The largest air raid yet March 3 1942 (1 Viewer)

[Mitch]

Having bloodied the Luftwaffe the RAF had began to take the fight to the germans. Today 69 years ago RAF bomber command launched its largest raid to date. 235 bombers in three waves attacked Boulogne -Billamont west of Paris. The installation made 18,000 lorries for the war effort and, was levelled with 470 tons of HE. The jerries were so confident no flak was placed to protect it... Big mistake!!!

The fight was well and truly taken to the germans. The older smaller bombers were being phased out as the Lancs were coming fully on line and the whirlwing was about to begin
Mitch

 

[Rob]

Very interesting thanks for posting Mitch. We all know the debates that rage about the bombing of Germany but one thing is pure fact, after suffering the Blitz it lifted people's spirits and morale to see the RAF begin hitting back.

Big day for anniversaries today, three and it's only 12.30!!

Rob

 

[Mitch]

you fight with what you have at hand Rob. We had bomber command and Harris. It was total war and some will say it was a war crime. well, if they do, then equally, what the germans, the US in europe and far east and every nation that has bombed cities makes it a war crime. Just because we did it far more effectively than the german war machine could do does not make it a war crime.
Mitch

 

[Louis Badolato]

Having bloodied the Luftwaffe the RAF had began to take the fight to the germans. Today 69 years ago RAF bomber command launched its largest raid to date. 235 bombers in three waves attacked Boulogne -Billamont west of Paris. The installation made 18,000 lorries for the war effort and, was levelled with 470 tons of HE. The jerries were so confident no flak was placed to protect it... Big mistake!!!

The fight was well and truly taken to the germans. The older smaller bombers were being phased out as the Lancs were coming fully on line and the whirlwing was about to begin
Mitch

We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to the brave men of the Allied Air Forces. They had a dismal casualty rate (the second highest of the war after German U-Boat crews) and took the war to the Germans when there was no other way to do it. I am very proud of my Uncle Joe, who died May 7, 1944 in the midst of his 19th mission (bombing Berlin), and his younger brother my Uncle Jack (9th Airforce Bomber Crew, survived the war, died at 89 years old 2 years ago), and consider having had the opportunity to go aboard and fly with one of the only 3 surviving Lancs that still flies to be one of my greatest experiences.

 

[uksubs]

you fight with what you have at hand Rob. We had bomber command and Harris. It was total war and some will say it was a war crime. well, if they do, then equally, what the germans, the US in europe and far east and every nation that has bombed cities makes it a war crime. Just because we did it far more effectively than the german war machine could do does not make it a war crime.
Mitch

Well said

 

[Mitch]

Louis...

another thing we have in common along with family who served in the air forces in WWII. I was at Uni at Lincoln and went to all the local airfields and the one where the BOB flight are based so much in the three years I was there that I was given a flight after graduating in the Lancaster. Have some great pics and video of flying over Lincoln and the great cathedral in that city.

I used to cycle to all the airfields in Lincolnshire doing 70 miles or more a day on my bike stopping off to read a chapter or two of law from my books but, its well worth it. everyone thought I was mad.

I also nabbed a flight in a red arrow as I was continuing my lessons whilst I was at Uni for my piots licence.

All I need now is to get a flight in a spitfire which, I am working on and, I am done.
Mitch

We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to the brave men of the Allied Air Forces. They had a dismal casualty rate (the second highest of the war after German U-Boat crews) and took the war to the Germans when there was no other way to do it. I am very proud of my Uncle Joe, who died May 7, 1944 in the midst of his 19th mission (bombing Berlin), and his younger brother my Uncle Jack (9th Airforce Bomber Crew, survived the war, died at 89 years old 2 years ago), and consider having had the opportunity to go aboard and fly with one of the only 3 surviving Lancs that still flies to be one of my greatest experiences.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Louis...

another thing we have in common along with family who served in the air forces in WWII. I was at Uni at Lincoln and went to all the local airfields and the one where the BOB flight are based so much in the three years I was there that I was given a flight after graduating in the Lancaster. Have some great pics and video of flying over Lincoln and the great cathedral in that city.

I used to cycle to all the airfields in Lincolnshire doing 70 miles or more a day on my bike stopping off to read a chapter or two of law from my books but, its well worth it. everyone thought I was mad.

I also nabbed a flight in a red arrow as I was continuing my lessons whilst I was at Uni for my piots licence.

All I need now is to get a flight in a spitfire which, I am working on and, I am done.
Mitch

My Uncle flew from an airfield at Snetterton Heath, which is now a racetrack, but there is a museum and a good bit of the airfield has been preserved. In a couple of summers when my youngest daughter is old enough to appreciate it, I plan on bringing my family to Great Britain, and visiting Snetterton Heath so that my children can see where their Great Uncle flew from.

I can't even imagine how cool it would be to fly in a Spitfire, one of the most magnificent aircraft ever. I hope you get to experience your dream, Mitch.:smile2:

 

[Mitch]

Louis...

I have been to snetterton heath a few times and, my wifes family or some, were at Raf Lakenheath before moving back to the US. so, have had some nice times driving around norfolk and the surrounding areas. I will get a spit ride one way or another but, some of the things I have done are a lot down to having family like yourself from WWII and RAF people are always interested in that and, having a brother in the RAF.

I think so long as your children grew up with an interest in history and not all the new fangled things people are more interested in that, it will be a nice thing for them to see such places. We are spoilt for choice with the plethora of sites that we have in the UK to visit.

I lived a short distance from Elvington airfield and, the amount of veterans who were their was astonishing. I ended up volunteering to work their just to spend more time. Nothing better. I was even there the day Richard Hammond crashed from Top gear. He nearly learned to fly that day!!!
Mitch

My Uncle flew from an airfield at Snetterton Heath, which is now a racetrack, but there is a museum and a good bit of the airfield has been preserved. In a couple of summers when my youngest daughter is old enough to appreciate it, I plan on bringing my family to Great Britain, and visiting Snetterton Heath so that my children can see where their Great Uncle flew from.

I can't even imagine how cool it would be to fly in a Spitfire, one of the most magnificent aircraft ever. I hope you get to experience your dream, Mitch.:smile2:

 

[Louis Badolato]

Louis...

I have been to snetterton heath a few times and, my wifes family or some, were at Raf Lakenheath before moving back to the US. so, have had some nice times driving around norfolk and the surrounding areas. I will get a spit ride one way or another but, some of the things I have done are a lot down to having family like yourself from WWII and RAF people are always interested in that and, having a brother in the RAF.

I think so long as your children grew up with an interest in history and not all the new fangled things people are more interested in that, it will be a nice thing for them to see such places. We are spoilt for choice with the plethora of sites that we have in the UK to visit.

I lived a short distance from Elvington airfield and, the amount of veterans who were their was astonishing. I ended up volunteering to work their just to spend more time. Nothing better. I was even there the day Richard Hammond crashed from Top gear. He nearly learned to fly that day!!!
Mitch

I'm doing my best to raise my children with an interest in history. I have a little shrine to each of my Uncles who served in WWII, and I tell them the stories of the sacrifices their Uncles, and all of that greatest generation, made so we can live free. I also take them to museums like the Intrepid (a WWII Aircraft Carrier in dry dock, with an aircraft museum on board) and the American Airpower Museum, and intend to take them to the actual historical cites in Europe once they get a bit older.

 

[ucla1967]

you fight with what you have at hand Rob. We had bomber command and Harris. It was total war and some will say it was a war crime. well, if they do, then equally, what the germans, the US in europe and far east and every nation that has bombed cities makes it a war crime. Just because we did it far more effectively than the german war machine could do does not make it a war crime.
Mitch

General Curtis Lemay, who was the architech of the American fire bombing campaign of Japanese cities, once famously said that if we had lost the war, he would have be hanged as a war criminal. He later went on to be the commander of the Strategic Air Command during the Cold War.

 

[Mitch]

Victors justice is often no where near that word. I am sure it would have been the same if the germans had won towards Bomber Harris and, others.
Mitch

General Curtis Lemay, who was the architech of the American fire bombing campaign of Japanese cities, once famously said that if we had lost the war, he would have be hanged as a war criminal. He later went on to be the commander of the Strategic Air Command during the Cold War.