Johnny was my Dad's boss when he was in the RAF in the early sixties (RAF Cottesmore if I remember correctly) My Dad spoke very highly of him. RIP Johnny, have a pint with me Dad in the NAAFI bar in the sky.
A truly impressive man, right into his last few years, sharp as a tack! I think the Bomber Command Aircrews never got the full recognition they deserved!! 👍🇬🇧
I shall be taking my grandson to the lancaster dam busters pub at Scampton in spring, its like a museum inside. Alot of the dambusters aircrew visited and signed the wall of the hall leading to the toilets. The have been varnished over to protect them. R.I.P.sir.
Ikr, im a relative of Sir Guy Gibson and couldnt be prouder of these guys, they are nothing less than heroes to me. Todays naysayers will do anything for ghe attention their familys dont give them, its pretty sad tbh.
My grandfather flew as an air gunner. He watched entire cities burn. As brave as he and his crew were he never shyed away from describing every mission as an unending slaughter that he regreted, he also described the emotional abuse lads endured that blackmailed them into flying when they had clearly been pushed beyond their limits. If they failed a few hundred lads died. If they succeeded they usually killed a few thousand civilians. It served its purpose but please dont wrap it up as patriotism. Dashing exploits do not change the fact that for rest of the crews it was a nightly death sentence then a reprieve that lasted all of 24 hours. Then it began again. That went on and on until they were killed or became psychiatric casualties
@@zoiders i really dont think you understand why we are praising them, so dont act like we are praising only the negatives. No matter what decision you make in war, there is always a negative, if you are going to nitpick the only choice they had then you clearly dont understand how most militarys function. Whether you like it or not, they fought against what can only be described as an evil regime and thanks to their efforts it helped put a stop to it. That is something to be proud of, if you want to sit there behind your screen and act like jesus then be my guest, but you have no right to ask for help if anything like that ever happens again, you know... since you are so against it.
I was definitely born in the wrong time. I have flown the Derwent Res at a 5th of the speed in a tiny aircraft and substantially higher. I can only imagine lugging a Lancaster between the valleys at 50ft !! Balls of steel ! but then they were only young lads who thought they were invincible as we all did at that age.
I’ll never forget how M “for Mother” turned into her run.. immediately after watching the Lancaster before them be torn to pieces b4 managing to drop its bomb.. they just did it.. unbelievable courage and conviction 🌹
God rest his soul and thanks for his service lest we forget its such a shame our army fights for other people rather than the war crimes taking place here as we speak people's army not the banks!
If only I had a fraction of their courage I would be a better man, I have walked in their footsteps at the Petwood hotel Woodhall Spa 617 squadron officers mess , you will Never be forgotten 🫡