Fascinating! Unlike most of my classmates in grammar and high school I was always fascinated with history and I'm still fascinated with it. My father was a tank crewmen with the 761st Tank Battalion and served Patton's 3rd Army during the war. He engendered in me the study of military history and I'm glad he did. There's a Supermarine Spitfire and JU-87 Stuka hanging from the ceiling at the Museum of Science and Industry here in Chicago. Great documentary!
My biological father was a tail gunner "Galloping Kate 2" in the 389th. I have no doubts what so ever that he does not even know I exist, or should I say knew. I was born 1945 in England and reared there by a single mother who married when I was 7 yrs. Through DNA I discovered who he was in 2016, he died in 1996 and hailed from Montgomery, Alabama. I have a half brother, his son, who I have met. He showed me an old war chest belonging to his father and his uniform. This chest even had bomb pins in it, part of his duties was to pull the pins out of the bombs. I would like to thank all the allied forces for giving us 75 yrs of peace.
Interesting, thank you. i was born in early 41, and having often listened to my family, some of which were fighting in that war, it brought a lump in my throat, and tears to my eyes for those souls that died that we would live and remain FREE! Gos Bless them.
Joined the RAF in 1971, and base closures seemed to follow me for 22years. Colerne, Lyneham, Wildenrath (RAF Germany), Kinloss, all bases where I served. Some are now Army Units, so they live on. I also live in a house on the site of RAF Skellingthorpe, of WW2 fame. Such a shame to lose all that heritage, but I suppose priorities must change. I still have my memories. Ex Nimrod Crew Chief.
Especially since 80 years later and nobody seems to have learned from such great losses on every side . Seems such a tragic waste
4 года назад
I literally grew up on RAF stations from the age of two (I'm now 82). One of the most interesting I think was RAF Dyce (before it became the official Aberdeen Airport). We were in 'married quarters' on the hill overlooking the airfield, while behind us the quarries, full of water and trout. At the time Dyce still had a squadron of Spitfire (the last aerodrome to have them I believe) and as kids we would collect the empty cartridge cases used to "fire-up" the aircraft engines.
At 16:05, Watson-Watt says something that is very important and often overlooked, and that is the term "integrated system". Britain's radar success had as much to do with the communication, plotting and planning, and control of the aircraft as typified by the WRAFS pushing their model planes about the plotting tables, an iconic scene in many WWII RAF films. The UK had to put together our RADAR system very quickly with limited technical resources and in comparison to Germany's Radar it was perforce a bit less sophisticated technically. Their system consequently took longer to become useful in the fighting. Today, we use more of the German principles in modern RADAR, but for its time, their total system did not work as well for them as ours's did for us.
Absolutely love Scarborough, happy memories, sadly both my Aunt and Uncle have both passed on so hard for me to go there with out the memories flooding back
Makes me sad how basically nothing remains of tangmere, i moved away from There a few months ago, but apart from a little bit of taxiway and apron, and the tower itself, but almost everything is gone, and it was such a major station during the battle of britain
Actually, very interesting. One thing that was not mentioned about Hethel was that Colin Chapman bought the airfield personally and then moved Lotus there so he could rent it to Lotus.
There were loads of airfields around Plymouth and Devon and Cornwall during the war, mostly fighter squadrons but places like Davidstowe were bomber bases, also plymouth had RAF Mount Batten which was home to Catalina and Sunderland seaplanes
A year before the 50th aniv of D Day I visited an Aunt in London. My dad was a B17 Captain in WW2 and my Aunt took me out to the pub where his crew frequented. On the ceiling of the pub you could still see where American flight crews signed their names,, and my dads.
*RAF Cottesmore was used as the Vulcan 'Nuclear' Bomber base, (and I have been there - late 70's) and seen them practising low landings and taking off again with Full afterburners on. Awesome sight, right out of Star Wars. If it were not for them, "The Falklands War" (1982) would have been lost.*
Too true. I'm American, and your guys came over here in77 to my base. Very professional crew, but they still liked a pot of brew. Which we gave to them as much as we could. I started growing a handlebar mustache because of the co-pilot of that crew! Everyone needs to see the video of the Falklands War with the Vulcans. I would take them all out for a pint because of the professionalism shown and the solid crew adherence to the mission. Even when they knew that they probably didn't have the fuel to get back home. That is heroism and patriotism in a nutshell.
I live in Central California where we have one of the Vulcan Bombers on display at Castle AFB Museum. I saw the bomber land for the last time at Castle AFB. They did a "go-around" and I agree, the afterburners are most impressive but not as impressive as the landing performed by the pilot. He absolutely nailed it.
The Vulcans didn't win the Falklands war, the one bomber left managed to put a hole in the runway at port Stanley but didn't put it out of action. The argies were using it again days later. The SLR and the sheer awesomeness and ability to lead that the British corporal has is what won the Falklands.
I was a volunteer there. Ex RAF fitter & was working at British Aerospace at the time. Every time I went to the museum to do some meaningful work they put me on the gate collecting money. I got fed up with them and ended my membership.
@@richardcreaser308 No mention of the V bombers that used Elvington in the 60's. My friends and I used to 'infiltrate' the perimeter to watch them land and take off.
I should say that we launched A-10's into battle during Desert Storm Out of incirlik Air Base turkey but we were based out of the 81st TFW specifically RAF Woodbridge and the 78th TFS Red Tails. Man when they opened up one of them empty tab V's and the Echo of it brought back a lot of old memories good memories.. I remember being part of the ground crew as a crew chief on a a-10s in launching the last 4 ship a 10 out of RAF Woodbridge and then boarding a c-141 starlifter and taking off right behind them and looking back and thinking we now turn these twin bases back over to Her Majesty's government thank you for the stay.
@@haroldhumerickhouse8433 I was stationed at raf bentwaters from 66-69 as a medic. In retrospect we had many good times and I was able to see a good bit of the uk and Europe. On the other hand, there were more then a few weeks when we were on duty more than 60 hours , and I’m still waiting for my overtime pay! On balance,though, it was good duty with good people, both American and English.
Did my Aerospace Operator training at RAF Bawdsey in August/September 1972. Great camp. Still remember getting the ferry across the river to go to Felixstowe.
Good documentary on 'HMS U.K.'-The Worlds Biggest Aircraft Carrier! (Kept afloat by all the Barrage Balloons.) Im a Military history fan so it caught my attention as' After The Battle then and Now' has been a great UK magazine to pick up if your really interested in the massive scope of WW2. Unfortunately I can only afford the budget trip to see these places-Google Earth! 'Flying' over the UK-its amazing as you start to pick out all thr old Wartime Bases still visible -usually by the triangle type runway layouts. And GE-ing over many a site from other theatres of War or even WW1 really adds a depth to a History book to bring out the Scale of such battles. The massive losses that Bomber Command suffered in the War is a testament to the Crews and the effort required for Victory.
part of the footage which is claimed to be from a French documentary showing men running across the airfield with a guy on a bike is actually from the opening scene of "Memphis Belle"
My dad was at Ibsey, He showed me around when I was little, and we were on holiday. We didn't see the MOD, keep out sign until later.A treasured memory. I think the control tower has been restored now, not so in the 60's
When I was growing-up, we were lived, in what then was called Kinghill Hostel, it was old RAF/Army Barracks and my dad would take to the airfields East Malling. I Was Heartbroken, Now It Has Been Built on.
Been onto upper heyford a few times and once during US use on a open day as a child,love all the history there.But I can’t help but feel the site would be brilliant for a new international airport
During WW2 about 600 airfields/bases were built by compulsory taking of useful agricultural land (you can't fly off the rough stuff) and after the war almost all of them should have been dug up and returned to farming. The government was and still is not working or planning in our interests.
@@brakeollie27 , she was air traffic, but after serving 3 years in Bomber Command, command post, she couldn't handle tower work, so back to the command post she went at Lyneham.
We respect all the Service Personnel who sacrificed or survived and any remaining airfields should be used for industry but within the Scope of a quick return to future operational use if necessary...we will need drone zones very soon!..
Hope you can make a series on these WW2 bases and influences they made to securing freedom. Would love to know about the likes of RAF Coltishall, one of the last Battle of Britain operational stations, and RAF Burtonwood which was the eventually the US Army Headquaters for Europe, and now has the M62 running through it.
@@davidlawson7121 I could search them all, and I do know a lot about them as I served at RAF Colitshall, and live near Burtonwood. I was wondering if they would make a series on them rather than reading Wikipedia etc.
Fondly call the old club house. Lotus knock the old control tower at Hethal down at the end of 2019. Its sad the people researching this didnt now to walked a cross the road. They could have filmed the museum and memorial run buy local people for the last 30 plus years. I'm glad they got some nice footage of the tower so we have a record and a memory. If you ever this way on the second Sunday of the month drop by the 389th bomb group memorial exhibition and museum.
My factory is based on what was Hartlebury MU 25 , a sprawling complex of 6 large estates covering some 5 sq miles , connected by roads and tunnels . Today , all tunnels are lost , sites are seperated and digging is forbidden . Unfortunately , the large hangers used for salvage and repair of aircraft are being demolished and or re skinned to look more modern . My factory was used for the repair of shot down Armstrong Whitworth bombers .
I have been there many times, it's around 100km from our home. From my experience it does not induce hatred to German people as Brian suggests. Towards nazi fascism for sure, I have seen modern German people visit the martyr village. Horror, sadness & disgust, perhaps shame that this happened. I have a few German friends, though we don't dwell on the subject, they are adamant this should never happen to us all again.
@@sblack48: Apparently they were also in demand as racing car and motorbike circuits e.g. Silverstone etc etc ! ! there was a saying; you could get from one end of the country to the other in an aeroplane without needing to take off.
During WW2 the government took 600 airfield sized bits out of UK farming, how much was given back? Most bases were just left to decay and the land never cleared and returned.
The area where I live used to be RAF Westwood during the war and was used for training new pilots and now the only thing what remains if the officers mess
What about RAF Burtonwood? They built the M62 over the runway when I was a kid but the header stores, with the largest area of floorspace under a single roof in western europe, was still occupied by the Yanks until the Berlin wall came down then they left. It was used as warehouse space for a few companies before it was sold and private housing was built on the site. Even the airmans' housing estate, like a little slice of America where you even had to drive on the right, was built on. Nothing there now to show it was an airbase at all.
It was actulay called Header House,and yes it was the biggest in Europe at the time,The airmans house where called Tobaco house every mod-con you could think of,I was born 1 mile from it I can still see the C47 and Globmaster comming in to land , I wish
Friday the 13th was a reverse omen , it wasn’t bad for the crew but a day for the people it’s bombs landed on , only other reverse omen plane was clueless
Sian is unquestionably, incontrovertibley, undeniably, uncontroversially, without question; totally, indisputably, utterly gorgeous. By the way, what was the vid about?
Sorry to bang on about pigeons in WW2, but one of them, named Winkie, was awarded the Dickin medal, awarded to animals for gallantry in military service.
and 'noocular' is what exactly... and how about 'armoured ferret vehicle'...! It's 'Ferret armoured vehicle'... The Halifax airshots look remarkably like the Avro Lancastser... Then I gave up. How about a fact checker before posting?
I loved exploring the WW2 sites the short time I was stationed in England. I could understand the need to downsize our military numbers. It was very expensive to the US tax payer. America provided many jobs and I was friends with many who worked at the bases. England is going through some tough economic times, I hope it improves.
RAF Upper Heyford, Dec 1972 - Mar 1976. I was attached to the 20th Avionics Maintenance Squadron working on the F-111. Fond memories of the base and surrounding areas. I lived in a place called Fringford Lodge for a bit then Middleton Cheney. I had many good local friends that I lost contact with after leaving.
As kids, back in the 60's, my friends and I used to 'infiltrate' the perimeter of Elvington, to watch the V bombers land and take off from there. The MP's were no match for local 10 year olds with an intimate knowledge of the area!
loved the RAF BASES DECLASSIFIED LOVE HEARING THE STORY'S OF OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN MY DAD WAS A 16YRS OLD AND A PATHFINDER AS A AIR GUNNER & RADIO MAN HE TOLD US HE CRASHED 3 TIME ONE TIME INTO A FARMER'S BARN MY FAMILY ARE VERY PROUD OF HIS SERVICES TO HIS COUNTRY AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SERVICED THERE COUNTRY IN ITS TIME OF NEED
I was born on Friday the 13th at RAF Watton, my godfather being Wing Commander Gough, my sister was born at RAF Marham and I grew up hearing many stories from my father and mother who both served in the RAF during WW2. My father was in the catering Corps and responsible for the officers mess and used to shoot rabbits and serve them as chicken until one day somebody complained that they had found buck shot in his lunch - my father's excuse was he had difficulty catching the bird. On another occasion an American officer accidentally discharged his fire arm in the Quarters next to my parents. When asked if he had heard a shot he told my father that it was between him and his laundry. On another occasion when returning to the base after poaching on the Sandringham estate my father got pulled over by a police car and when the officer approached policeman jsaid " Jonny do you want any Rabbits " my father told us he bought the lot. On another occasion there was a police roadblock and they were checking every vehicle, My father used to ride a motorcycle and rather than try and explain why he had a canvas bag stuffed with a brace of pheasants he put on his tin helmet. Then rode up the outside of the queue telling the police that he was a dispatch rider on urgent business and got waved through. I guess as the RAF stations being bomber command and the high mortality rate of crews life was lived on the edge - it's not the doing that is wrong it's getting caught - which on one occasion my father did when riding his motorcycle up the offices mess steps 😂😂
That reminds me of the short stories of Roald Dahl. Dahl had been a Hurricane pilot during the war, he loved being a pilot. He wrote a book, a number of short stories about things RAF pilots came across. Egypt, Greece, the RAF was there. And his short stories from the years just after the war were great. Working at a petrol station, doing some poaching, and writing short stories for a living, those were great years for a young man, not married yet. And you bet he had got his share of pain, during the war. He was an jnteresting man. Do you know he was an intelligence officer in the US, kind of spying on the US Airforce, as a British officer? Do you know he wrote the script for TWO James Bond movies? He was not just a children's book writer. Check out his RAF pilot book, you might like it a lot.
I served two tours at RAF Bawdsey and worked there years later as Assistant Bursar at Alexanders International School. I actually started the Radar Museum and was interviewed on TV about it. There was no Mention of Orford Ness, just up the coast, where the very first radar experiments were carried out by Watson-Watt. There was too much interference from the sea so they moved to Bawdsey to get the height. One of the very last CH (Chain Home) towers was pulled down just after I left Bawdsey. It had been used by the Coast Guard for their communications. On day shift I would travel on the Bawdsey ferry from Old Felixstowe courtesy Charlie Brinkley or his son. Charlie was known for the "Brinkley Stick" a means of discharging capacitors in electrical equipment. On night shift it meant driving a long way round. I lived in Felixstowe up until I emigrated to Vancouver Canada 36 years ago.
Hi Brian. I'm hoping of course you are still with us. I don't know if you are in Vancouver or on the island. My father lived in Victoria and passed away 5 years ago now. Hi name was Michael O'Hagan and was also involved in radar. Take care.
Maybe they were bad but the Soviet SS-20’s with over 1000 nuclear warheads target at Western Europe resulted in the deployment of Cruise missiles, but those women preferred to ignore that.
Its moving to see that at least one base was literally beaten into a ploughshare -- cows and wind turbines where men once dealt out death to others nightly.
In my opinion, it is imperative that this information is put forward to remember the plight of our airmen during WWII. It was also interesting to see the use of some of the airfields currently. Thank you for this informative upload.
Thank you for this video, especially its portrayal of the unique and very moving RAF Lissett memorial, comprising seven silhouettes of a Bomber Command crew. The video's imagery of the memorial at sunset (see 27:20), and the accompanying narration, are beautifully done. Travelers using GPS, or Google Earth users, can find the memorial at latitude/longitude 54° 0'40.11"N, 0°15'37.98"W.
It would be interesting to see what happened to RAF bases outside the UK. For example 840 Signals Unit Siggiewi in Malta where I worked as a civilian Clerk between 1953 and 1962 is now a Malta Police Academy. It was the parent Unit to 100 Signals Unit Tas-Silg, 203 Signals Unit Dingli, 447 Signals Unit Wardija, W/T Station Benghaisa and the Radar Station at Madliena. Al these Units are in use and well kept. The respective Commanding Officers I remember were Squadron Leader Cooban, Squadron Leader Ryder, Squadron Leader Hart and Squadron Leader Redford, all perfect gentlemen, Squadron Leader Hart I missed most. To these and to all the Senior Technical Officers, Adjutants, Warrant Officers, Senior NCO's and airmen I send my best regards!
Gregg Hoel I was stationed at Upper Heyford 1963 for 18 months with B-47's. Then off to a remote site 300 miles north of Athens. Loved Upper Heyford & England & the people.. Thanks for the GREAT video....
The B&W clip at 4:36 is actually a scene from the movie Memphis Belle, filmed at former RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire. I recognised it as soon as I saw it, despite being made to look like an old stock film. If the clip had continued it would have zoomed in on actor Jon Lithgow stood on the control tower gantry.
My father served at Wethersfield air base in the 60’s and I was born in the local hospital. American father English mother and born in the U.K. so yes I’m a dual national and have two passports. I’m proud of both sides of my family. Interesting though is what I found out later in life. My father is the only one in his family to be born in America lol. His parents and older siblings were all born in the U.K. lol. He says he’s the black sheep of the family lol.
