I had the opportunity to speak with a Lancaster tail gunner recently. He recalled how before one mission the had been an uneasyness amongst the crew before the mission. They boarded the bomber and managed to get airborne but they were lagging slightly behind the bomber stream. The aircraft was misbehaving and she got slower . Nobody said anything over the i/c - everyone was starting to realise that they would be sitting targets once over Germany.
Thought's of being cast as 'LMF' went through my friend's mind - he didn't want to suggest it however .
The silence was broken by the i/c springing to life
" I think we better turn back" said the skipper - an audible sigh of relief spread amongst the crew .