Steve Minette was a pilot on Halifax bombers in WW2. He was my father's friend. Steve did 72 missions, crash landed 3x sole survivor after a heavy bomb load lead his Halifax to rip off a wing on takeoff and miraculously he survived with a broken shoulder (he was ejected on impact through the cockpit roof panel. He shared numerous stories about missions, he often mentioned Flak green tracers slowly climbing in altitude and he would know exactly where they would explode. It's a miracle that he survived the war. He passed at 88 in England. Great personality
My Grandfather and his 3 brothers all fought in WWII. One of those brothers was a tail gunner in a Lancaster. At the time the tail gunner was the most dangerous position, because enemies would come at them from the rear and the tail gunners frequently were shot dead. He had a life expectancy of two weeks in that position. Night after night he would come back in one piece beating the odds for months. Finally after months of facing death in the face in the battle against the Nazis someone in command recognized his exceptional record and shifted him to a mid gunner position taking the risk to his life down a notch. I am so lucky to have heard them speaking with each other about their service during this time. I am humbled and thankful to all who served and especially those whose stories they cannot tell, who gave their lives in service for us all. Their stories are told now only by the silence in the wind, listen carefully at it will remind tell you of their absence and the the absence of their descendants not amongst us. Its worth stopping from time to time and listening and reflecting on those unheard voices of those unknown soldiers.
A brutal but honest appraisal of what those young lads went through. And anyone having a care or knowledge of what they went through is thinking same. I have a silver match holder/striker that my great Aunts fiance carried. He was lost on a raid over Germany and it was returned to her with other bits of his personal kit. Its damaged, but returned to her via the Red cross. It's in my care now. Lest we forget!.
I did trial flying lesson with a chap. His grandmother called me across showed me picture of her brother, a tail gunner. She said all the kiddies you see here, are here because her brother swapped with a upper turret gunner and on that mission the tail was shot, killing the tail gunner.
I watched this and felt I had to come back to the trailer to leave my deepest gratitude and condolences for the brave bombers that flew into the night, knowing it was unlikely they’d return home. The most devastating part of this brilliant documentary was learning that the bombers themselves were the ones that funded their memorial. They spent 10 years raising donations with no assistance from the government. It’s shameful.
My father, Donald P McCracken was a Canadian Navigator on the Lancaster, who started their sortie December 24, 1944. They were based out of Lincolnshire and all lived to come home when It was over. The rear gunner had lied about his age to be there and lived in northern Ontario and visited Dad twice in London, Ontario. I recently got Dad's flight logs from my younger brother, who had been given them while he was writing Dad's memoires. Dad retired from the RCAF in 1971. I loved watching the Dambusters and all the old footage that was recently on television about WW11. We were stationed in France and Germany (1966-1969) and got to see some of the aftermath of that war. How brave these men were...true heroes. I would love to witness Canada's Lancaster, Vera, fly this fall,since I've only visited her once and noted that there was not much room inside.
My grandfather Beverly Foggo was a Canadian Navigator on the Lancaster as well! They have one that you can walk through and check out at the Canadian Aviation Museum in Ottawa.
My wifes great great uncle was a tail gunner and unfortunately they were shot down over Germany. The locals found the bodies and tried to get personal belongings to send back to Canada but the Gestapo found out and took everything minus a couple dog tags that were still hidden. Such a tragic loss and my wifes grandmother has nothing but admiration for her uncle that I'm certain she never met
From a Yank.. The "Lanc" is one of the most beautiful and iconic planes of all time. Still trying to see one fly someday. Getting this in HD will due till then
Canadian here- years ago the Air Force had 2 Lancasters doing runs between Kingston and Toronto. I was living in my condo at the time and let me tell you... You can certainly hear them before you see them and when they flew over the whole air shook. Certainly surreal to see
@liamjohnston5578 I live in Hamilton, and I agree, that thing is LOUD. I've remarked on multiple occasions that the sound of a thousand of those must have been truly horrifying. I've also had the pleasure of visiting her and talking with her crew at the museum she resides in when not in the air. The maintenance hours needed to keep her in the air now is insane(she's getting her engines rebuilt this winter)
My grandfather was a mid upper turret gunner for 622 squadron. Flew 30 missions then did more with three other squadrons. He was the greatest man I have ever known and he spoke to at length as to what he did during the war.
@@44dam4 They never received an "Operational Star". In 2013 it was decided a Clasp could be added to the 1939-45 Star which reads Bomber Command. They are still owed a Campaign Medal.
@@clonmore819 I agree! 100%!!! My Grandad was awarded the clasp at a ceremony at the new Bomber Command (centre) memorial in Lincoln back in 2013 when that was opened but he has since past away. We can only hope that one day the crews are given the full recognition they truly deserve 😇
As much as I admire Winston Churchill for his wartime leadership I blame him for the vilification of bomber command in the post war years. In his ve day speech he practically named and thanked every branch of service that served in the navy,army and Air Force, except bomber command a deliberate and cowardly snub which has echoed down the years.shameful really.
My great uncle was a bomb aimer in one of these and survived the war. My father said his uncle John never spoke of his days in the war and it wasnt till after Johns death my father found out he was in bomber command. He belives John kept his war career quite due to the hatred towards bomber command after the war. I wish i could travel back in time to meet John and tell him how proud i am to be related to such a brave man.
I live in Australia and just received the DVD via Amazon . Even though it is Region 2 and Australia is Region 4 , the way you can watch it is via a portable DVD Player plugged directly into the rear of your TV . It will not play through my DVD Player that is permanently connected to my TV . Proud to say that my Dad was one of hundreds of Australians who flew with Bomber Command and fortunately he survived 30 missions in 101 Squadron .
Our freedom is payed so horrible dearly by so many, in so many ways. We must NEVER forget. Thank you very much for this video 👍 Salute from a grateful Dutch man 🇳🇱, TW.
I just watched this film,it really puts you with them Pilots and crew and what they faced aswell as learning they lost 55,000 of their own Bomber Command .Still they got in and flew , immense bravery .The Lancaster played a huge part in dismantling the seemingly unbreakable Nazi war machine which would stop at nothing with the v2 ballistic missile and racing to make an atomic weapon/warhead designed to totally annihilate our country and every other country on their list . RAF Bomber Command fought for what was right .As the alternative did back then and still does now , bare not thinking about. An excellent film with incredible recounts and filming and a thrilling serious soundtrack .Finally they are getting the recognition they deserve.11/10
An awesome documentary. My Great uncle was a mid upper gunner on a Lancaster and was shot down on his second mission on his way to bomb Dusseldorf in May 1943. All 7 of the crew were killed - 6 British and one Canadian. All brave young men who we owe so much to.
Blu ray arrived today. Watched it at the cinema tonight. You can keep Top Gun these are the real heroes.. Stunning visuals and such moving accounts and great narration by Charles Dance
My Father Flew Lancasters. Every time I hear those Engines the pure power sends shivers down my spine. My Father along with his crew always came home. The true Herors are those who were lost.
Great film. My wife and I each had an uncle in the Lancasters and both returned safely. My uncle Reginald John (Jack), a Kiwi, was a navigator. My wife’s uncle Patrick (Paddy) McGrath, an Irishman, was a radio operator. Both have now passed. Neither dwelt on what they had been through. Perhaps that is why I enjoyed listening to the crew tell their stories in the film. In particular the response of the public to what they were doing night after night puts the more widely known public responses to Vietnam vets into perspective, and perhaps contributes also to the culture of disrespect war vets receive even to today. Fighting men do not create wars. If you don’t want wars then don’t vote war hawks into office.
Have visited a museum in Hamilton which is near Toronto where they have many WW2 planes one of which is the Lancaster. One of only 2 remaining ones in the world that are still functional. Even got a chance to tour the inside of it. It's pretty narrow cause it allowed more room to carry bombs but what a glorious plane! Got my pic taken sitting in the pilot seat! 😄 If u visit Canada, I recommend u make a visit to the museum.
Went and saw it at the cinema (in NZ) on Friday. A fantastic documentary that along with "Spitfire", should be compulsory viewing at all primary and secondary schools both in the UK and across the entire commonwealth.
I haven't watched this yet but one of the service man telling the story is my 100 year old grandad, bertram Arthur Nicholls. he was interviewed in 2019/early 2020 when the pandemic hit. grandad was supposed to star in an episode for the bbc but he passed away so his episode couldn't be filmed. the stories grandad told us about being bombed out and life as a navigator of the lancaster. all these guys are true heroes but my grandad has to be the best. he wasnt in the trailer tho, maybe they're saving the best for the film. lol
The US may have contributed a significant amount of men, machines and materials to the war, but the Brit's supplied one thing we couldn't: the sheer bloody tenacity to win it. For that and so much more, the men and women of the British Armed Forces will always have my respect.
I live near the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum where one of the last functioning Lancasters resides. Every Remembrance Day growing up I remember hearing it going overhead and how loud it was. I can’t imagine the sound of hundreds of them flying at once.
Wonderful, terrifying. There are no words that can describe what they did or how on earth they did it.. courage, mixed with every other possible emotion..and to learn afterwards the true carnage they created and had to live with. As with all men and women that went to that war, they are all, everyone deserving our respect and thanks
Literally just got the DVD. I'm from Chadderton, Oldham, I live maybe a mile from what was an Avro factory, not that you would know if you didn't already, there's nothing in the area to commemorate it. Might be a blue plaque on the factory wall but that's it. Between the road I live on and the road the factory is on there is a roundabout that would be the perfect spot for some sort of Lancaster Bomber sculpture. Or at the very least a poster or something to show it.
Glad to be able to watch this in its entirety on Netflix. Superb cinematography, good narration and excellent first person anecdotes. Watching Spits, Hurricanes and Lancs in flight always gives me goosebumps. Brave men doing a difficult job. We will remember them.
My great uncle was a Lancaster Bomber pilot and safely landed a land on its belly when their landing gear was damaged by German fire. He ended up as a squadron leader and I was named after him. Sadly he died before I was born but he’ll never be forgotten
My grandfather Beverly Foggo was a Navigator and never spoke about it. After seeing his flight logs I understood why... Much respect to the pilots who always got them back home.
Many men from throughout the Commonwealth served as aircrew on the Lancaster, including from the West Indies. The RAF was initially very reluctant to recruit non-white aircrew. However, not having the luxury of a large population like the USA that could absorb high casualty rates meant they could not enforce the colour bar. Several West Indian men served as officer aircrew on RAF and RCAF Lancasters. For example, Albert Vernon Veira from St. Kitts, Navigator on an RCAF Lancaster, lost with its entire crew during the Battle of the Atlantic; Cuthbert "Cutey" Sebastian, who would later become a medical practitioner and Governor General of St. Kitts and Nevis; Errol Walton Barrow, Navigator on his Squadron Leader's Lancaster and therefore the squadron's Lead Navigator, later Prime Minister of Barbados; Cy Grant of Guyana, Lancaster Navigator who became a POW when his plane was shot down over Germany. Later he would be a leading black British actor of the 1950s and '60s. Lest we forget.
Can't wait to watch this. Happy to live in Toronto and see VROA fly by almost every weekend. 'Just Jane' is almost ready to hit the skies to be the third flying and a 4th in the works?
'Hero' gets brandished around too readily these days, imo a hero put's himself in harms way for the sanctity of others, simple as that. They went to war for the protection of their families and countries, not for oil or £££.
Some years ago now, it was my privilege to be present in an upstairs room of a Babbacombe pub when George "Johnny" Johnson - the bomb-aimer on a Lanc. that headed for the farthest dam in the famous 617 Squadron "dam-busting" raid - gave a talk describing his recall of that night. Whippet-lean and dry of tone, With manner self-effacing, He conjured up the distant drone Of Merlins moonlight chasing.......
Incorrect - there are 2 airworthy Lancaster's in existence; 1 at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire (England) known as 'Thumper' And the 2nd known as 'Vera' operated by a Canadian air museum
I have been watching the series "Masters of Air," brilliant by the way, but I just cannot figure out why the US would bomb during the day besides accuracy. Seems a waste to me.
They carried a much smaller bomb load and had better defences, USAAF doctrine specified day light raids due ease of planning and that they were a lot better defended. Their loss rate was less than bombing at night in the stream system but at the cost of payload.
@seamusoflatcap Most of these guys targeted civilians and their homes. They carried mines and bombs with delay fuses to get the fire fighters, too. Killing a villain doesn't automatically make you a hero.
@TomOkkaTom Going on mission after mission, knowing they could so easily be killed or injured makes them heroes. To have seen their colleagues' planes hit and none of the crew survive, to have seen the empty bunks the day after, yet still fly on missions, that makes them heroes. Those civilians? Many of them worked in the factories etc that kept the German war machine working. They weren't all innocent housewives, children, pensioners etc. Regrettable as it is, in every war, there are civilian casualties. It has always happened and always will. Efforts then and now are made to reduce those numbers, knowing they can't be completely avoided.
@@stevesmitherman2981 it´s true tho. it was definitely necessary and these people made great sacrifices to fight for their homeland, but in the process they also killed thousands of innocent people who were buried or burnt alive. so i agree that the word "hero" is somewhat out of place.
"True Heroes" Seriously, this is distasteful. Especially the British Bomber Command conducted night raids, which meant they could not see their targets, which meant they opted for bombing whole cities indiscriminately. I understand that this was in response to the German atrocities, obviously, but you cannot be upset over your enemy's actions and condemn them and then be 10 times worse. War is war, but the term "heroes" is absolutely unjustified here. There is nothing heroic about deliberately bombing women and children to burn them alive in massive firestorms. One could argue about the necessity, one could argue about the justification but to seriously claim these men were heroic leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth. If people today consider these actions heroic, we have once more proven that we have learned nothing at all from history.
When a nation and its allies opposes a fascist, totalitarian regime that murdered millions and had overun most of western Europe, there is no alternative but a total war response. We owe these VERY BRAVE hero's and other service men and women our liberty and freedom. Your words show that you not understand what HAD to be done. SHAME ON YOU!
