WWII Lanc Radio Chatter

[downsizer]

As this is the mil history forum ;), thought this was quite interesting. Probably been posted before but I found it quite interesting, Allegedly it's from a 207 Squadron Lancaster over Berlin in Sept 43.

https://youtu.be/8R5NI-IrUU0

[Captivep]

It comes, I think, from a BBC radio documentary with Wynford Vaughan Thomas (who flew on the raid too). My father had the whole thing on LPs (or might have been 78s) when I was growing up in the early 70s.

[Trim Stab]

Is that verified as a real recording? Sounds more like a film script to me.

Firstly, the clarity of voice is suspiciously good to be a radio intercept - and wouldn't crew be on a closed intercom anyway? Second, dramatic external noises such as machine gun fire are very clear and distinct, whereas engine noise is very muted, whereas I would expect the contrary if it were real. Third, what does the order "steady, steady" mean in a real aviation context? Lastly, did crews who flew multiple missions together really address each other as "mid-gunner", "rear-gunner" etc?

Happy to be proven wrong, but my first reaction on listening is that it is lifted from an un-released film script or other dramatised and non-authentic source.

[Old-Duffer]

Ummmmm! when did the RAF start calling people 'Bombardier'.

I suspect this might be some sort of compilation, rather than the genuine article. Certainly Wynford V-T and Richard Dimbleby flew on sorties over Germany and there were several war correspondents lost on Ops. The RT chatter seems a bit odd including the guy who does not identify himself.

O-D

[BEagle]

downsizer wrote: As this is the mil history forum

No, it isn't. Try the Aviation History and Nostalgia forum....

[Wrathmonk]

As this is the mil history forum

:D:D:D:D:D:D:ok:

;)

[downsizer]

downsizer wrote:

No, it isn't. Try the Aviation History and Nostalgia forum....

J for Joke chap....:)

[downsizer]

I suspect this might be some sort of compilation, rather than the genuine article. Certainly Wynford V-T and Richard Dimbleby flew on sorties over Germany and there were several war correspondents lost on Ops. The RT chatter seems a bit odd including the guy who does not identify himself.

O-D

Do you think so? It came across pretty joined up I thought, but no expert in WWII RT obviously...:\

[papajuliet]

I don't believe this to be genuine.
It's nothing like the broadcasts of Dimbleby and Vaughan-Thomas.
The intercom chatter is far too clear.
Since when did the RAF have bombardiers ? - they were bomb-aimers.
No cries from the gunners - " corkscrew port [ or whatever ]" - I accept that that might not have always been possible but the gunner in this clip is far too relaxed about it.

[downsizer]

Oh well, shame if not genuine, sounded interesting.

[PersonFromPorlock]

Wrong war, but I can guarantee from personal experience that these five sequential audio recordings of a Linebacker 2 B-52 mission are absolutely the real thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozSZ6Kj5-A0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ftgk2LRi0w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A0851AEsLk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECGKCD-pqiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqoT1iUvDN4

[Tlam999]

Wynford V-T's recordings have been remastered and are available on iTunes, in case you're interested: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/raf-bomber-command-at-war/id305293618

[mikedreamer787]

Thanks for that PFP - I listened and read all 5 vids.

RIP all B52 crew who perished during Linebacker.

[Chugalug2]

The OP recording is part of a fuller compilation of recordings to be found here:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF5_hvE4WEA

To me they sound genuine rather than scripted drama recreated in a studio. The i/c discipline leaves something to be desired, the clarity of the recordings surprisingly good, and the accents varied and symbolic of the different backgrounds of these men. No doubt there was a certain amount of playing to the mike, knowing they were being recorded, but if I had to take a punt on it I'd say these recordings are from the over the Third Reich rather than from inside a BBC studio.