Dam Busters

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

The significance of that night is slightly different to me - it was as older members of this forum may recall the night my uncle was killed piloting a Hampden off the Dutch coast while attacking German shipping. He was an Australian attached to 415 (Swordfish) squadron RCAF.

I have a page of pics on my site.

As for the film there was an article in Aeroplane Monthly some years ago about it with some comment about how a number of the shots were reversed so the aircraft would appear to be flying in the same direction.

I've also heard the stories about how the raid was relatively inconsequential to the Germans, but what a legendary event it has become to us in the ensuing years.

I read the Paul Brickhill book when I was about 13 and was totally engrossed.

The Lancaster had a flight engineer in addition to the pilot - Col is correct there. Incidentally the Temora Hudson flies with a "Co-pilot" whose duties are those of a flight engineer.

Keith..
I was on a parade with Joe mcCarthy taking the Salute in Clinton in '64..
He was very impressive..6'3" 250Lb.and enough gongs to blind you..
He retired from the RCAF in '68 I believe..
But he was American from NY .I think..and joined the RCAF before the Americans got involved in the big one..he took Canadain citizenship out and retired and moved back to the US ..
But a hero he was and looked every inch of it..I was proud to have met him..even if it was on a parade..
We were by no means drinking buddies but it would have been interesting to have been..imagine the stories..
Per Ardua Ad Astra.

http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/s,joemccarthy.html

And the Voodoo 101 has the throttles(two) on the left and palms down to operate..
The 104 Starfighter one throttle on the Left..more like a pistol grip..