"Strike Hard Strike Sure" - RAF Bomber Command

[Grant]

Elsie Yates working on the nose of an Avro Lanc, 16th April 1943.

 

[Grant]

Flight crew of a Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mark V of 102 Squadron 4 Group prior to taking off on a leaflet-dropping ('Nickelling') sortie over Germany on 18 March 1940 from RAF Driffield near Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire.

 

[Grant]

Never fails to impress me how young they were. Navigator, circa 1940.

 

[Smithy]

Although a small photo, a remarkable one nonetheless.

Crews of 77 Sqn at RAF Elvington in mid 1943 just before "mounting up" for an op.

These men know the immense risks they are about to face yet still they're smiling.

 

[Smithy]

"The Loneliest Place"...

Tail turret gunners.

Very evocative painting from the AWM of a Halifax tail gunner...

Also the most dangerous place.

 

[Micawber]

 

[Micawber]

 

[Micawber]

 

[Micawber]

 

[Micawber]

 

[Smithy]

Some Kiwi ones from 75 Sqn...

 

[Smithy]

And this from a 489 Sqn Hampden...

 

[Smithy]

I love this photo...

 

[Smithy]

Another 75 Sqn Lanc being readied at Mepal for a raid on Krefeld, Germany. You can see the first part of the load out about to be loaded.

 

[Smithy]

The result of colliding with a Jerry night fighter, ND801 (this is the same aircraft from above, named "Get Sum Inn")...

 

[Micawber]

'Bomber Boys'. I have a feeling this may have been posted on VLJ some time ago but despite the inevitable concentration on the Lanc, and modern production frippery, this is worth seeing just to listen to some of the old chaps who flew with Bomber Command during the war....

 

[Smithy]

'Bomber Boys'. I have a feeling this may have been posted on VLJ some time ago but despite the inevitable concentration on the Lanc, and modern production frippery, this is worth seeing just to listen to some of the old chaps who flew with Bomber Command during the war....

I saw that not long ago and it's a jolly good doco Steve and especially as you say, to hear the old fellas who were flying on the things.

 

[Micawber]

 

[Micawber]

Waddington 1942

 

[Smithy]

Waddington 1942

View attachment 69684

Terrific photo Steve.