Dam Busters. 70 years on, 16-17 May

[Patrick Bateman]

jmorgan said:

That was not the youngest, though not the oldest in bomber command (or any of the forces). One of his squadron pilots was 30 odd? At 18 or 19 my thoughts were elsewhere, certainly not climbing into a thin metal tube, fly at height that people are going to do their damnedest to shoot you out the sky. And then do that many many nights. The courage of these blokes was amazing (not just 617).

It was more that he was only 24 and the Wing Commander in charge of the mission. No pressure.

[jmorgan]

CooperD said:

The Richard Todd film is being shown on Channel 5 today at 3-35pm. Will set the Sky+ box as out this afternoon.

Aye, Richard Todd who was at the Pegasus Bridge assault for real and who played Major Howard in the film the Longest Day. Wonder who played Todd?

[jmorgan]

Patrick Bateman said:

It was more that he was only 24 and the Wing Commander in charge of the mission. No pressure.

His book is worth a read.

Some of the stories these fella's had. One of the VC's was for a chap who crawled out onto the wing to try to put out an engine fire. 25 at the time.

[Balmoral]

daveydave7 said:

Will they beep out the name of the dog ?

Mutley said:

Yes, they will

Why do people focus on that? While historically accurate, it's a minor part of the film

Not that old chestnut again. It's not been bleeped out for many years. Minority groups did complain, they complained that it had been bleeped out. Whitewashing & sanitising out of history an example of the sort of casual everyday attitudes that were held at the time was considered far more offensive. It was seen as the patronising whites deleting the evidence, although it was done for all the right PC reasons, they managed to offend by trying not to offend.

[Patrick Bateman]

I'd have thought they'd still do it, I'm glad to see they don't in that case.

I only wish the same could be said for pulling a film/TV show from the schedule due to some sort of incident.

[Balmoral]

It's the luck of the draw which version is shown when it's broadcast now, I don't think there's any thought being put into it particularly. Sometimes the dogs name is in, sometimes it's not. Although it might be a watershed item?

[jmorgan]

I have the DVD. No problem.

[Balmoral]

Balmoral said:

Although it might be a watershed item?

Obviously not, no editing just now on C5

[Riley Blue]

Trival fact: the oar blade that was just shown featured in Antiques Roadshow a few months back.

[Halmyre]

Eric Mc said:

jmorgan said:

Patrick Bateman said:

I didn't realise Gibson was 24 at the time of the attack; I'm 24 now, certainly puts things in perspective.

That was not the youngest, though not the oldest in bomber command (or any of the forces). One of his squadron pilots was 30 odd? At 18 or 19 my thoughts were elsewhere, certainly not climbing into a thin metal tube, fly at height that people are going to do their damnedest to shoot you out the sky. And then do that many many nights. The courage of these blokes was amazing (not just 617).

Gibson was a veteran. By 1943 he had done a number of tours on Hampdens and Lancasters and had been commanding 106 Squadron when selected to form 617.

I actually think being young was a major factor in allowing these chaps to get through the traumas of what they were living through. By the time you get to 30, you are beginning to think a bit more carefully about life - you may have commitments - and you certainly have a more realistic sense of your own mortality.
I would say those who older than 30 and continued on operations were, in many ways, even braver.

Hats off to all of them.

Leonard Cheshire who later commanded 617 was a Group Captain at the age of 26.

[gpo746]

FWIW the film is on now on 5 USA (and its +1 variant on satellite)
Best thing on telly at the moment

[MartG]

Trivial facts - the catapults used in both the opening scene ( tin bath in garden ) and at the large testing tank are the ones actually used by Wallis when developing the Upkeep bomb