I missed this too the first time around. Albeit I was 10 years old ! Excellent and thanks for posting.

Steve

Surely they flew sorties in the North Sea and the Atlantic, without crossing an enemy coast line. The word comes from French where it means exit, so maybe it’s any operation outside your own air space. Although BoB fighters also flew sorties over Britain.

I seem to recall that at one stage in 44 Bomber Command started counting raids on targets in France as only counting for half a sortie. This caused uproar amonst crews as there were major loses on these raids and eventually BC changed it back to a full sortie.

Steve

Great thread. I missed this the first time round. Secret airfields or not I think that it is factual that thousands of southern Irish men joined the British forces to fight the Axis. Especially in the RAF and Army. There was certainly in my view a difference between what was publically said by DeValera’s government and what actually happened. The medal tally speaks for itself. If I recall a young Dubliner was KIA last year in Iraq having joined the Irish Rangers. If I’m honest I think the Irish goverenment doesn’t support the war in Iraq but there will always be young Irish men seeking adventure in the British armed forces as the same opportunity simply doesn’t exist in the small Irish defence forces. Either way I’d like to thank them and say well done.

On a slightly different tack, I wonder whether the current generation of British (let alone Irish) would have the stomach for a war on the WW2 scale. Our troops are already fighting British born ememy in Afghanistan. Will there ever be a national unity of spirit and determination as there was back then, or was that a myth as well ?

Steve

Personally I’d love to see Just Jane fly. East Kirky is a brilliant heritage centre and a fitting tribute to Bomber Command. Getting the Lanc into air worthy condition would be the icing on the cake.

Seems the Pantons do want the publics opinion as they are asking what we think on their website.

Steve

From “lost Bombers” website. Expect you already know this.

Lancaster LM437 Information
Type Lancaster
Serial Number LM437
Squadron 50
X1D VN-P
Operation Mailly-le-Camp
Date 1 3rd May 1944
Date 2 4th May 1944

Further Information
“Serial range LM301 – LM756 This aircraft was one of 350 Lancasters ordered from A.V.Roe(Yeadon) as Mk.111 except for the first ten as Mk.1 (LM301- LM310), delivered from Oct42 to Oct44. Mk.1s had Merlin 20 engines and Mk.111s Merlin 38 engines initially installed. LM437 was delivered to 50 Squadron 4Jan44. LM437 took part in the following Key Raids: Brunswick 14/15Jan44; Berlin 27/28Jan44; Berlin 30/31Jan44; Berlin 15/16Feb44; Leipzig 19/20Feb44; Schweinfurt 24/25Feb44; Stuttgart 15/16Mar44; Berlin 24/25Mar44; Nuremberg 30/31Mar44; Schweinfurt 26/27Apr44. When lost this aircraft had a total of 266 hours. LM437 was one of four 50 Squadron Lancasters lost on this operation. See LM480; ED870; ND953 Airborne 2152 3May44 from skellingthorpe to attack the military camp. shot down within moments of bombing, crashing at Trouan-le- Petit (Aube), 40 km NNE of Troyes. Those killed are buried beside another Lancaster crew from 625 Sqdn who also came down close by in Trouan-le-Petit. (See LM515) P/O R.S.Hanson KIA Sgt R.A.Sneddon KIA F/O W.J.H.Rogers KIA F/S G.H.Hobson RCAF KIA Sgt W.Richardson Evd Sgt E.Houlden RCAF KIA Sgt R.M.Dand KIA ”

Steve

Sad indeed although with the passing years inevitable. RIP Keith Jones and condolences to family.

Steve

Mark there is a small picture of RF141 on page 62 of Ton-Up Lancs by Norman Franks. Too small to scan but clearly shows paddle props. Clearly a Lanc B Mk 1 with bomb door open. Can see just aft and no sign of H2S blister !

Don’t know if the pic in the following link is generic.

http://wp.scn.ru/ru/ww2/b/555/9/1/13

Steve

Dorsal Turret

Chaps,

Did the Halifax have a dorsal turrent with 4 303 guns ? Never seen that before.

Steve