Tribute song to men of Bomber Command
 

Australian singer/song writer Grant Luhrs has written and recorded a song dedicated to the men of Bomber Command titled 'Full Moon Tonight'.
The song is now on the interweb and someone more knowledgeable than myself may be able to post a link.
Meanwhile, here are the words.

The faces I've seen are a passing illusion
Of men on a journey to kill or to die
Can't help the feeling that we all know
Some of us won't be coming home.

A full moon tonight, a full moon tonight
Lord fly with me and bring me home
Never thought the moonlight would scare me so
Fly with me Lord and bring me home.

New faces come and old ones go
Til no one knows anyone any more
They pack your bags and send them home
The morning after you lose your war

A full moon tonight etc

For men must fall it matters not when
Time will always win in the end
The vision remains of youth in its prime
And ghosts will never grow old with time

A full moon tonight etc


Lest We Forget

David

OTU deaths
 

I just read a book recently published dealing with Australians in Bomber Command . Over 700 died while training at OTU's in the UK . These guys didn't even make it to actual operations . Some of the training bases were almost in permanent fog and rain conditions . Flying around in Wellingtons and underpowered Stirlings was hazardous at the best of times , but in rainy and cloudy places like Scotland in mid Winter we can only imagine the dangers

Mike

Is this it
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot_-t-zz_hk

Here is the video that the video footage is drawn from - good watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7b_w5EX04E

Here is another video and song came up as well different song but I think you will like it and the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKSMlwxkPes

Cheer Phil

Thanks Phil, that's the video that I was referring to.
The second video complements it nicely.

How sad that these fellows had to wait so long for their contribution and sacrifice to be acknowledged. Along similar lines to the way our Vietnam veterans were treated.
As one of the gentlemen in the video said, 'Without Bomber Command there would have been no D-Day'. I'm sure he would be correct. Together with the USAAF who suffered commensurate loses they ensured the Nazis had their hands full prior to the invasion.

That's an appalling number of fatalities in training Mike. Aircraft accidents were not uncommon on active service as well. I've just read a book I purchased from Bevan F titled, 'Air War Against Japan 1943-45' and the losses attributable to other than enemy action are quite high. Some of the causes were, mid air collision, fuel management miscalculation, navigation error, weather, blown tyres, engine failure, flight into terrain/trees/masts during low level attack etc. Accidents were always taking a significant toll.

David

One of the most moving songs I've heard is not quite related to flyers, but to Remembrance Day... A Pittance of Time.... a true story when singer Terry Kelly was in a store on Remembrance Day..some guy wanted the cashier to ring him through at 1100

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kX_3y3u5Uo

Above is the original version in the store...
there are others with the song in the background with images of war scenes

Well worth watching Marc, Terry Kelly does an excellent job of story telling.
As you say, most moving.

David

Question for pilot Bergeron... were you involved with the recent B-17 flight to St Hubert??

Thanks one and all for the posts, some moving tribute songs there which I hadn't heard before. Terrible injustice these men of Bomber Command have suffered and immensely gratifying to see the Memorial unveiled at last with so many veterans in attendance.

Reading Grant Luhrs 'Full Moon Tonight' lyrics reminded me of a Desert Air Force song which I thought may be of interest here. It's an ode to the Kittyhawk titled 'Abide With Me' and written to the tune of the well known hymn of that name, most apt here and always worth hearing itself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLMbHttVbp4

No idea who penned it originally and this copy in my father's handwriting only came to light in recent times. Evidently it was written during his time with 3 Sqn RAAF and relates to the Tunisian campaign. During this period 3 Sqn flew hundreds of sorties over Gabes, a heavily defended German stronghold on the coast of Tunis. These were dive bombing and strafing missions against Rommel's Afrika Corps, often approached at low level over sea, and definitely not somewhere to put down through engine failure.


Attachment 66916


At the close of the North Africa campaign 3 Sqn was re-equipped with the Kittyhawk Mk IIa (P40L) and continued campaigning through Sicily and Italy. Dad's a/c was G for George, pictured below in southern Italy. More pics if there's interest although may need to start a P40 thread - not sure that's permitted on MLU!


Attachment 66917

fabulous photos and a video of Canada's Lancaster in flight this week over England.. wow

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/tr...er-bomber.html