After nigh on half a century reading books about the Battle of Britain I have long been puzzled by how little the authors have to say about the role of Bomber and Coastal Commands. It is good to see that at long last someone is giving the subject the attention it deserves. More power to your elbow Dilip, and keep up the good work.
WW2 Tv had a feature on the subject of Bomber Command during the Battle Of Britain . As he points out with Costal Command their casualties were higher than the Fighter Command during the Battle Of Britain . They also attacked German airfields . It's good that you are also drawing attention to their contribution .
The operations of Bomber and Coastal Command, and the PDU, are covered in detail in my eight volume official history of the Battle of Britain which I am currently writing for the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust and National Memorial to The Few, being published by Pen and Sword. Volumes 1 and 2 are currently available with 3’s release imminent, and the rest published at three monthly intervals thereafter. Consequently this forgotten Battle is now acknowledged and indelibly etched into the history of the Battle of Britain.
It is often forgotten that Bomber Command (BC) were an essential part of The Few that Churchill referenced on 20 August (with two whole paragraphs out of the three that referred to The Few) and they did their work alone. The history of the Air War written by Churchill after the war sets the effort of BC aside slightly due to Dresden and what we'd call today "Optics" as he was very interested in his legacy! Many of the squadrons that did not receive the BoB clasp recognition, were awarded Battle Honours (Invasion Ports) nonetheless. It is forgotten that we were doing to them what they were doing to our airfields. And that 2 VCs were awarded to BC airmen during the BoB and 1 to FC airman. My old boy flew BC operations from 1939 to 1945 and only finally got his recognition in 2013 - as well as an invite to the unveiling of the Memorial that you visited! I grew up on BC (latterly Strike Command) bases as my old boy didnt retire until 1975 and I knew that there was some bitterness about how they were treated versus the Fighter boys. He mentions this in some detail in his memoirs.It's good to hear this being raised - I work at the Battle of Britain memorial and often have this debate with the hierarchy there as I believe that the men of BC should have a place in the memorial to The Few at Capel. Keep plugging the message Dilip and next time you are at Capel do please look me out. A new book perhaps?
@@nicktaylor2820 you will find the BC, CC and PDU stories all included in the new 8 volume history, it was a collective RAF effort, not just FC. I completely agree.
I very much look forward to you getting out in the field visiting various battle of Britain locations. I’m planning a trip back to the UK in a couple of years with a focus on the battle. Your knowledge and passion as always very much appreciated.
Thanks very much! You may be interested in this - I lead Battle of Britain tours for The Cultural Experience battlefield tour company. These are the details of the next, in 2025, and I daresay there will be another in 2026. www.theculturalexperience.com/tours/battle-of-britain-battlefield-tour/
I think Sunderlands had their own galley kitchen they were up for so long putting them hours in flying but you are so right Coastal /Bomber Command is not really represented well at all ,very hard to find any operational accounts except for the obvious night bombing of Germany etc and for Coastal Command the almighty single Short Sunderland of the RAAF 461sq taking on 8 x JU-88's over the Bay of Biscay is really also the only op kind of known about the Short Sunderlands .It seems sadly all missing Dilip,the things them fellas must of seen and how hard they fought and yet not much record of it all .
My father served from 1937 to 1975 and flew 90+ operations in heavies during the war. In 1940 he was flying Ansons on what he termed 'distraction raids' during Dunkirk and during the Battle of Britain he flew a number of missions attacking Luftwaffe airfields and Army barges on the french coast. He heard the speech from Churchill and believed that his "few" were all the men and women of the RAF. In fact if you listen to the speech he spends more time on the matter of the Bomber crews than the fighter airmen. As I grew up, living on RAF Bomber bases, I became increasingly aware of the feeling that the bomber crews of the times were somehow regarded as inferior to the 'jet jockey' fighter boys. Of course, when I was growing up, there was only Strike Command but the narratives around and about the time was as I say. I asked my old boy about this and he told me that since the end of the war, the aircrews that flew bombers had been somehow shunned by the wider population due to the "Dresden (etc) effect and the favourites were the fighter boys and this was set in stone by the award of the BoB campaign bar to the 39-45 Star for those that flew fighter missions but not to those who flew Bomber missions. He was always thoroughly 'p---ed off by this and although he was awarded his Bomber Command bar to his 39-45 star in the 1980s (I think) he never fixed it on and it remains in the package that was sent to him. He won his DFC early in the war for his heroism in a Wellington sortie but I only found the citation for this after the war. He was mostly proud of being in the crew for the final operational flight of the Lancaster in 1956 and when the Bomber Command Memorial was opened, he was invited and attended; by then a frail old man. I have always thought that Bomber Boys that took part in the Battle should have their recognition at Capel. The best that I can do is plant a cross at Capel in his memory as often as I can. The only other thing that I can do is mention him in my talks on the Battle that I deliver, as i ensure that the Bomber Command effort always gets a mention.
I couldn’t agree more and you clearly have a father to be very proud of and I agree with all you say. Can you please email me via my website? I’d like to include what you’ve said in ‘Battle of Britain Remembered’, which is the eighth and final volume in the official history I am currently working on - www.dilipsarkarauthor.com.
Absolutely and I thought that when I watched it - but my videos are unscripted and off the top of my head, so to speak, and difficult therefore to remember everything. But absolutely right and Hampden operations are very much included in the eight volume history for the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust and National Memorial to the Few.
Many now bemoan bomber Commands Bombing of Germany etc not going to state a lot of reasons why they did so much with firestorms etc But if they hadn't gone to likes of Berlin bombing which as you state is a long trip! and other places plus the Dam Busters mission which many question it's values!. Well what they all did was stretch Germany's defences as they had to station Troops/Crews/Heavy guns and equipment like the 88's and so on plus making them construct positions/bunkers and so on. All of these actions and the ones you mention slowed down and prevent Hitler bolstering and finishing his Atlantic Wall which would have meant we really would have struggled on D day or failed completely? As they could have picked off the Ships far out with the bigger guns he had planned for one plus concentrated there if he hadn't had to keep them back in Germany etc. So all and everything was a complete joint effort not just one thing as just like a Jigsaw without the pieces that go round the outside even with the middle you won't have the full picture!. And costal command did there best to deal with the U boat menace and there boats/ships out there along with there aircraft likes Condors/JU88's it wasn't an easy task/Picnic for them but again essential to keep Jerry at bay. Plus so many are never aware that there was No Conscripts in Bomber Command all Volunteers and so many was treated appallingly one was a Great Uncle that was shot down and lost over France in a Stirling and had spoken to Family about much a lot has never been spoken about either plus when he died his spirit appeared on our family farm said to his sister i'l be ok!. Yet they didn't know he'd died by then!. My cousin was telling me a lot about what was spoken about/known from back then.
Another good video Dilip pal The battles and Blenheims got slaughtered poor blokes.Still at least the German night boys got paid back when the mossies came along
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After nigh on half a century reading books about the Battle of Britain I have long been puzzled by how little the authors have to say about the role of Bomber and Coastal Commands. It is good to see that at long last someone is giving the subject the attention it deserves. More power to your elbow Dilip, and keep up the good work.
WW2 Tv had a feature on the subject of Bomber Command during the Battle Of Britain . As he points out with Costal Command their casualties were higher than the Fighter Command during the Battle Of Britain . They also attacked German airfields . It's good that you are also drawing attention to their contribution .
The operations of Bomber and Coastal Command, and the PDU, are covered in detail in my eight volume official history of the Battle of Britain which I am currently writing for the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust and National Memorial to The Few, being published by Pen and Sword. Volumes 1 and 2 are currently available with 3’s release imminent, and the rest published at three monthly intervals thereafter. Consequently this forgotten Battle is now acknowledged and indelibly etched into the history of the Battle of Britain.
@@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar thanks judging books Of yours I am sure it will be a definitive History
It is often forgotten that Bomber Command (BC) were an essential part of The Few that Churchill referenced on 20 August (with two whole paragraphs out of the three that referred to The Few) and they did their work alone. The history of the Air War written by Churchill after the war sets the effort of BC aside slightly due to Dresden and what we'd call today "Optics" as he was very interested in his legacy! Many of the squadrons that did not receive the BoB clasp recognition, were awarded Battle Honours (Invasion Ports) nonetheless. It is forgotten that we were doing to them what they were doing to our airfields. And that 2 VCs were awarded to BC airmen during the BoB and 1 to FC airman. My old boy flew BC operations from 1939 to 1945 and only finally got his recognition in 2013 - as well as an invite to the unveiling of the Memorial that you visited! I grew up on BC (latterly Strike Command) bases as my old boy didnt retire until 1975 and I knew that there was some bitterness about how they were treated versus the Fighter boys. He mentions this in some detail in his memoirs.It's good to hear this being raised - I work at the Battle of Britain memorial and often have this debate with the hierarchy there as I believe that the men of BC should have a place in the memorial to The Few at Capel. Keep plugging the message Dilip and next time you are at Capel do please look me out. A new book perhaps?
@@nicktaylor2820 you will find the BC, CC and PDU stories all included in the new 8 volume history, it was a collective RAF effort, not just FC. I completely agree.
I very much look forward to you getting out in the field visiting various battle of Britain locations. I’m planning a trip back to the UK in a couple of years with a focus on the battle. Your knowledge and passion as always very much appreciated.
Thanks very much! You may be interested in this - I lead Battle of Britain tours for The Cultural Experience battlefield tour company. These are the details of the next, in 2025, and I daresay there will be another in 2026. www.theculturalexperience.com/tours/battle-of-britain-battlefield-tour/
@@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar that certainly is of interest. I’ll be tucking that away for when I get over. Thank you.
I think Sunderlands had their own galley kitchen they were up for so long putting them hours in flying but you are so right Coastal /Bomber Command is not really represented well at all ,very hard to find any operational accounts except for the obvious night bombing of Germany etc and for Coastal Command the almighty single Short Sunderland of the RAAF 461sq taking on 8 x JU-88's over the Bay of Biscay is really also the only op kind of known about the Short Sunderlands .It seems sadly all missing Dilip,the things them fellas must of seen and how hard they fought and yet not much record of it all .
They did. Incredibly long patrols, far out over the sea. Brave men indeed.
My father served from 1937 to 1975 and flew 90+ operations in heavies during the war. In 1940 he was flying Ansons on what he termed 'distraction raids' during Dunkirk and during the Battle of Britain he flew a number of missions attacking Luftwaffe airfields and Army barges on the french coast. He heard the speech from Churchill and believed that his "few" were all the men and women of the RAF. In fact if you listen to the speech he spends more time on the matter of the Bomber crews than the fighter airmen. As I grew up, living on RAF Bomber bases, I became increasingly aware of the feeling that the bomber crews of the times were somehow regarded as inferior to the 'jet jockey' fighter boys. Of course, when I was growing up, there was only Strike Command but the narratives around and about the time was as I say. I asked my old boy about this and he told me that since the end of the war, the aircrews that flew bombers had been somehow shunned by the wider population due to the "Dresden (etc) effect and the favourites were the fighter boys and this was set in stone by the award of the BoB campaign bar to the 39-45 Star for those that flew fighter missions but not to those who flew Bomber missions. He was always thoroughly 'p---ed off by this and although he was awarded his Bomber Command bar to his 39-45 star in the 1980s (I think) he never fixed it on and it remains in the package that was sent to him. He won his DFC early in the war for his heroism in a Wellington sortie but I only found the citation for this after the war. He was mostly proud of being in the crew for the final operational flight of the Lancaster in 1956 and when the Bomber Command Memorial was opened, he was invited and attended; by then a frail old man. I have always thought that Bomber Boys that took part in the Battle should have their recognition at Capel. The best that I can do is plant a cross at Capel in his memory as often as I can. The only other thing that I can do is mention him in my talks on the Battle that I deliver, as i ensure that the Bomber Command effort always gets a mention.
I couldn’t agree more and you clearly have a father to be very proud of and I agree with all you say. Can you please email me via my website? I’d like to include what you’ve said in ‘Battle of Britain Remembered’, which is the eighth and final volume in the official history I am currently working on - www.dilipsarkarauthor.com.
@@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar saw this after a second post today - will email shortly
Also not to overlook the Handley Page Hampden bombers and their crews.
Absolutely and I thought that when I watched it - but my videos are unscripted and off the top of my head, so to speak, and difficult therefore to remember everything. But absolutely right and Hampden operations are very much included in the eight volume history for the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust and National Memorial to the Few.
Many now bemoan bomber Commands Bombing of Germany etc not going to state a lot of reasons why they did so much with firestorms etc But if they hadn't gone to likes of Berlin bombing which as you state is a long trip! and other places plus the Dam Busters mission which many question it's values!. Well what they all did was stretch Germany's defences as they had to station Troops/Crews/Heavy guns and equipment like the 88's and so on plus making them construct positions/bunkers and so on.
All of these actions and the ones you mention slowed down and prevent Hitler bolstering and finishing his Atlantic Wall which would have meant we really would have struggled on D day or failed completely? As they could have picked off the Ships far out with the bigger guns he had planned for one plus concentrated there if he hadn't had to keep them back in Germany etc.
So all and everything was a complete joint effort not just one thing as just like a Jigsaw without the pieces that go round the outside even with the middle you won't have the full picture!.
And costal command did there best to deal with the U boat menace and there boats/ships out there along with there aircraft likes Condors/JU88's it wasn't an easy task/Picnic for them but again essential to keep Jerry at bay.
Plus so many are never aware that there was No Conscripts in Bomber Command all Volunteers and so many was treated appallingly one was a Great Uncle that was shot down and lost over France in a Stirling and had spoken to Family about much a lot has never been spoken about either plus when he died his spirit appeared on our family farm said to his sister i'l be ok!.
Yet they didn't know he'd died by then!. My cousin was telling me a lot about what was spoken about/known from back then.
Another good video Dilip pal The battles and Blenheims got slaughtered poor blokes.Still at least the German night boys got paid back when the mossies came along