Anyone fancy a walk ?

[cargosales]

Zoom:

A trip to Germany sounds like a rather dodgy idea to me. There is a fair chance that any route would pass through areas where Bomber Command was not too popular in WW2 or even now, especially near any dams that were breached or cities that got pasted. It would be rather like rubbing their inhabitants' noses in it - again - and we should be beyond all that. Perhaps the fund-raising effort should be confined to the UK and could involve a route that took in all of the airfields that hosted bombers during the War. After all, this should be about what Bomber Command did for us rather than against someone else.

Thinking about it, that's an extremely good point, very well made and an excellent idea

A UK-only exercise, taking in all of the airfields that hosted bombers in WWII would also make the logistics of the exercise a darn sight easier, as well as being a very, very powerful message for the press to present to its various audiences.

On the logistical front:

• Getting people/walkers in position would be an awful lot easier.
• It would significantly boost the numbers who turned out to walk, even if it was a symbolic distance (perhaps involve local RAFA/RBL branches? - nothing like veterans with medals on their blazers to get the press interested!)
• You'd have much more support and help on the ground E.g. from those surviving stations I'd hope at least for soup and rolls for the walkers, as well as a 'base' to operate from.
• Plus we'd get tons of local press coverage which we wouldn't otherwise get, as well as the likely national publicity, to get over the message of why the walk is taking place and why people need to stick their hand in their pocket.

Good thinking Zoom!

CS

[Zoom]

Thank you CS. Another point is that one needs to be careful about making too much of the Dambusters Raid. It was a single, secretive, specialised operation that involved only a tiny number of Bomber Command personnel. It's the whole BC effort and all of the personnel that need to be applauded.

Out of interest, there is an airfield 2 miles from here that hosted Wellingtons and Dakotas, and the spire of the village church was removed and laid on timbers next to the church for the duration of the war. It would have been a significant obstacle for the aircraft in claggy weather. The airfield is still very much in use but for a non-aviation purpose.

[goneeast]

Ill do part of the walk if im in uk (live in ME) but home most of Dec. If not, ill bung a few quid in, if there is a account to do so.. bit like the lad who lost his MQ few years back?

Andy (ex BBMF)

[fastener]

Pilots walking......without GPS or nav aids? Could end up anywhere!!!

[Zoom]

Not so fast, fastener. What usually happens is nav/WSO confuses himself with a wealth of navaids in the back such as radar, INAS, GPS, Decca, Tacan, DME, Oboe, sextants and celestial charts and directs pilot into the bundu in completely the wrong direction. Pilot slides crumpled map out of pocket and has a crafty squint, nudges stick over a bit, adjusts speed a tad and says, 'Yep, on track as usual, nav.'

Seen it a million times!!!

Mind you, there are so many ex-Bomber Command airfields in the UK that anyone is bound to bump into some of them regardless of their navigational skills!

[Stretch182]

If it's a mainland UK effort, I'm sure we'll get both coverage & support, can involve RAFA/RBL & also the ATC.

Now are we going to finish talking and start planning / doing?

Stretch

[fantaman]

Morning all,

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read and post on this very worthwhile subject. To all of those who have PM’d me, I am slowly getting round to replying to them all, I just wasn’t expecting close on 25 in one day.

Minigundiplomat, who had the idea and posted it on the forum, has now gone OOA and I seem to have inadvertently put myself forward to organise this. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into this and with your help, we really could make a huge dent in that two million pounds target.

Planning is now very much underway, with a few changes to the original idea. The idea of walking to or from Germany did seem like a good one however, we would have had major problems in two areas. The German public and the Gewrman Government granting us dip clearance for such an event. Therefore, we have decided to go with a relay style walk around former Bomber Command bases, probably ending at Scampton.

I will keep the board updated as we go along and if things do seem slow, it’s because we’re working hard behind the scenes with all the organising. If you think you can help and would like to offer some of your spare time, please do get in touch via the PM facility.

Thanks again

Fantaman