Following on from some of the comments on the Bomber Crew TV thread, it seems that a lot of us are unhappy (would ‘outraged’ be too strong a word?) that the men of Bomber Command were never honoured with a campaign medal.
Bomber Command were involved in offensive operations throughout the war; indeed the very first raid took off from RAF Wyton, not three miles from where I sit now, just an hour after war was declared on 3rd September 1939.
Throughout that first winter of war, the dark days of 1940 when it seemed that Nazi Germany would roll unhindered throughout Europe, and the following winter and spring, the men of Bomber Command carried alone the burden of offensive operations. They were the only men who were able to take the war to the enemy, in underpowered, lightly armed bombers, with little or no chance of accuracy because of their lack of navigation aids and their bombing restraints, which forbade them to bomb unless they could clearly identify and hit a military target.
As the war progressed, Bomber Command found themselves equipped with larger, faster, heavier bombers, and more sophisticated navigation aids helped them to carry out their orders with ever greater accuracy. But this still didn’t stop over 55,000 men from taking off on Ops, never to return.
Sadly, towards the end of the war, the policy of carpet bombing was rapidly becoming politically unacceptable. But the men of Bomber Command did not know that; nor did they care about the politics. Theirs were the lives which were still being placed in danger, night after night.
However, following the Dresden raid, in which thousands of civilians died, the men of Bomber Command found themselves at the end of the war without any official recognition. While those who served in every other theatre were awarded a campaign medal, the men of Bomber Command, whose lives could so easily have been extinguished at any moment by a flak shell or burst from a silent and invisible night fighter, received nothing.
So the question now arises, how can we, the members of this forum, address this issue?
Firstly, do we all agree that a campaign medal is long overdue? Do we all feel strongly enough to make our voices heard? And if so, what do we feel would be the best way of going about raising awareness, and campaigning for proper recognition for the men of Bomber Command?
Over to you….
By: Dave Homewood - 22nd December 2004 at 12:30
It is British. Order your’s here
http://www.coinwatch.co.uk/award/bomber_order.htm
Official site and photos here
http://www.awardmedals.com/award/awardfrm.htm
(click on the New Catalogue Now Available link, then scan down left hand frame to Bomber Command Medal. These pics from the site)
By: Eddie - 22nd December 2004 at 11:57
I thought the Bomber Command medal was a private venture (endorsed by Sir Arthur Harris) – it wasn’t an officially struck medal.
By: John C - 22nd December 2004 at 11:50
Dave – Would the medal you’re referring to be for RNZAF aircrew only? Whatever the case, there is no excuse for having to pay for it!
It sounds as if a cogent, balanced case needs to be put forward by someone in the public eye. I know John Nichol has been slagged on this forum in the past (I know not why), but he’s just released a book relating to the bomber war (not read it), but he has connections in the media. Just a thought? Another angle would be Politicians (spit) and of course veterans.
What about Flypast?
Our elected representatives represent US. It is therefore up to US to ask and campaign for causes that we feel need recognition.
It’s a tricky one and needs to be played very carefully to gain wide support. A radio phone in on BBC WM at the time of HMQ’s visit to Dresden proved that feelings were are still running high amoung those that lived through the raids on Coventry and those that took the war to Germany; this means that the PC “intellectuals” can easily tear apart any emotional arguments and thus detract from the core principal of what we would be attempting here.
The important thing is to carry out any proposals with due consideration to the feelings of the German people. This would be the first thing that the politicians would use to stop anything.
Unfortunatly I need to suggest some project management tossW**K to form a basis for the campaign – How about a mission statement? Make it clear, concise and unambiguous. It becomes the foundation of the campaign and something that can be referred back to whenever things start to go off course..
My morning random thoughts – isn’t it great finishing for Christmas!
JC
By: DazDaMan - 22nd December 2004 at 10:59
Would they even want a medal from the shower of tossers we are currently governed by?
Would a better way to do this be by cutting out the political idiots entirely and making the medal a presentation from a grateful population, paid for by donations? No idea how much it costs to mint a medal, especially each one with a specific name on it, mind you…
I’d go with that – the amount of “political correctness” bull**** we have to put up with these days would probably mean the proposal was put out the window!
By: Dave Homewood - 22nd December 2004 at 10:59
As mentioned on the most recent Bomber Crew thread by me, there was a medal struck. But they made them pay for it, so most said sod off.
By: Smith - 22nd December 2004 at 10:52
I have just returned from visiting my parents before Christmas, and had only a few moments of interrupted time unfortunately to flick through my uncle’s papers, more of which will be forthcoming in due course. There was a medal he was awarded posthumously, I don’t know what it was – but I will find out. He was RNZAF serving with Bomber Command in 1943. Aside from that, I concur Steve (and others). They served in good cause and good faith, many (all?) were volunteers and many paid the ultimate price. Recognition is definately due.
Your question is a good one – what can be done? I am more than happy to make whatever approach might be valid in NZ, and once this thread has worked it’s way to some sort of concensus will do just that.
Don
By: mmitch - 22nd December 2004 at 10:01
Certainly Bomber Command deserves a campaign medal, always did. I was fortunate to have known two men who survived more than one tour of ops. Both believed that Bomber Command had been forgotten when the medals were handed out, but not the blame.
I suppose we could try to petition Parliament to get one issued in time for the 60th anniversary of VE day. My pessimistic side says we are probably on a looser to the PC brigade, but there is an election coming up soon….
mmitch.
By: Steve Bond - 22nd December 2004 at 09:56
YES! YES!! YES!!! Count me in!! I will offer any help I can.
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December 22, 2004 at 9:38 am