The Big Anniversary
The Royal Air Force will for the first time transmit on Twitter the original wireless telegraphy signals of the famous Second World War “Dambuster” air raid on the Ruhr valley dams.
On the 70th anniversary of the raid, Thursday, 16th May, the tweets, which will substitute the original Morse code signals, will be posted on the RAF’s official Twitter account (See Link) minute by minute as the raid originally occurred. As well as the wireless telegraphy, additional tweets will be posted that will illuminate unfolding events that were unknown at the time, such as when aircraft were lost during the action.
On the 70th anniversary of the raid, Thursday, 16th May, the tweets, which will substitute the original Morse code signals, will be posted on the RAF’s official Twitter account (See Link) minute by minute as the raid originally occurred. As well as the wireless telegraphy, additional tweets will be posted that will illuminate unfolding events that were unknown at the time, such as when aircraft were lost during the action.
https://twitter.com/RoyalAirForceUK
Experience The ?Dambusters ? Raid Minute By Minute On Twitter
Last edited by TEEEJ; 16th May 2013 at 08:50.
The house in Grantham that was the HQ of 5 Gp subsequently became Grantham Register Office, where in July 1984 Mrs W and I were wed. A few weeks ago I was watching "the" film when I realised that they had filmed part of the movie there ("Gibson" being told to form 617). As he left the building we realised that some of the trees there when they filmed had still been there when we were married.
Greatest respect for all those who took part, and RiP those who never returned and those who have died since.
Greatest respect for all those who took part, and RiP those who never returned and those who have died since.
Chugs,
I would commend everyone to read Harris's 'Bomber Offensive' (1947). His bitterness of the way that BC was treated is ill-concealed and his is pretty forthright throughout, and of course, paints himself in a better light that most revisionist historians have. Only when reading ti does one apprecaite the enormity of the task of running the Command, as well as dealing with the bureacracy (and interference) of the Ministry fo Aircraft Supply and the Air Staff.
I picked up my copy last year at OXFAM for a princely GBP 3.99. Damn fine read.
I would commend everyone to read Harris's 'Bomber Offensive' (1947). His bitterness of the way that BC was treated is ill-concealed and his is pretty forthright throughout, and of course, paints himself in a better light that most revisionist historians have. Only when reading ti does one apprecaite the enormity of the task of running the Command, as well as dealing with the bureacracy (and interference) of the Ministry fo Aircraft Supply and the Air Staff.
I picked up my copy last year at OXFAM for a princely GBP 3.99. Damn fine read.
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Wish I'd booked a room for tonight, at Petwood House, when I was there last year. Anyone know what's happening there?
Rgds SOS
Rgds SOS
Last edited by SOSL; 16th May 2013 at 13:38.
We have a couple of gites here in the Vendee - Hair is standing up on my neck - woman in one gite - her parents turned up last night on their way south. Dad is German. Talking just now and subject of the Dams Raid came up - Fritz (that is his name!) says - "I remember it well - morning after the raid as a 4 year old I went to look at the Edersee and went back and told my parents someone had pulled the plug out!" Spooky or what!
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Planning a "post mission bacon and eggs" night at chez sisemen tomorrow evening together with a screening of the non-PC 1955 film. Fortunately I have another ex RAF compadre to show the rest of the local colonials what it's all about 
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Lancaster
Just watching the BBC tribute and wondering what the hole on the upper surface of the Lancaster is for?
Its clearly visible from the camera shot taken from the upper gun turret, I think the hole is just forward from the turret.
Anybody know what its for!
Its clearly visible from the camera shot taken from the upper gun turret, I think the hole is just forward from the turret.
Anybody know what its for!
Just watched the BBC broadcast from Scampton. The Royal Air Force really excelled, again, a superb parade and service, in memory of an extraordinary operation. Hearty congratulations to all involved.
Made me proud to have been just a very tiny part of the then Bomber Command in the Valiant days.
Made me proud to have been just a very tiny part of the then Bomber Command in the Valiant days.
More bang for your buck
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Oh dear Oh dear, that probably was the worst coverage of any event that I've ever seen from the BBC, A presenter with a total lack of interviewing skills, interviews done during a fly past, A camera dollied intrusively and disrespectfully between the guests and the colours and for most of the Lancs fly past we just watched the four people on the flight deck. I wont go on
Parade it's self..........brilliant and very well presented by the RAF.
Parade it's self..........brilliant and very well presented by the RAF.
Last edited by green granite; 16th May 2013 at 19:16.
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Just watching the BBC tribute and wondering what the hole on the upper
surface of the Lancaster is for?
Its clearly visible from the camera shot
taken from the upper gun turret, I think the hole is just forward from the
turret.
Anybody know what its for!
Wish I'd booked a room for tonight, at Petwood House, when I was there last
year. Anyone know what's happening there?
year. Anyone know what's happening there?
Thread Starter
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Carrier Pigeon?
GG
agreed. The Beeb are getting worse. Having a Welsh rugby commentator in a lead role. Gets his timing wrong, slows his speech to accord with the arrival of "two Tor-na-do G-R-4 Figh-ters"...
Fighters! Butler write one thousand times "617 was and is a bomber squadron"......
agreed. The Beeb are getting worse. Having a Welsh rugby commentator in a lead role. Gets his timing wrong, slows his speech to accord with the arrival of "two Tor-na-do G-R-4 Figh-ters"...
Fighters! Butler write one thousand times "617 was and is a bomber squadron"......
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Oh dear Oh dear, that probably was the worst coverage of any event that I've ever seen from the BBC
But whatever a single-buttocked job the Beeb managed, what a fine tribute the event itself was. Wish I'd been there.
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The Sky reporter was waving around one of the famous wooden bomb sights. Were these real or a best guess of a still classified item?
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Tashengurt as mentioned in TEEEJs link many of the Bomb aimers used string and chinagraph marks instead of the wooden sight. One of the documentaries recently possibly the channel 4 Dambusters: Building the Bouncing Bomb. demonstrated how they did it. Apparently the string method ensured that the same eye position was maintained to the air frame, which the wooden one didn't and which was enough to put the bomb off target.
See here second photo.
BBC Radio 2 - RAF Scampton photo tour
See here second photo.
BBC Radio 2 - RAF Scampton photo tour
Last edited by Windy Militant; 17th May 2013 at 08:03. Reason: adding link