[Migeater]

Originally Posted by timbo

For all UK citizens or residents there is an on-line petition that can be signed for a Bomber Command medal. Not sure what good it will do, but it can't hurt. The link is below. Deadline for signing is the 27th May 2007

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Recognise the courage and sacrifice of the men of RAF Bomber Command by instituting a Campaign Medal.

Thanks for the link Timbo - just signed it

[Migeater]

Originally Posted by Hoverbug

Do you have any evidence that we were shaping our strategic campaign to aid the Soviet advance? (I'm not saying we weren't, but I haven't come across indications of that before).

The book I suggested covers these questions; Dresden was on the target list a long time before it was actually bombed and the Russians were asking for eastern Germany communication centres to be attacked. One point that the book brings out is the amount of hindsight employed over Dresden. In Feb 1945 while confident of ultimate victory the Allies could not accurately predict the remaining length of the war; the western allies still had to cross the Rhine and the Russians were fighting through Poland. This was only about 6 weeks since the surprise of the Ardennes attack.
I have been to Dresden 4 times - last time just last week and despite the raid and 40 years of soviet neglect before re-unification it's still obvious that it was once a beautiful city. But that is war I suppose.

[jim]

It makes me angry that we should have to be signing a petition for something like this. I wonder what those brave airmen who gave their lives would think if they could see this?? Maybe they can, all I can say is sorry for the stupidity of an ungratefull government. I have signed the petition but I will say no more as I may say something way too inappropriate for this forum.

Originally Posted by Migeater

Thanks for the link Timbo - just signed it

[timbo]

Jim - Yes it does seem very politically selfish for successive governments to have ignored this. But in a way this is what they died for - democracy and free speech in action by the little people (us).

I was also thinking about this on the way back to work today, and in a way they have been honored like very few of the branches of the armed services in that the BBMF Lancaster (Paid for by the very same people that wont give them a medal - ironic!) is flying around the country every year honoring them. There's not to many memorials like that.

[jim]

Originally Posted by timbo

Jim - Yes it does seem very politically selfish for successive governments to have ignored this. But in a way this is what they died for - democracy and free speech in action by the little people (us).

I was also thinking about this on the way back to work today, and in a way they have been honored like very few of the branches of the armed services in that the BBMF Lancaster (Paid for by the very same people that wont give them a medal - ironic!) is flying around the country every year honoring them. There's not to many memorials like that.

Nicely said timbo, its good to see the Lanc getting a refit ready for another season on the circuit. Its incredible how much work the Lanc and her crew get through in a year. I hear the Lanc will be rolled out with a new scheme so everyone seems to be playing the guessing game as to what it will be.

[timbo]

I seem to remember "Phantom of the Ruhr" sticking in my mind (Or was that one of the previous ones)

[Aircrafty]

Originally Posted by Hoverbug

Do you have any evidence that we were shaping our strategic campaign to aid the Soviet advance? (I'm not saying we weren't, but I haven't come across indications of that before).

Here's one piece of the abundant evidence concerning this issue: Bombing of Dresden in World War II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by timbo

I seem to remember "Phantom of the Ruhr" sticking in my mind (Or was that one of the previous ones)

No Timbo, it hasn't been done before.....SO you're right......

PA 474, will be up & running later on this year wearing arguably the best & (once upon a time, back in the '40's) well known Lancaster nose art examples

"Phantom of the Ruhr" with it's chilling nose art

Bring it on !!!!!

I've seen some pix of her strip-down & maintainace - the mind boggles & it makes you realise just how precious PA 474 is.

She often overflies our house & local area, as we live on the opposite side of the bay (The Wash) from where she is permanantly based, at Coningsby, in Lincolnshire - home base of the new Eurofighter Typhoon.

Just upsets me, to think that she (along with the Canadian Lancaster) are the only two remaining airworthy examples of the Night Bombing Campaign left in the World, which makes them all the more precious.
Oh for an airworthy Halifax, Stirling, Wellington, Hampden or Whitley

[Hoverbug]

Originally Posted by Aircrafty

Here's one piece of the abundant evidence concerning this issue: Bombing of Dresden in World War II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks, good to know.

[jim]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

No Timbo, it hasn't been done before.....SO you're right......

PA 474, will be up & running later on this year wearing arguably the best & (once upon a time, back in the '40's) well known Lancaster nose art examples

"Phantom of the Ruhr" with it's chilling nose art

Bring it on !!!!!

I've seen some pix of her strip-down & maintainace - the mind boggles & it makes you realise just how precious PA 474 is.

She often overflies our house & local area, as we live on the opposite side of the bay (The Wash) from where she is permanantly based, at Coningsby, in Lincolnshire - home base of the new Eurofighter Typhoon.

Just upsets me, to think that she (along with the Canadian Lancaster) are the only two remaining airworthy examples of the Night Bombing Campaign left in the World, which makes them all the more precious.
Oh for an airworthy Halifax, Stirling, Wellington, Hampden or Whitley

Just imagine seeing a Stirling roaring overhead at Duxford!!! DROOL DROOL!
I remember making the Airfix kit of the Stirling when I was a spotty teenager.