Send us a message or question!

In this episode of Never Mind the Dambusters, I take a deep dive into the fascinating and often overlooked world of RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War—through the lens of the airmen's personal flying kit. I'm joined by Daniel Richards an RAF Living History enthusiast, and together we explore the evolution of aircrew equipment, from flying jackets to survival kits, and even the surprising use of pigeons for communication.

Using the original clothing card issued to 10 Sqn wireless operator Jack Clyde (Jane's great Uncle) (linked below) , we look at the kit issued to Jack through the course of the war, from boots to parachutes to dinghys!

It’s a conversation that goes beyond the gear itself, shedding light on the human stories behind the uniforms and the importance of keeping these memories alive for generations to come.

Flight Sgt John (Jack) Clyde's RAF Clothing Card

Jack in flying suit, boots and gauntlets, early 1943

The Pennicott crew, endex photo 8 March 1944.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to RAF Bomber Command History
01:16 Exploring Personal Flying Kit and Clothing
05:30 The Evolution of Aircrew Kit During the War
10:17 Detailed Examination of Aircrew Equipment
14:33 Insights from Jack's Clothing Card
19:29 Understanding the Practicalities of Aircrew Gear
23:32 The Importance of Survival Equipment
27:08 Understanding the Escape Kit
30:22 The Role of Pigeons in Bomber Operations
36:34 Living History and Community Engagement
43:07 Show intro.wav

Support the show

Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.

Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)

You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .

You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here

Send us a message or question!

This week, we celebrate our 50th episode by welcoming Dr Dan Ellin of the University of Lincoln and the International Bomber Command Centre, back to the show. Dan joins us to explore the legacy of the Dambusters , and in particular how the 1955 film has shaped the collective memory of Bomber Command. From Star Wars to adverts for Carling Black Label lager, it's all here!

We've linked below the books we discuss during this episode.

Books:

The Dambusters, Paul Brickhill

Guy Gibson, Richard Morris

Dam Buster, Richard Morris

Support the show

Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.

Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)

You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .

You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here

Send us a message or question!

***Episode on general release Wednesday 13 August

This week, we celebrate our 50th episode by welcoming Dr Dan Ellin of the University of Lincoln and the International Bomber Command Centre, back to the show. Dan joins us to explore the legacy of the Dambusters , and in particular how the 1955 film has shaped the collective memory of Bomber Command. From Star Wars to adverts for Carling Black Label lager, it's all here!

We've linked below the books we discuss during this episode.

Books:

The Dambusters, Paul Brickhill

Guy Gibson, Richard Morris

Dam Buster, Richard Morris

Support the show

Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.

Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)

You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .

You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here

Send us a message or question!

(Apologies - no James this week due to technical issues!)

This week, Jane is joined by Adrian Bean, a writer and director with a passion for military history. They explore the complexities of RAF Bomber Command, the challenges of adapting Len Deighton's 'Bomber' for BBC radio, and the human stories behind the bombing campaigns of WWII.

Adrian shares insights from his recent works, including the incredible short story collection 'L for Lanc' and the non-fiction work 'What Happened', about a mid-air collision in 1941, and discusses his upcoming novel focusing on the denazification of German POWs post-war.

The conversation delves into the moral questions surrounding warfare and the personal journeys of those involved.

Adrian's books are highly recommended - L for Lanc is just stunning - and you can find them here : https://anothersmallpress.net/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to RAF Bomber Command History
02:29 Adrian Bean's Background and Contributions
06:58 Challenges in Adapting 'Bomber' for Radio
12:01 Exploring 'Elferlanc' and Its Origins
16:44 Themes of Morality and Human Experience in War
18:45 The Burden of Responsibility in War
20:43 The Journey of Research and Discovery
26:56 Emotional Attachments in Writing
34:12 Exploring Denazification and Its Implications
42:46 Show intro.wav

Support the show

Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.

Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)

You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .

You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here

Send us a message or question!

This week we each share our top 5 Bomber Command books in the categories of popular history, memoir, academic, fiction and we also throw in a wild card! What are your favourites? Do you love or hate our picks?

Spoiler alert:

If you don't want to know what we chose, avoid the shopping list below!

Jane's choices

Popular history: Haynes Manual - Bomber Command

Memoir: Bomber Offensive, by Sir Arthur Harris

Academic: The Flyer, by Martin Francis

Fiction: Take Off at Dusk, by Flt Lt Peter Roberts

Wild card: Air Battle of the Ruhr, by Alan Cooper

James' choices:

Popular history: The Red Line, by John Nichol

Memoir: Tail Gunner, by R C Rivaz

Academic: The Next War in the Air: The Fear of the Bomber, by Brett Holman

Fiction: Bomber, by Len Deighton

Wild card: The Dambusters, by Paul Brickhill

Support the show

Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.

Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)

You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .

You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here

Send us a message or question!

This week, we tackle some thorny issues with our with guest Paul Woodadge, the host of YouTube show WW2TV about the multifaceted history of RAF Bomber Command during World War II.

Growing up near former USAAF airbases in Suffolk, just across the border from Essex and Colchester, Paul, who most of you will know simply as "Woody",
developed a fascination for history and the Second World War. Paul now lives in Normandy in France, and is a Battlefield guide, historical advisor, and consultant on numerous projects.
He is an author, including the book, Angels of Mercy, which relates the history of the village of Angoville-au-Plain, during the Second World War. He has appeared on numerous other productions including Walking the Ground with James Holland and Al Murray, History Rage, and History Hack. He was also an extra in some pretty incredible productions including Enigma (2001), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Memphis Belle (1990). What a CV!

The discussion delves into how the air war is remembered and memorialized in France, and in particular in Normandy. We debate the impact of civilian casualties, and the ongoing debates surrounding the ethics of bombing campaigns. Through personal anecdotes and historical insights, the episode highlights the importance of understanding the broader context of the air war and its legacy.

WW2TV is one of the best history shows out there, with experts and enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge, perspectives and passions. And there's a MAHOOSIVE back catalogue of episodes.

You can watch James talk about the raid on the Dortmund-Ems Canal, and listen to his excellent discussion on Bomber Command in the Battle of Britain ; you can also watch Jane's contributions on the Handley Page Halifax and Bomber Command Gardening Operations.

Support the show

Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.

Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)

You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .

You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here

Send us a message or question!

This week, we tackle some thorny issues with our with guest Paul Woodadge, the host of YouTube show WW2TV about the multifaceted history of RAF Bomber Command during World War II.

Growing up near former USAAF airbases in Suffolk, just across the border from Essex and Colchester, Paul, who most of you will know simply as "Woody",
developed a fascination for history and the Second World War. Paul now lives in Normandy in France, and is a Battlefield guide, historical advisor, and consultant on numerous projects.
He is an author, including the book, Angels of Mercy, which relates the history of the village of Angoville-au-Plain, during the Second World War. He has appeared on numerous other productions including Walking the Ground with James Holland and Al Murray, History Rage, and History Hack. He was also an extra in some pretty incredible productions including Enigma (2001), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Memphis Belle (1990). What a CV!

The discussion delves into how the air war is remembered and memorialized in France, and in particular in Normandy. We debate the impact of civilian casualties, and the ongoing debates surrounding the ethics of bombing campaigns. Through personal anecdotes and historical insights, the episode highlights the importance of understanding the broader context of the air war and its legacy.

WW2TV is one of the best history shows out there, with experts and enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge, perspectives and passions. And there's a MAHOOSIVE back catalogue of episodes.

You can watch James talk about the raid on the Dortmund-Ems Canal, and listen to his excellent discussion on Bomber Command in the Battle of Britain ; you can also watch Jane's contributions on the Handley Page Halifax and Bomber Command Gardening Operations.

Support the show

Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.

Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)

You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .

You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here

Send us a message or question!

This week, hosts Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies chat to Stuart Green, who shares the remarkable story of his father Alan, a Bomber Command navigator on Wellingtons and Stirlings.

Alan Green took part in some of the most famous operations of the war, including the Channel Dash, the 1000 Bomber Raid, and the secret operation to bomb the Skoda Factory in Czechoslovakia.

Friendly fire, German nightfighters, tragedy and betrayal, imprisonment, escape and evasion, the Long March - this story has it all!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Bomber Command History
03:13 Stuart Green's Family Background and Early Life
05:33 Training and Early Experiences in the RAF
07:43 The Impact of the Coventry Bombing
10:07 First Operations and the Channel Dash
12:21 The Secret Mission to Bomb the Skoda Factory
14:40 The Friendly Fire Incident
17:40 The Great Escape and Stalag Luft III
20:15 The Long March and Liberation
22:40 Researching Family History and Discoveries
24:54 Reflections on War and Legacy

Support the show

Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.

Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)

You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .

You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here