Our Thoughts 70 years on. DAMBUSTERS

A great experience for sure but my recollection of a similar itinerary some years was of a long journey from Colditz to Mohnsee.

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A little bit late, but still needs to be added to this:

As a little boy my mum (who was born in Bakewell) used to take me up to the Derwent Dams to walk when we used to visit on family trips. in one such year, I met a local artist who was holding a small display in the Ladybower hotel, I bought some prints with my pocket money and then stayed in touch (Hallam was the name if I remember).

A few years later as a grubby teen, I went to the 50th anniversary commemorations at Derwent, met the surviving veterans of the raid and with Richard Todd from the film, I collected signed books and prints and everything else dam busters that I could find to be signed by the veterans that day, that was 20 years ago…

On Thursday I fulfilled a life time ambition of mine from being a little boy, when now in my 30s, a business trip to the Czech Republic found me coming home via Colditz (nice to see it again) with some time to spare in the afternoon. I visited the Mohne Dam. So quiet, so peaceful now.

FB

Interesting interview with Les Munro here talking about his role in the raid. He lets slip that he has had a recent flight in the NZ built Mosquito. Good for him!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1aMIIdOJ8cw

I watched the Ch4 documentary about recreating the dams raid, where they built a dam in Canada and used a DC4 as the delivery aircraft.
On the show that showed post war trials with an A-26 Invader dropping a sphere at high speed. Heights of 30 feet were mentioned, and 350kts. I wonder what led the Americans to do these trials at such a low altitude.
For those that didnt see it, the sphere bounced once before taking the empennage off the aircraft causing it to pitch nose down, spars fail and then hit the water, killing the crew. Any more details?

Incidentally,I noticed that the Radio 2 concert did mention the name of a certain black Dog. There was an explanation of the context and that this may jar on the modern ear. So hopefully, everybody was happy and an example how this sensitive subject can be handled.

Very impressed with the coverage given, the Scampton ceremony and the Radio 2 concert were very good. It was great to see Guy Gibson’s office restored, when they made the documentary showing the RAF aircrew of today attempting to recreate the mission flying the Lanc’ simulator it was in a very tatty state. The various presenters have made more than a few errors but it was going out on primetime BBC TV and radio to a large audience. I can remember when the anniversary came round 20 or more years ago the film would be shown on the weekend nearest to the date and it would get a mention on the news and that was usually it.

It seems Bomber Command is getting the long overdue recognition it deserves at last from the media, The BBMF were shown world-wide on the Royal Wedding coverage and when PA474 made her first flight after overhaul and painting as ‘Phantom’ it was covered extensively on the BBC News Channel.

Just my ten pence worth I agree with all the positive comments here. Excellent! Extremely very well done to BBC TV. and Radio 2

I thought that Radio 2 programme just finished was brilliant. WOW!

The background music fitted the scene nicely I thought.

turn radio 2 on now, dare i say Mr Vine and co are very good, even if scripted and background music is from The Battle of Britain

I can only say that I thought all the BBC coverage was very good. I listened all night to the BBC radio Lincs programme where they had some great features plus were reporting in ‘real-time’ the key events of the entire raid. What with the real-time twitter feed from the RAF it was a great use of modern media.

Lobster

Have to agree in part regarding Dan Snow and Eddie Butler but it’s better than no coverage at all and with the film not being on every third Sunday of the month any more there is a generation growing up not knowing about legendary events such as the raid. But the general public reaction to this anniversary shows that it still holds a place in our hearts and hopefully people will think about what it was really all about.

Iv’e not seen any of the programs yet, May 16 is also our wedding anniversary so we were out for the evening. I enjoyed what I heard of the Chris Evans show this morning driving to work. however, driving home I was listening to Classic FM. They played the dambusters march and said it was in honour of the brave men of 633 squadron.

An amazing show of precision flying and bravery from a select few taking the fight to the enemy.
It’s what makes this country great.

The One Show tonight showed footage of Chris Evans in the Lancaster, Short but very sweet. IPlayer chaps.:)

Good that they showed a few viewers’ relatives Bomber Command photos right at the end of the show.

If I really expressed myself about Dan Snow or Jeremy Vine… to me they both spoiled what would have been a pair of good memorial broadcasts – inane ‘questions’, inaccurate statements – Vine this lunchtime repeatedly said ‘the only Lancaster in the world’ – and twittering on over the sound of four Merlins….

The One Show tonight showed footage of Chris Evans in the Lancaster, Short but very sweet. IPlayer chaps.:)

I too watched Dan snows program and the evening memorial service which I thought was superb. Out of the many phone messages into the CE show this morning , one caught me unawares.
A message from a lady whose uncle was lost on Ops over Holland and the story of his crews safe escape. She mentioned about a crew member who was made POW, and as a result of her uncles selfless action, lived to see his yet unborn son. The emotion in her voice as she spoke of how proud she was of her uncle sneaked up on me and grabbed me by the throat.