video. Bruce
My father told and retold his stories throughout my life. I have four younger sisters who each heard less and less. The second to last would say, "Dad was in the war?" The last said, "There was a war?" When he wrote a book about his experiences, "Cradle Crew", I had to help him remember the details from his stories. He wrote another book about his experiences trying to find the Nazi pilot he faced, "Who Shot Down EQ-Queeie?"
Excellently done, Jeff. I really felt as if I was in the bomber during the the hair raising raid. You couldn't have chosen a finer musical back round score to highten the dramatic mood of the bombing sequence. It's very hard (although a true fact) that 30% of the crews never made it back. Such uniquely brave men.
Many thanks for sharing, sir.
My Dad flew 32 combat missions in a Halifax Bomber in WW11, 429 sqd, RCAF, his name is F.O. Norman Gillen, he was a navigator...
@nffc07
I visited the Halifax at Trenton when they had the grand opening. It's a beautiful aircraft and it was lovingly restored.
Well done Jeff. My great uncle F/O Harold F. Le Noury ( RCAF),served as a Navigator of a Halifax Bomber with 77 Squadron Raf. Him and his crew were shot down and KIA on Nov 2 1944, while returning from a bombing raid over Dusseldorf. Most likely, your father may have been on that same raid. A raid of 1000 bombers that night. May we always remember these brave airmen, and the freedom we have because of them & many other allied soldiers.
my great grandad flew with the RAAF 462 squadron during ww2 and during a raid on neuss his aircraft was lost near krefeld on 24 febuary 1945 and was lost from night fighters. his mission was to dispense CHAFF or radar jamming equipment ahead of the main bomber force as part of a diversionary sweep to lure night fighters away from the main bomber force, his best friend Allan John Rate and his crew all died in the crash but miraculously he survived along with some crew from MZ448 which was fl/lt ridgewells crew and were captured after midnight by a crew of Wehrmacht soldiers who saw the aircraft come down. They were held in a barn until they were interrogated by the gestapo to which somehow my grandad (reg) conviced them he was a fighter pilot by stripping his bomber wings before capture so to spare his life. had he not done this he would not have made it home and i would not be here today so i can say with 100 percent these guys deserve a LOT of credit for the difference they made.
I came across this just looking for something to watch. I'm currently travelling back to the UK on the Eurostar.
My Grandad was a bomb aimer on a Halifax in 578 squadron. I never met my Grandad. He died of cancer in the early 70s (I was born December 82). I'm extremely proud of what he did in the war - I couldn't have done it.
Extremely well done. Not only are you talented but hard working as well.
This is amazing. My uncle was a Canadian tail gunner on a Halifax, assigned to 10 Sqn. RAF. He was shot down over Holland, after a raid on Essen in 1943. Spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft III.
Wonderful clip...well done. I'm busy reading MEN OF AIR and this really puts into perspective what young RAF pilots had to endure.
great video my great uncle was flight engineer on a halifax bomber, he was killed when they were shot down during a bombing raid.
This is a really good video that gives perspective to being on one of the operational sorties during WWII. My father, F/O George Mollins (J42280) was RCAF Mid-Upper Air Gunner in Halifax III (AL-L; AL-S; AL-W; AL-N...) and served with 429 (Bison) Squadron on operations over Germany. Your video and the work you put into it, is a tribute to all the honourable souls whether operational or non-operational who contributed to defeating a scourge on humanity.
You're correct in your observations, however, at the time I made this film, I could only find modeling information on 109s. My father's stories about that moment when the target was lit up and they could finally see the planes all around them was the inspiration for this film. He often mentioned discovering you were too close to another aircraft (such as directly under someone opening their bomb doors). With no running lights, it's a wonder more planes didn't knock each other out.
Nice start with the pathfinder flares.
Very impressive - I'd like to see it as a feature film, whether animated or live action!
@quertydinner
The music is "Night on Bald Mountain" by Modest Mussorgsky, although I did some heavy editing to make it work for my film.
Great movie and sound even better!
My father flew with 408th "Goose" Squadron from Linton-on-Ouse. They were the "Cradle Crew" because they were all so young. He was shot down over Hamburg, March 31, 1945 and spent the last of the war in Stalag Luft One. He met lots of Lanc fliers in the POW camp.
my grandfather was a tailgunner from age 15-17,lew 18 missions and d-day before he was sent back as underage,anyway here is a good site ive found recentley that shows these heroes, thanks for the video :)
That, my friend is a great peice of film.
My dad was a flt/engineer on the Halifax bomber with 434 Squadron, he would have loved to see your film. I have put a piece on You Tube with him talking about 434 Squadron. just type in 434 squadron ...my dad.
Again....well done mate.
Very well done, Jeff, I can't believe it's an animation!
Never forgotten
underrated
Great job, this'll really help with information for my book that I'm writing, or at least part of it.
@Foomba
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Steve, at what hight were the flying on there way to Germany.
A Halifax came down in Renwoude (Netherlands) on 22 june 1943.
They were hit by ground fire. I am writing a song about this Halifax.
Any chance you might be able to mention how you got so much information on your dad? My grandfather was also assigned to the RCAF flying in the Halifax. He was shot down on a night raid as well. My dad just told me today that apparently it was on the first big night raid into Germany by the allies. At one time my dad did have a contact over in England who was helping us dig up some info on my Grandfather but sadly this guy died and our computer happened to crash so we lost a lot of info..Thanks
My grandpa also was shot down, 1942 on (go figure) his 13th mission..lucky #13 hey! He also went to Stalag Luft III.
i love your vids their amazing
Very good video, my father also served in Halifax bombers, he was shot down over kessel and was a pow. He escaped from 3 stalags and ended up in cold it's castle, there is a short viideo of a poem he wrote about his aircraft in 1942. It's on my you tube site. Hmsmaggit
sorry for the tropical paint schemes In fact they are paint schemes applied in eastern zones with yellow marks. I love the Flack towers
2:54 Me when experiencing turbulence on a flight.
Hi Emma,
I am writing a song for a Halifax that came down in Renswoude (Netherlands) 22 juni 1943.
I am very interested in this poem. I have seens films on TH-cam in wich pilot show great respect for this airplane. By the way : do you know the origin of the name Hali Fax . I have seen some where Holy Air? Is that wright?
@nick21sammy
Sorry my son and his friends don't have my Canadian accent but they were the same age as my father when he flew missions like this.
Nice numeric video and realisation ! It' s the first time that i see numeric video of Halifax night attack But some mistakes as german Me 109 E with tropical paints as nigtfighters.They had never flown against Halifax in night actions and also the bomber man which is not lied down during her sight
I believe it is named for the city of Halifax
Yes Halifax, West Yorkshire, England.
Hi Jeff!
Can I use some footage from this film for a documentary I am making for our foundation?
We are erecting a monument for the crew of Halifax JB803 which crashed in my hometown on May 1st 1943.
You can find more information here: www.Halifaxmonumentmuiden.nl
Kind regards,
David van Coolwijk
Halifax Monument Muiden