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[Lizzie_Zoom]

The intention is that the Bomber Command Association finds £5 million for the first memorial to the 55,000 men who died for our freedom during WW2 flying the bombers.  Currently there is no memorial, which to many and certainly to me is a great injustice.

So far £3 million has been raised, but before next Monday another £2m must be found so that the work can proceed before the survivors of Bomber Command leave us.

To donate to this great cause go to:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/rafbombercommand/

 

[mantahatch]

A fine cause indeed.

That said, "donating a £25,000 yew tree " Since when does any tree cost that much 

[djac]

A fine cause indeed.

That said, "donating a £25,000 yew tree " Since when does any tree cost that much 

Mature trees can be very expensive. However, it might be a case of a supplier cashing in on a government order?

My father was a rear-gunner in Lancasters in the last year or so of the war. Luckily for him the Luftwaffe was pretty much finished by then, as their first target was usually the rear turret with its 4 guns (in most cases, I know some Lancs had their 4 .303 Browings replaced with 2 .5 Browings).

The bomb load of the Lanc was phenomenal! Over 10 tons! I don't know why people bang on about how good the B17 was, it couldn't carry half the bomb load of the Lanc. I think the Mosquito could carry about the same as a B17, and on 2 engines!

I do sometimes wonder what would have happened if the Germans had developed something like the Lanc. They did enough damage with their medium bombers, they would have flattened London in a couple of weeks. They would probably have put the RAF out of action quite quickly too, if they had been able to deliver more and heavier bombs on the airfields.

I think it is fair to say that the Germans lost the war as much as the Allies won it. If you see what I mean....

[djac]

BTW Manta, your sig line - am I right in thinking that it is a quote from the Mr Creosote sketch in 'Meaning Of Life'?

[djac]

I can imagine there might be several of you out there busily looking up the relative bomb-carrying capacities of the LANC, B17 and Mossie. I was just exaggerating for effect, I don't claim my comparisons are exact.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I can imagine there might be several of you out there busily looking up the relative bomb-carrying capacities of the LANC, B17 and Mossie. I was just exaggerating for effect, I don't claim my comparisons are exact.

Well you didn't need to!

In fact you are more than right as the Lanc could carry 22,000lb of bomb load, against the 6,000lb of the B17G.  Even the later B29A could only carry 12,000lb.  The Mossie XVI you did exagerate on, as it could carry just 4,000lb of bomb load


Of the Lutwaffe bomber fleet, the Heinkel He177A-5 could carry the most, at 13,228lb of bomb load.  But during the Blitz it was the Dornier Do217E-2 that carried the most, at 8,818lb

[Tonka.]

Currently there is no memorial, which to many and certainly to me is a great injustice.

There has been one in Lincoln Cathedral since 2006 Lizzie 

http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/BomberCommandLincCath_270806.htm  

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Currently there is no memorial, which to many and certainly to me is a great injustice.

There has been one in Lincoln Cathedral since 2006 Lizzie 

http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/BomberCommandLincCath_270806.htm  

Not really I'm afraid.  This is purely a local memorial  and does not represent the National loss of 55,000 bomber crew across all the squadrons on a central memorial in London;)

[Tonka.]

Currently there is no memorial, which to many and certainly to me is a great injustice.

There has been one in Lincoln Cathedral since 2006 Lizzie 

http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/BomberCommandLincCath_270806.htm  

Not really I'm afraid.  This is purely a local memorial  and does not represent the National loss of 55,000 bomber crew across all the squadrons on a central memorial in London;)

If you scroll down you will see the memorial with its inscription........

"over 55000 of whom gave their lives in defence of our liberty" 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Currently there is no memorial, which to many and certainly to me is a great injustice.

There has been one in Lincoln Cathedral since 2006 Lizzie 

http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/BomberCommandLincCath_270806.htm  

Not really I'm afraid.  This is purely a local memorial  and does not represent the National loss of 55,000 bomber crew across all the squadrons on a central memorial in London;)

If you scroll down you will see the memorial with its inscription........

"over 55000 of whom gave their lives in defence of our liberty" 

Yes, but this is very much a local memorial primarily to those lost from the County of Lincoln (as stated in the service) , and is not classed as a full national memorial as intended for the first time in London, which will be far more than a plaque, befitting the 55,573 lost airmen of Bomber Command

[Tonka.]

It is still there and is dedicated to the loss  of people across the country..................

[* the memorial is for all who gave their lives when serving with Bomber Command, including those based in Lincolnshire and including all Bomber Command Groups]

 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

It is still there and is dedicated to the loss  of people across the country..................

[* the memorial is for all who gave their lives when serving with Bomber Command, including those based in Lincolnshire and including all Bomber Command Groups]

 

"News on the Bomber Command Memorial Fund

    For much of World War Two RAF Bomber Command was the only means of taking the war to Germany and brought immense heart not only to the home population but also to the millions suffering under the Nazi yoke in Occupied Europe.

    Despite the huge sacrifice in lives lost, POWs, physical and mental injuries and lives shattered, there is, as yet, no national memorial in existence to those who served on Bomber Command, in particular those who lost their lives on operations or as groundcrew.

        13 May 2010: A £3.5m permanent monument to the World War II heroes of RAF Bomber Command is to be built in central London.
        Westminster Council gave permission for the open style pavilion at the Piccadilly entrance to Green Park.
        The memorial, which should be built by 2012, will commemorate the 55,573 crew of Bomber Command, with an average age of 22, who were killed in World War II.
        Bomber Command Association press release

http://www.associations.rafinfo.org.uk/bombercommand-memorialnews.htm

I rather think Tonka they know the true situation and the differenec between a large National Memorial and a Local memorial stone slab in Lincoln Cathedral

 

[HolyCount]

I can imagine there might be several of you out there busily looking up the relative bomb-carrying capacities of the LANC, B17 and Mossie. I was just exaggerating for effect, I don't claim my comparisons are exact.

Well you didn't need to!

In fact you are more than right as the Lanc could carry 22,000lb of bomb load, against the 6,000lb of the B17G.  Even the later B29A could only carry 12,000lb.  The Mossie XVI you did exagerate on, as it could carry just 4,000lb of bomb load


Of the Lutwaffe bomber fleet, the Heinkel He177A-5 could carry the most, at 13,228lb of bomb load.  But during the Blitz it was the Dornier Do217E-2 that carried the most, at 8,818lb

Talking of bombs ... my dad (often) tells the tale of when they were in their Lanc, directly beneath a german bomber .... neither knew the other was there. The german drop his bombs and one lodged in the fuselage of the lanc !

By all accounts the landing when they returned was  ... let's say ... exciting !!!!

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I can imagine there might be several of you out there busily looking up the relative bomb-carrying capacities of the LANC, B17 and Mossie. I was just exaggerating for effect, I don't claim my comparisons are exact.

Well you didn't need to!

In fact you are more than right as the Lanc could carry 22,000lb of bomb load, against the 6,000lb of the B17G.  Even the later B29A could only carry 12,000lb.  The Mossie XVI you did exagerate on, as it could carry just 4,000lb of bomb load


Of the Lutwaffe bomber fleet, the Heinkel He177A-5 could carry the most, at 13,228lb of bomb load.  But during the Blitz it was the Dornier Do217E-2 that carried the most, at 8,818lb

Talking of bombs ... my dad (often) tells the tale of when they were in their Lanc, directly beneath a german bomber .... neither knew the other was there. The german drop his bombs and one lodged in the fuselage of the lanc !

By all accounts the landing when they returned was  ... let's say ... exciting !!!!

I hope your Dad has written this very interesting event down or even better recorded it with a WW2 Historical society or a suitable museum.

[Dishevelled Den]

The intention is that the Bomber Command Association finds £5 million for the first memorial to the 55,000 men who died for our freedom during WW2 flying the bombers.  Currently there is no memorial, which to many and certainly to me is a great injustice.

So far £3 million has been raised, but before next Monday another £2m must be found so that the work can proceed before the survivors of Bomber Command leave us.

To donate to this great cause go to:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/rafbombercommand/

 

I certainly agree Lizzie and although Tonka mentioned Lincoln Cathedral I would also agree that a national memorial is needed and that it, by right, should be situated in London, the Nation's capital.