lancaster bomber rear gunner life expectancy

When he was still alive I sometimes asked him if he could get me a flight in the Mynarski Lancaster that flies out of Mt. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. For the last three months of service they should train you as a plumber or electrician, something they can use in civilian life.". We couldn't work out why he'd told us to do this, but he later said he wanted to keep our confidence up and it worked.". Ride your damn bike! Staring at the rear gunners position on a Lancaster at IWM Duxford  [which has the same rear position as a Wellington], I struggle to comprehend how a grown man could enter and fit into this seemingly-uninhabitable small space, let alone spend up to eight hours a night, flying backwards in such cramped and surely claustrophobic conditions. Road cycling & mountain biking lifestyle. The ball turret gunner was one of the most dangerous assignments in World War II. They would have known that their position often put them first in line for elimination by the enemy fighter planes, who tended to attack from the rear and under the belly of the bomber, so that they could attack without fear of being shot at. But he was one of the lucky ones: he came home. The end of this particular story reveals plenty about how stress was combated in the 1940s. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Water treatment facilities are hit as many struggle with power cuts and frigid conditions. 0700 Hrs: With a quiet knock on my door, Jimmy our batman, entered with the ever welcome morning cuppa.It was his usual strong brew guaranteed to sustain body and soul against the penetrating chill of the North Lincolnshire weather. The Lancaster bomber played a key role in turning the tide of the Second World War, and only two are still flying. But he was one of the … These sessions are for those former members of the nation's armed forces struggling to re-adjust to civilian life, who are either experiencing difficulties with finding work, coping with combat-induced stress or homelessness. For the life expectancy of a rear gunner was desperately short; estimates vary but suggest that they could expect to be shot down, or killed, within two weeks, or up to five operations. "John is an inspirational character and his input is a crucial element of our work. The tread depth on the d402f (front) is 5/32 where as the d402 (rear) is 9/32. The Bomber Command Museum of Canada proudly demonstrates it's beautifully restored Frazer-Nash FN-121 Mk.1 tail gun turret. Imagine the susceptibility the gunners must have felt from their detached position as the plane dived to escape an enemy fighter; or was hit by enemy fire and spun out of control: smoke and flames pouring from its crippled engine. Post navigation ← I try to give them confidence to carry on, rather than sit back and let it all happen.". Daydreaming was not an option as relaxing this constant vigilance – for even a moment – could result in death for everyone on board. Bags packed: Russian activist prepares for jail, BBC Culture: The revolutionary singers erased from history, Demi Lovato 'had three strokes and a heart attack'1, Widow contests Larry King's handwritten will2, Australia 'not intimidated' by Facebook news ban3, Texas residents told to boil water in winter storm4, Williams leaves news conference in tears5, Timeline: Failed escapes of sheikh's daughters6, Children expose themselves on video chat site7, Australia vs tech firms: What’s this row about?8, Covid and suicide: Japan's 'disappearing' women9, Are frozen wind turbines to blame for Texas power cuts?10. ... tried to free the trapped rear gunner. Permanently fixed and unable to be retracted, there was no hiding from enemy attack. In October he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and later was awarded the DSO … During … The Air Gunners’ Collection is believed to be the only one of its type in the world and is dedicated to the memory of the 20,000 Air Gunners who lost their lives in World War II. Excerpt from the RAF Bomber Command wiki / Falconer, Jonathan Bomber Command Handbook 1939–1945 p.51 Statistically there was little prospect of surviving a tour of 30 operations and by 1943, one in six expected to survive their first tour and one in forty would survive their second tour. While it may fit, you will have about 1/2 the life expectancy. He then saw that the rear gunner was still in his turret and apparently unable to leave it. During the war I was a rear gunner on Lancaster bombers, flying 50 operations – 30 on my first tour and 20 on my second. This entry was posted in MoD, WWII and tagged 115 Squadron, life expectancy of a rear gunner, rear gunner, rear gunner's turret, tail-end Charlie's, Wellington Bomber. There were, therefore, a pilot, a flight engineer, a navigator, a bomb aimer, a wireless operator, a mid-upper gunner and a rear gunner…”tail-end Charlie”. The rear gunner was … This crew took off from Gransden Lodge at … Mid upper gunner; F/Sgt J. Adam RCAF, Rear gunner. A rear gunner on a Lancaster, Ron Needle, 19, had the loneliest and deadliest job of the war. Video, Priyanka Chopra Jonas locked down in London, How this Mars landing will be different to before. Ron died in August 2019. He added: "John's wisdom and experience bring a great deal to the sessions and whilst he views the younger soldiers of today as heroes, they in turn idolise him and are astounded by the fact he was involved in so many bombing raids and was shot down on two occasions. Lancaster of 622 Squadron commanded by Flight Lieutenant J. Watson. A rear gunner on a Lancaster, Ron Needle, 19, had the loneliest and deadliest job of the war May 16, 2020 by Read Sector John Nichol with Ron Needle who was the the rear gun turret at the back end of a Lancaster Bomber at 19-years-of-age. He could be sat at home isolated and thinking his role and contribution to society was over. Raids were carried out on Turin, Milan, Berlin and Peenemunde to name a few, a remarkable feat at this point of the war. The Air Gunner’s tasks were complicated and hazardous and his life expectancy appallingly short – it could be as little as two weeks before a rear gunner on bomber operations could expect to be shot down or killed. Due to factors such as the small size of the escape hatches and, in the case of the rear gunners, the complicated procedure of extricating themselves from the tail turret, only 15% of the crew of any downed Lancaster survived. "I try to show them that they have got friends, that they're not alone. My grandad flew and survived 30 operations, which was classed as a whole tour. In freezing US, Biden seeks to cool down politics, Covid and suicide: Japan's 'disappearing' women, Priyanka Chopra Jonas locked down in London. I poignantly wonder what was worse; the isolation, the vulnerability, or maybe even the pressure from the sense of responsibility for the lives of everyone on board. While it may fit, you will have about 1/2 the life expectancy. Wing Commander Gibson later became famous for leading the legendary Dam Busters raid in 1943. During World War II 20,000 air gunners were killed while serving with Bomber … The average age of a bomber crew member was just 22 years of age. 125,000 bomber command air crew served during WW2. The tread depth on the d402f (front) is 5/32 where as the d402 (rear) is 9/32. 19th May 1943 Posted to 158 Squadron at RAF Lissett from 1663 HCU RAF Rufforth Lissett opened in February 1943 and No.158 Squadron arrived from RAF Rufforth to be the Resident Squadron on 28th February. I had been born in August of 1947, years after the war was over. Ball Turret Gunners on B-17 bombers were protected only by a glass bubble jutting out from the bowels of the plane. Read about our approach to external linking. Only 25% were officers. The US 8th Air Force, which flew daylight missions over Europe, had a 19% death rate, if you survived being shot down, you had a 17% chance of become a POW. An increasing flow of Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders meant that one in four aircrew came from … Priyanka Chopra Jonas locked down in London. The bomber war was fought largely by young, civilian volunteers from Britain and the Commonwealth, commanded by men who joined up before the Second World War.The vast majority of aircrew were in their late teens or early twenties. But he was one of the lucky ones:  he came home. But my dad says he rarely talked about his wartime experiences. As a young tail ­gunner crammed in the back of a Lancaster bomber, Jimmy Graham must have known that, by the law of averages, his days were numbered. The crew of Lancaster AJ-T Twenty-five of those missions took him through a hornet’s nest of anti-aircraft fire and swarming interceptors over Germany. Wellington bomber. But John Hall, 89, of Sunderland, is doing exactly the opposite - drawing on his time as a "tail-end Charlie" in missions over wartime Europe to mentor former members of the UK's armed forces who have recently left the military and are struggling to cope with civilian life. And I remember my grandmother and her sister saying how us young people don’t know how lucky we are: how they didn’t see their husbands for up to a year, or more, during the war. John Nichol with Ron Needle who was the the rear gun turret at the back end of a Lancaster Bomber at 19-years-of-age. In the South Pacific in World War II, tail gunner Sgt. USAAF Tail Gunner. During the course of the war, they were to suffer 55,573 casualties from a total of 125,000 aircrew (a 44.4% death rate). Many rear gunners removed a section of the plexiglass to improve their view, so with temperatures at 20,000′ reaching -40 degrees, frostbite was a regular occurrence. Australia vs tech firms: What’s this row about? © 2021 BBC. 115 Squadron RAF, examine the rear of their aircraft, where the rear turret, with its unfortunate gunner, was sheared off by bombs dropped from an aircraft flying above, during a raid on Cologne on the night of 28/29 June 1943. ... John Nichol with Ron Needle who was the the rear gun turret at the back end of a Lancaster Bomber at 19-years-of-age. Whenever I have felt a bit low during my husband’s deployments, their words ring true in my mind; after all, what is a few months, compared to a year or longer? Rear Gunner Robert Henry James Gill ~ DFM. The (independent) dependants' journeys from base to beyond... ...stories & creative adventures of a family in business, 15 Minutes(ish) of Blame - Official Site(ish). I'm stuck, my Grandfather (now deceased ) was a rear Gunner on a lancaster bomber during the war, I beilieve he was shot down and spent the duration of the end of the war in a german pow camp. As an aside, RAF Bomber Command, which flew the night missions, had 44.5% death rate and a 8% chance of becoming a POW. In the Daily Mail it was claimed that the life expectancy of a member the RAF's bomber crews was less than that of an infantry officer in the trenches during The Great War. And often did. Bombers & Gunners “Tail-end Charlie ... Dunstan was assigned to No. As a result of his own wartime heroics, Mr Hall's DFC medal was pinned on his chest by King George VI, who showed signs of his famous stammer. B17 waist gunner in A-11 helmet, A-2 jacket, B-4 life vest (mae west) and B-8 parachute harness The engineer and waist gunner on a B-24 of the 8th Air Force in England. The Lancaster bomber played a key role in turning the tide of the Second World War, and only two are still flying. New recruits who became crew in Bomber Command were told their life expectancy was ‘ six weeks’. I'm stuck, my Grandfather (now deceased ) was a rear Gunner on a lancaster bomber during the war, I beilieve he was shot down and spent the duration of the end of the war in a german pow camp. I havent got information to go on but he lived in Eardisley Hereford , can anyone provide me with more information or a link if they have one, many thanks Video, How this Mars landing will be different to before, Demi Lovato 'had three strokes and a heart attack', Widow contests Larry King's handwritten will, Timeline: Failed escapes of sheikh's daughters, Children expose themselves on video chat site. 55, 573 of these were KIA, a death rate of 44%. For instance if you were a ball turret gunner your life expectancy … Ramblings of a wife of a Royal Naval Sailor. Based in the north-east of England, the charity aims to help ex-service personnel and their families. The US 8th Air Force, which flew daylight missions over Europe, had a 19% death rate, if you survived being shot down, you had a 17% chance of become a POW. Launching Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" and Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" from bases in England's eastern countryside, the Americans bombed their targets during the day while the British attacked at night. He also volunteered with the Air Training Corps, training future pilots, until his retirement in 1982. b. Estimates for the life expectancy for a WWII Lancaster rear gunner vary but are never high, mostly about just five sorties. B17 waist gunner in A-11 helmet, A-2 jacket, B-4 life vest (mae west) and B-8 parachute harness . Sgt Kirkcaldy at 36 was above the average age of operational airmen. Mr Hall, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by King George VI in 1943, has also given presentations to group members who have served in Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands, Bosnia, Sierra Leone, the first Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. "I talk to them and try and find out their story first, find out what's troubling them," he said. F/O Butterworth was an American from Richville, New York. 1,065 aircraft of Bomber Command were active on the night of 6/7 June 1944, bombing railway and road centres on the lines of communication behind the Normandy battle area. "You also had nightmares, but after 12 months you got yourself hardened to it. Wellington Bomber’s rear gunner’s turret RAF Museum, Cosford . We saw it as a job, somebody had to do it and that somebody was me. Wellington Bomber’s rear gunner’s turret RAF Museum, Cosford. As a boy, Vic Jay was fascinated by his father’s wartime experiences as part of a Lancaster bomber crew. This is the story of a rear-gunner in a Halifax 111 no HX332 ZA-V who didn’t make it to the end of the war, told by me, his very much younger sister Ann. The exposed position of the rear gunner in World War II aircraft made his role the most perilous of all aircrew since his turret was the primary target of attacking enemy aircraft. "However, he has proved that he and many others like him could be playing a huge role in supporting and helping young combat veterans when they return to the community. On their own at the end of the plane, a sheet of draughty perspex and metal between them and the surrounding darkness; they were completely exposed and bitterly cold in their transparent turret. I was wondering if anyone knows of a good site that has 8th Bomber Command's casualties rates for the war broken down by the month or at least the year? Every single man in Bomber Command was a proud volunteer. The rear gunner was several metres away from the next crew member, the rear upper gunner, and, behind two closed doors (the sliding door and the draft door), he would have no visual contact to any other crew member, from take-off to landing. There were, therefore, a pilot, a flight engineer, a navigator, a bomb aimer, a wireless operator, a mid-upper gunner and a rear gunner…”tail-end Charlie”. And through the entire operation, the rear gunner knew that the Luftwaffe fighter pilots preferred to attack from the rear and under the belly of the bomber, so he was often first in line for elimination. Crews on a B-17, fondly referred to as "The Flying Fortress," flew enemy raids against Nazi … And my father wasn't traipsing around Europe on foot in the Infantry, anyway -- he was a ball turret gunner in The 8th Army Air Corp, operating in a confined space. Malnutrition is rising across India - why? This meant flying in this confined, see-through turret, enveloped by the pitch-black sky and constantly revolving the turret to scan the eerie darkness for a shadow that could be an attacking night fighter. A Lancaster crew numbered seven – the pilot, flight engineer, navigator, wireless (radio) operator, bomb aimer/ front gunner, mid-upper gunner, and rear gunner. Each role needed a very particular set of skills. See more ideas about wellington bomber, wwii, royal air force. A Lancaster tail-gunner’s tour with 103 Squadron RAF 1944/5. Are frozen wind turbines to blame for Texas power cuts? Mar 3, 2015 - Rear gunners. Oil painting of a Rear gunner freezing cold and obviously very dangerous position as the enemy were desperate to shoot where the tracer fire was emanating ,so life expectancy was measured in two or three missions only as without fighter cover they were immensely vulnerable as so slow compared to enemy fighters so having air support was critical for survival /snag is / our … VideoHow this Mars landing will be different to before, 'Clothes should float in and out of our lives'. For the life expectancy of a rear gunner was desperately short; estimates vary but suggest that they could expect to be shot down, or killed, within two weeks, or up to five operations. For Wally and the rest of the crew to survive was against all the odds. I havent got information to go on but he lived in Eardisley Hereford , can anyone provide me with more information or a link if they have one, many thanks As Mark, a friend and author of  Caribbean Volunteers at War, poignantly said: ‘Within those few words, lies an entire film.’. VideoPriyanka Chopra Jonas locked down in London, How this Mars landing will be different to before. Tony Wright, of About Turn, said Mr Hall sets the standard at the group sessions he attends by always being punctual and well dressed, and is "idolised" by those he meets there. The 1st Commissioned Rear Gunner in the RAF was a Charles Cooper from Harrow. The MoD said all those leaving military service have access to the Regular Forces Employment Association and the Officers Association, charitable organisations that help service leavers with job finding. This is a day in my life when I was 19 years old the date is the 15th of August 1944 Sgt Gorham 1893961 RAF Mid-Upper Gunner of FO Hiddleston’s crew of Avro Lancaster “J” for Jig of 207 squadron stationed at Spilsby in Lincolnshire. A man who survived 60 missions as a Lancaster rear gunner during World War II might be forgiven for trying to forget his wartime experiences. Australia 'not intimidated' by Facebook news ban. Read about our approach to external linking. They are lacking in advice and help. The rear gunner’s -often known as tail-end Charlie’s – primary role was to be a lookout: to defend his aircraft from enemy fighter attack from the rear of the plane and to warn the pilot when to undertake evasive manoeuvres. Whereas other crew-members enjoyed some comfort from the proximity of others in the forward section of the aircraft, the mid-upper gunner spent the trip suspended on a canvas sling seat, his lower body in the draughty fuselage and his head and shoulders in the … The life expectancy of the servicemen depended on the job position the service person had. During these lectures he talks about his own wartime experiences, how he managed to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and adapt to civilian life after leaving the services. According to Yorkshire Air Museum,  20,000 rear gunners lost their lives during WWII. The average gunner had a life expectancy of 6 weeks, but Johnson survived 5 years and 92 missions. The Air Gunner’s tasks were complicated and hazardous and his life expectancy appallingly short – it could be as little as two weeks before a rear gunner on bomber operations could expect to be shot down or … Still from a film shot from an Avro Lancaster by the RAF Film Production Unit, showing smoke rising from exploding bombs during a night raid on a road junction at Argentan, France. Crew – Due to its large size, hefty armament and technical complexity, the Lancaster bomber had a crew of seven. The replica cockpit has been built to give you the feel of what it was like being one of the seven-strong crew in a Lancaster bomber. c. New recruits who became crew in Bomber Command were told their life expectancy was ‘ six weeks’. James E. Berryhill sits with a field modification of two .50-caliber M2 machine guns on his B-24 Liberator bomber. I do remember his effervescent personality and now as I stare at this turret at IWM Duxford, I wonder if his wartime experiences led to that zest for life, or perhaps he was always like that, which might help explain how he endured so many hours in such a lonely place. In 2008 the National Association of Probation Officers suggested that up to 8,500 veterans are currently in prison and another 3,000 are on parole - although the Ministry of Defence disputes this, saying its latest figures show there are 2,820 veterans in prison. A merica joined Britain's strategic air campaign designed to destroy Nazi Germany's industrial capacity soon after her entrance into World War Two. 158 Squadron was a Heavy Bomber Squadron equipped with the 4-Engined Handley Page Halifax.The Squadron … 405 Squadron, RCAF Lancaster III, PB-451, "LQ-G" F/O G. Peaker RCAF, Pilot; Sgt A. Kirkcaldy RAF, Flt/engineer; F/O E. Hayes RCAF, Navigator; F/O R. Butterworth RCAF, bomb aimer; Sgt R. Smith RAF, Visual bomb aimer; W/O2 R. Baker RCAF, Wireless operator; F/Sgt E. Perrault RCAF, Mid upper gunner; F/Sgt J. Adam RCAF, Rear gunner. The efforts of the approximately 50,000 Canadians who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal Air Force (RAF) in Bomber Command operations over occupied Europe was one of our country’s most significant contributions during the Second World War. "I get the impression now that they come out the armed forces with this trauma, they're given a bit of a talk and that's it. Harry Irons was a rear gunner in Bomber Command. The rear of the fuselage was unheated, temperatures at 20,000ft could be around -40 degrees Celsius. And yet, reading this entry from my grandad’s log, it just seems like another day at work. "And the story I've had from one or two is that when they've tried to get a job, they're asked what they've been doing of late, as if all their time in the military doesn't count for much. ... grateful for every day of his long life. All aboard were killed.The operational life of this aircraft (ND514) was nine days. News from the Music Department, King's Ely. Those who served six years or more, and all those medically discharged regardless of how long they have served, are entitled to the full resettlement programme, to help re-adjust to civilian life; those who served between four and six years qualify for the employment support programme, a tailored job-finding service. The life expectancy of the servicemen depended on the job position the service person had. Trying to keep track of my life (and my life on track), New horizons...from Retired RAF Officer to Multimedia Broadcaster. A Bomber Command aircrew operated as a team. Remarkably, Mr Hall does not know what he was given his medal for, only that it was "For Valour", because he never saw his citation. Many crew members from Lancasters were awarded the Victoria Cross for their heroic actions in battle, a notable example being the two … But you had to stick it out or else you were labelled a coward," he added. Bookmark the permalink. Only 25% were officers. ... Harry Irons was a rear gunner in Bomber Command. When the war broke out, in 1914, only a few Ilya Muromets aircraft … Every single man in Bomber Command was a proud volunteer. 460 Squadron RAAF at RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire, England as a Lancaster Rear Gunner. His remarkable figure of 60 missions included being shot down twice into the Channel, the first time seeing him and his crew spending about four days in a dinghy. A Day In My Life When I Was 19 Years Old. Estimates for the life expectancy for a WWII Lancaster rear gunner vary but are never high, mostly about just five sorties. This included: a pilot, flight engineer, navigator, bomb aimer, wireless operator, mid-upper and rear gunners. Back at their base, East Wretham, Norfolk, two members of the crew of Avro Lancaster B Mark II, DS669 ‘KO-L’, of No. "He spoke to me afterwards and stammered a bit. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! This meant he had employment and therefore structure to return to once he was out of the regimented life of the military. ... to prolong the life of the aircraft." This tiny turret, right at the tail end of a Wellington Bomber, is where my grandad spent much of the war. During the course of the war, they were to suffer 55,573 casualties from a total of 125,000 aircrew (a 44.4% death rate). The first aircraft to ever have incorporated a tail gunner position was the Sikorsky Ilya Muromets bomber, which became active during the First World War and the last years of the Russian Empire.The Ilya Muromets prototype flew for the first time in 1913, with no guns on board and no rear position for the crew. When he got stuck on a word, I'd say 'Oh yes sir, I know exactly what you mean' to save him embarrassment and he looked quite grateful for that.". "When a bloke's time is coming up he should be put on certain courses for retraining back into Civvy Street.

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