Bomber Boys:

[Silksaheen]

Avro Lancaster

Yes the Lanc is very narrow and clambering over the main spar in the dark in full gear with a flaming aircraft about to ditch is not fun. (My father’s Lanc exploded in the air: http://www.flensted.eu.com/1944078.shtml ) If ‘tail-end Charlie’s’ turret jammed, he wend down with the plain. All alone in the back he was the first to be shot by the enemy coming from behind. Often the rear gunner would knock out the thin Perspex to have better night vision; the hours of sub-zero temperatures would freeze his feet as often the sweat from his heated boots short-circuited the electrics. If you have the chance to visit the superb museum in East Kirkby (my father was an F/E there with 630 Squadron) they have a working Lancaster and you can see how basic and cramped it is, plus hear the Merlins at full power: http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/
We go to England each July for the Squadron reunion and memorial service:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IttCz3ZZ-Q" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IttCz3ZZ-Q

After Fighter Command had secured the homeland, http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/battleofbritain/11421.shtml it was the role of Bomber Command to take the war to heart of the enemy to finish the job.
As with the Bomber Command memorial, recognition of Dowding and later Harris, whose statues are in front of the RAF Church, St. Clement Danes in the Strand, London, had no government support and were paid for by public subscription.
There is a Battle of Britain Memorial Chapel at Biggin Hill:http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=8777