Bomber Boys:
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NOTTINGHAM
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TTN
You'll be in bad company then! The place will be full of Buccaneer guys after the Blitz (unless you are one of course but your TTN moniker suggests not).
See you there, if I can still focus once the whisky is in me!
Foldie
I'll be staying 9th-11th Dec,
See you there, if I can still focus once the whisky is in me!
Foldie
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Longton, Lancs, UK
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Now, I'll be there also. And as Foldie and others, on fine form. But the whisky, Black Grouse this year, will be on me. Foldie has told me so ----- 
Who knows, maybe RPE may buy a round this time
Who knows, maybe RPE may buy a round this time
Last edited by jindabyne; 5th Dec 2011 at 18:01.
Join Date: Jan 2004
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No TTN, don't decamp! We are very hospitable and you will find us in the Cowdray Room after 'lights out' armed with a good malt (or 2). Make yourself known and you can join in!
Foldie
Foldie
Bucc mates welcoming a VFW amongst their midst? Things are looking up!
Top banter, jinda'!
Hope you all have a great time - and may your GS MIs never go cross-hatched!
Top banter, jinda'!
Hope you all have a great time - and may your GS MIs never go cross-hatched!
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TTN, You didn't show! My mate Jindy was accosting all sorts of likely lads with the passing phrase "TankerTrashNav?" but none responded positively!
You better have a good excuse!
Foldie
PS. One bottle of Black Grouse duly emptied!
You better have a good excuse!
Foldie
PS. One bottle of Black Grouse duly emptied!
Join Date: Jul 2004
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My body is unwell still, very. Maybe they took one look at our little gathering Foldie and thought better of it 
Also RPE no-show. Next year it's you for the BG!
RAFC as good as ever - and for some reason was upgraded to a double on the new fifth floor. Very tasteful and comfortable in all respects. Dining room meal first night, with our Runnin' Horse nosh after the Blitz - both v.good. Breakfast packed out, good atmosphere, and the usual excellent buffet. Dress not an issue. Staff, without exception, friendly and helpful. No probs with the other inmates, young, very young, and very old
Maybe 2012 TTN?
Also RPE no-show. Next year it's you for the BG!RAFC as good as ever - and for some reason was upgraded to a double on the new fifth floor. Very tasteful and comfortable in all respects. Dining room meal first night, with our Runnin' Horse nosh after the Blitz - both v.good. Breakfast packed out, good atmosphere, and the usual excellent buffet. Dress not an issue. Staff, without exception, friendly and helpful. No probs with the other inmates, young, very young, and very old
Maybe 2012 TTN?
Foldie - many apologies - was in the dining room earlier and was delighted to take some photos of a member's 90th birthday party dinner (12 family present). Had a nice chat with him about his times as a Coastal Command Wellington pilot. Unglamorous hard work with 12 hour sorties at 1000' in all sorts of weather. However after dinner daughter was in town and we were dragged off by her elsewhere so wasn't in the Cowdray later on - so sorry, but pleased you had a good time.
Club excellent and staff brilliant as always. Chatting to a couple of staff in the Cowdray earlier - one from Estonia and the other from Slovakia - strange that 20 plus years ago they wouldn't have got over the club threshold let alone get a job there - times have certainly changed for the better in that respect. Sorry to miss Fred but spotted his "wing commander's" uniform hanging in the baggage room and I understand he's still working weekdays which is good to know.
Glad you all good had a good time, and as you say, maybe next year.
Club excellent and staff brilliant as always. Chatting to a couple of staff in the Cowdray earlier - one from Estonia and the other from Slovakia - strange that 20 plus years ago they wouldn't have got over the club threshold let alone get a job there - times have certainly changed for the better in that respect. Sorry to miss Fred but spotted his "wing commander's" uniform hanging in the baggage room and I understand he's still working weekdays which is good to know.
Glad you all good had a good time, and as you say, maybe next year.
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TTN,
That'll do, hope you had a great weekend. I saw Fred on Friday morning, usual pleasantries - he never forgets a face or a name, but then I was on the committee years ago so.................!
The Club is in fine fettle and prosperring. The relaxed dress code makes it much more user friendly and it was good to see that all rooms were booked and there was 'no space at the inn'! Already booked for next year and this time got a contingency in place so that I don't end up with a box-room and WC (my fault - changed my reservation at last minute) rather than a palace with en suite!
I think the bunnyman said he was bringing the whisky next year Jinda!
Foldie
That'll do, hope you had a great weekend. I saw Fred on Friday morning, usual pleasantries - he never forgets a face or a name, but then I was on the committee years ago so.................!
The Club is in fine fettle and prosperring. The relaxed dress code makes it much more user friendly and it was good to see that all rooms were booked and there was 'no space at the inn'! Already booked for next year and this time got a contingency in place so that I don't end up with a box-room and WC (my fault - changed my reservation at last minute) rather than a palace with en suite!
I think the bunnyman said he was bringing the whisky next year Jinda!
Foldie
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Hi XV 490, I am sorry I haven't replird before but I have been in hospital for a month. My relationship with the Lancaster is still very close. It flies over Eastbourne every year and is still a delight to see. I cannot quite see what you mean by ' afford a bit of distance between myself and a Lancaster. Could you come back to me on this point?
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a superbly accurate, poignant read........
Gents,
In case you are unaware, there is a fabulous book called 'Men of Air' by Kevin Wilson which is about 'The doomed youth of Bomber Command'. It is detailed enough to enable those that were there to re-live the drama and atmosphere of that time and for those who weren't there to half appreciate the grief these poor buggers had to put up with. The Times wrote: 'Wilson's detailed accounts and analyses of what amounted to virtual suicide missions are thorough, thrilling and profoundly moving'.
In case you are unaware, there is a fabulous book called 'Men of Air' by Kevin Wilson which is about 'The doomed youth of Bomber Command'. It is detailed enough to enable those that were there to re-live the drama and atmosphere of that time and for those who weren't there to half appreciate the grief these poor buggers had to put up with. The Times wrote: 'Wilson's detailed accounts and analyses of what amounted to virtual suicide missions are thorough, thrilling and profoundly moving'.
Cunning Artificer
Join Date: Jun 2001
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...all the WW2 campaign stars were theatre awards, there were no special cases,
My father served both in the Arctic and in the Atlantic and said they were two completely different matters. In the Arctic he recalled having to take an Aldis lamp to his hammock because it was frozen fast to his hand. On another occasion an oerlikon gunner in a position on the signals bridge froze to death at his action station because the black heater had failed. A man who slipped and fell overboard while chipping ice off the forecastle was left - on the grounds that he'd be dead before they could come about. Not to mention the fact that they operated within range of land based aircraft and were under almost constant air attack - especially in "summer" when the sun never set. He said it would be more appropriate for an Atlantic button to stick on an Arctic Star ribbon than the other way round. As it was he had an Atlantic Star and never lived long enough to put the Arctic button on his ribbon.
Dad was back in the Arctic in the fifties and that was one good reason why he abandoned his naval career and came ashore after 14 years service.
(The 55,000 figure is total casualties and losses, so includes killed, wounded, missing and POWs.)
Unfortunately not.
As in earlier posts, about 55,500 killed in Bomber Command out of a total of 125,000 aircrew. Plus, 8,400 wounded and 9,800 POWs.
Only 27 out of a 100 men on average would complete a tour of 30 ops.
Incredible bravery to go out night after night with a fair idea of the odds stacked against them.
Unfortunately not.
As in earlier posts, about 55,500 killed in Bomber Command out of a total of 125,000 aircrew. Plus, 8,400 wounded and 9,800 POWs.
Only 27 out of a 100 men on average would complete a tour of 30 ops.
Incredible bravery to go out night after night with a fair idea of the odds stacked against them.
Last edited by Weheka; 30th Dec 2011 at 08:54.
