What a WW2 Bomber Crew Looked Like
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- Flight Lieutenant Thomas presents his merry crew, full of Australians, Brits, Canadians and a Frenchman!
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![Inside a Halifax Heavy Bomber: Crew, Turrets and Guns [HP Halifax 2/2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2zypfAVMRJc/mqdefault.jpg)
![Inside a Halifax Heavy Bomber: Crew, Turrets and Guns [HP Halifax 2/2]](/img/tr.png)
Big thank you to FL Thomas for showing off his kit and presenting his crew! Today is Friday 13th so a perfect day for this video to come out as the Halifax in the background is indeed 'Friday the 13th'. Also, tomorrow is France's National Day so happy to give my francophone friends an extra feature here!
I remember re-enacting with these chaps back in May, great group to work with
Hey Bismarck are these guys from Australia?,also if you plan on Coming to Australia there are heaps of WW1 Re-Enactment groups
Hey Fritz - fantastic video - background and presentation could not be better!
Friday 13th was named by Flying Officer H J King, RNZAF born Dunedin Nov 1922
Friday the 13th and a bomber with the same name. It is as if it was planned. :)
Excellent kit, chaps! Very smart and accurate. I believe that the preferred term in the R.A.F. was Bomb Aimer. Bombardier was the term used in the U.S. Air Force. My father was a heavy bomber pilot with 61 Sqn. during WW2, flying Hampdens, Manchesters and Lancasters, but he flew a number of 'heavies', including the Halifax and the first two thousand bomber raids in a Wellington, while with training units. The usual R.A.F. term for a bombing trip was an operation or sortie; the Americans called them missions. He was a lucky pilot - 52 operations with all his crew members safe, despite plenty of ventilation, courtesy of the Luftwaffe and flak. Very sad that so many other fine young men were not so fortunate.
Pete Hall It seems luck was on his side, glad he made it out alive.
Bombardier is used as well as bomb aimer in the UK, bombardier coming from the rank in artillery.
Bomb Aimer was the official term used in RAF and Commonwealth forces during WW2, with the equivalent in the US being Bombardier. This has been confirmed with the Imperial War Museum. I cannot say whether Bombardier was used by some, but Bomb Aimer was the official crew title. Training schools were operated for Pilots, Navigators and Bomb Aimers in the US, as well as in the Commonwealth, so that may account for some cross-over.
Interesting, my father was a Radio operator with a bomber crew Raf. We even had a Gibson girl which I used to crank up as a child, tough going for a kid to he used to instruct me of the bail out procedure and use of life raft equipment while ditching. We even had the yellow kite, my dad's big leather fleece jacket I used to wear, it hung up in the garage for years. God rest his Soul.
In 1944 my father was a wireless operator in 425 squadron, the Alouette Squadron in Tholthorpe, Yorkshire. I've been trying to find what the rear gunner's cap is called, but I don't think Mr. Thomas specifically names it. I'm sure they had some kind of name for it, and in fact I have a few photos of my father wearing something similar. Regardless, this is a great video. My sincerest thanks to those who still care enough about the events of WW2 to educate others today.
I still have some of my father's R.A.F. kit, including Irvin sheepskin jacket, service and field caps, helmet, etc. His flying gauntlets are still as soft and flexible as the day they were made nearly 80 years ago!
If I were one for envy, I would so envy you, your dad...
Movie stars, etc mean nothing, but one of the old air crew members is heroworship time, for me. I can't believe they are almost extinct, now. In my heart, I feel they should have been given an extra lifetime. Mankind has really lost a lot with their passing. It's always rather surprising, though of course, the dream for most, to hear of them living normal suburban lives, after such amazing early adulthoods.
One of the Dambusters earned his living, for a while, selling insurance, door to door! It seems impossible, but there it is...
A front page hero, now knocking on doors, having most slammed in his face!
If I could, I would have bought your dad a beer... :-)
Many thanks for your very kind comments. Incidentally, my father knew many of the crew members on the Dams Raid, including Guy Gibson. Brave men all.
@@petehall889 I just feel so sad I could not meet them - I just cannot imagine having such an extraordinary young adulthood.
To have had that experience, to have been one of so many, yet so few.
I honestly get that feeling of absolute loss that they are gone. It is as though you hear of your biggest heroworships, are told where and when they will be there, but then hear they died suddenly. Every new name is a hard loss to my heart.
Did he ever talk about different lads who were the animal lovers - the kitten smugglers, the dog lovers?
Did he mention any lads who were the jokers, the good singers, the really clever swotters, who always knew interesting things?
Do you know if any survived the war?
That is amazing Pete! Lucky to own your dad’s equipment.
Who else wants to see Bismarck in period cosplay? ;)
Bismarck in luftwaffe parade uniform 👌
My uncle David was a Sgt Gunner on Halifax V LK-685 from 431squadron, 6 Group, RCAF. They failed to return from operation December 3/4 , 1943. The pilot was W/O2 Ritchie RCAF, and the crew were Sgt B Hornung RCAF, F/OJ Shannon RCAF, F/Sgt Fulham RCAF, Sgt V Jenkins RAF, Sgt J. MacMullin RCAF, Sgt D. Lyford-Pike RAF (my uncle, rear gunner.) except the Pilot W/O Ritchie they all survived and were POW for the rest of the war.
My first cousin, once removed, was in 77 Squadron, flying in a Halifax II ,HR841 as a Sergeant Air Gunner. He was Canadian, but his parents came from Jersey CI. His aircraft was lost over Berlin on the 29th Jan 1944 after a collision with a night fighter. Three other aircraft were also lost that night. Three weeks later the squadron was taken off the bombing of Berlin, due to the very high casualty rate.
@ 2:22 he says mission, this is an Americanism, the Empire/Commonwealth forces used the word Operation, often shorted to Op.
Really interesting to see the uniforms & the guys looking very authentic, really sets it of to see both aircrew & aircraft together at there stations. Also Nice touch to see a free French airman, Canadian & Australian in remeberance of all the nationalities that served in the air force. Thanks for making this vid!
Interesting vid. Btw, in the RAF the chap who released the bombs was called the Bomb Aimer, not Bombardier.
Excellent, really nice to have the chaps been introduced and some things explained about their gear an such. Nice also the shots inside them playing the part! xD
ahhh they had a canuck in the turret..no wonder they came home safe every time. ;)
Well that and the Aussie pilot.
Most underrated channel on UA-cam
This makes all my childhood fascination with Bomber Crews and research on the subject come to life!
Behind the scenes pre recording: "low life expectancy of a rear gunner? hmm... ok lads we are going to put Free French there" ;)
Another outstanding video, many thanks!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
And old neibour was a Halifax flight Engineer,he said he used to deliver steel to Berlin!
Would the gunners have been officers or enlisted? Seems like a lot of officers on that crew. Either way, it's cool. Very cool. And not inexpensive, I'm sure.
It's possible but not very likely, for a specifically British/Commonwealth RAF crew. As a general rule (there are always exceptions), Pilots were Officers or Fl/Sergeants, Radio, Bomb Aimers and Navigators were more likely to be Officers (as maths was very much a requirement, for navigation and targeting, they had to be better educated - higher education generally resulted in Officer rank) the gunners were most likely to be Fl/Sergeants - my late uncle was a "tail end charlie" and for most of his service was a Fl/Sergeant.
Airmen from the the occupied nations who flew with the RAF, retained whatever rank they had held in their country of origin, so it would be perfectly possible for a crewman from those nations to be officers, no matter what task they undertook in a bomber. That said, everyone took their orders from the pilot once on a mission, even if he was the lowest rank of all - the Captain of an aircraft is always in charge.
I applaud J. Corbett's reply and I have been trawling through my father's WW2 papers. I found a Feb 1941 photo of him with his crew by their Hampden Bomber (code letters QR C , named 'Queen of the Air'), when he was on his first tour of ops with 61 Sqn.. He and his Rear Gunner were Pilot Officers and his Wireless Operator and Navigator were Sergeants. By July 1941, my father had been promoted to Flying Officer, with two further crew as Pilot Officers and just the W/op a Flight Sergeant. The Squadron Operations Record Book at that date shows that a number of Hampden crews in 61Sqn. consisted exclusively of Sergeants. I further note several crews where there was an Officer Pilot and crew of Sergeants. I have rooted out a copy of a gunnery report, dated 23rd February 1943, that my father retained when he was on his second tour of Ops. with 61 Sqn., now a Squadron Leader. Their Lancaster was attacked with cannon-fire by a JU88 nightfighter near Bremen, but the mid-upper and rear gunners drove it off, claiming hits on the enemy aircraft. The very comprehensive report on the course of the engagement is signed by the Rear Gunner, a Pilot Officer and the Mid-Upper Gunner, a Sergeant. My father's Lancaster crew consisted of one Squadron Leader, two Pilot Officers, one Warrant Officer and three Sergeants, though apart from the two mentioned in the Gunnery Report, I cannot say which crew stations they occupied.
God I wish my girlfriend turned me on this good
idem
In 2000 i flew in a B-17. I t was absolutely amazing. The noise was deafening. The rear gunner and ball gunner had to be really small brave guys. it lasted 20 minutes and was on my bucket list. plane was called nine-0-nine. Sadly i crashed around 2018 i think and 5 were killed.
Good evening,
I just have discovered this video a couple of minutes ago. I would like to thank Flight Lieutenant ( exact abbreviation : F/Lt ) Thomas and his crew for showing us what a bomber crew would look like between 1943 and 1945. As a true R.A.F. and Commonwealth air forces enthusiast, it almost pleases me, really. Almost ? Because, if you don't mind, I have noticed two big mistakes :
1. F/Lt Thomas introduces us to F/Lt Grundstrum as a " Bombardier " ! Oh, come on !!!! The appropriate term used in the R.A.F., as well as in the Commonwealth air forces ( mentioned a year ago by Pete Hall ), was " Bomb Aimer ". " Bombardier " was the term used in the U.S. Army Air Force. The same mistake, I still wonder why, has been made in the film " Lancaster Skies " ( a 70 percent disappointment ).
2. F/Lt Thomas introduces us to Sgt Harris as a " Radio Operator " ! Oh please, why don't you use the appropriate term : Wireless Operator ?!!!!!
Despite the two mistakes mentioned above, I would like to take my hat off to you, fellows. Perhaps we will see each others on some next occasion ? Normally, I would be invited at the Bastogne War Museum ( Belgium ) for the " Nuts Weekend " event, which would take place in mid - December 2019.
Keep up the good work, chaps!
Have a nice evening.
Cheers.
Love some history, makes the day better and possibly even the weekend!
Best, IC
Well done, lads! Smile, please, we're trying to encourage those on the Home Front, eh?
Certainly one of the most moving tribute's to the “Many.”
I'm sure Ole Bert, has already witnessed this herein.
And called up 8 Group, to get Don to tell his men.
Certainly the resolute, dedicated and serious; whom carry their own cross of Lorraine.
All with great aircraft of the perfect Plan, for history will cherish their fame.
With such great hardworking Groundcrew, and cohesion within the bomber stream.
From Blenheim's to the Halifax heavies, for eternity they'll fly unseen.
Always wondered how LeBeau found himself in a LuftStalag
The more I consider it the more I believe that deletion of the turrets on these RAF bombers would have been best. Two less crew, a considerable saving in weight which could be used for armour or make for a lighter, faster aircraft.
Fantastic video, and thanks a lot to these fine gentlemen as well
Great clip and subject, but there was no such thing as "Bombardier" in the RAF, RAAF, RNZAF, RCAF, it was known as "Bomb Aimer" in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Australian, New Zealand, Canadian Air Forces respectively. "Bombardier" is equivalent to Corporal in the British Army's Artillery Corps (pronounced "core" as it's a French word, and in this context it means a Branch or Arm of Service), i.e Royal Artillery (RA), Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), Royal New Zealand Artillery, etc. In a Bomber context "Bombardier" is uniquely American, as in the WWII US Army Air Forces (USAAF), Army Air Forces (AAF) or Army Air Corps (the United States Air Force or USAF from 1947 onwards when it was created as a seperate Service) only.
Bombardier was used in the RAF in WWII, although sparingly. It's a bit like the ops vs mission debate. Both were used by the RAF in WWII.
Nice treat and thanks for filming that for us. I'd love to read a historical account of a ditched or crashed crew having to use that portable radio having successfully launched its kite. There's got to be a case where it was used. That would an interesting and exciting historical account to read, I think.
I think I remember reading something to that effect from the perspective of another crew that watched them go in. In that case of course the people still in the air were able to guide search and rescue to the downed crew, so the emergency radio wasn't used, but what is interesting is the recovery method: if you were close to shore a patrol boat would come out and pick you up, but at longer distances they would actually launch a Vickers Warwick bomber with a lifeboat strapped to the underside- the boat would then be air-dropped for the crew to get into and sail back to the UK.
Yes, I've seen those pictures, for sure, of it strapped underneath. I believe a similar thing was done in the Pacific for downed crews and pilots, though I think in those cases it may have been motorized and a sail. Not sure. I recall seeing it slung beneath both B-17s and B-29s. Interesting stuff.
Let's not forget the pigeons who saved so many, whilst so many died.
Excellent job chaps! A bomber aircraft from ww2, along with it’s crew is authentic! I actually have a P-51D Mustang, and the pilot suit too. Maybe i could escort you sometime!
My great uncles sold all of my great grandfathers raf stuff
What??? A" bombardier"? There was no such crew position in a WW 2 RAF bomber. The RAF employed 'Bomb Aimers', not Bombardiers. Although this may seem like a relatively minor point, it does tend to cast doubt on your level your understanding of the subject matter.
Crew inside a bomber
hmmmm
Bismarck, Bo, Loli
Tik, Lindy, Jingles
and PhlyDaily, so it'll market well to the Americans.
bombardier: Squire. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES
Bo: aahhh... Bis there is a fighter behind us. HE IS SHOOTING! OW HE IS SHOOTING!
Luv ur vids dude
this is amazing, would like to see tanks like this
Afraid I don't quite follow you, squadron leader.
Nice video as always Bismarck! Thx for upload:)
Hahaha nice timing (today is friday the 13) 👍
And great video too, as usual 😎
Great.....thank you!
Great stuff Thankyou for posting. Must be low level Op as not an Irvin to be seen..!
As a Kid of the 13th (Sunday) I approve of this bomber name and this episode! ;)
One question, was this beauty fired up?
just saw this and very well done
The free French pilot was so nervous he was about to surrender to the camera crew.
Was the position called bombardier or bomb aimer? It was my understanding that bombardier was American? Maybe the Australians also used it
Well this crew ain't gonna be flying at altitude. -40° for 4-5 hours in an aircraft with zero insulation.
Woolly jumpers, silk scarf, electric heated suits, Irvin sheepskin jackets or and trousers.
These guys would not last long during the winter campaign of 1943 44 against Berlin.
you can easily see the bombardier's guilt,he's most definitely has been over Dresden for more than 10 times
Hamburg?
very good ...except...WHERE ARE THE PIGEONS AND PIGEON BOXES?
The RAF observer parachute harness doesn't have D-ring connector (which stay the parachute container in position), so, if the crew bailed out, would the parachute container fly up from its position? (this can make the crew die)
ofc they put the frogs at the back of the craft
nathan de crom wtf
This was nice, thanks!
I was wondering about the differences of kit each position had. I'm kinda surprised how little change in dress each person had.
Love u bis! Keep up the great work!
Is there a guide to sewing uniform insignia?
could be worse, could be a B17 ball gunner.
Man, I wish I had a job like that.
Australia Australia Australia, God bless you
Anyone else playing the game "Bomber Crew" and watching this?
Hello, I work for a musuem and need some help. I've been working on referbing a UH-C1 huey CAS. I'm looking for the Federal Stock and Manufatures part number for Pilot and CO pilot XM-60 reflecx sights. I have about 5 service manuals for the heli but can't find the numbers. If you can help it would be mutch appreciated.
Could the Flight Engineer land the plane?
An engineer flying back the plane. Intresting what if the engineer is dead aswell?
I believe ANY of the crew could fly the plane rudimentary . My father was in the RCAF in Italy. He was a navigator, and he could fly their Lancaster if need be. I think this may have common in Commonwealth Air Training Programme.
Where can you get the type 41 flying boots?
thanks for sharing this. I have a follow up question, what efforts if any did the Japanese employ on recovering downed airmen? I know they had seaplanes, but how effective were they on rescuing pilots.
In the far east the Japanese operated a considerable number of flying boats and float planes as bombers, anti-submarine and even fighter aircraft. As far as I know, unlike the Germans the Japanese operated no aircraft as a dedicated air sea rescue craft. One of the major issues facing the Japanese Naval Air Arm was an insufficient number of trained pilots. From Midway onwards the attrition rate of Japanese naval pilots was very high. Japan's Navy started the war with by far the best pilots in the world, capable of long range navigation and night-flying, very quickly the lost their most skilled airmen.
Where is Jingles when you need it ?
Where did the pilot get the RAAF hat?
Amazing
?Are all items of clothing and equipment original
Of course french need white color shirt
Yup, cheap and easy to make. Perfect for military wear, Luftwaffe also used them.
+ Military Aviation History
I think that was going towards another lame American 'the French always surrender' joke.
Want to hear another one? French tanks go faster in reverse!
@ you people are so sensitive
@ nah I mean the arrogant butthurt Frenchys
I wish I was there...
When was that? I was at the museum the other day.
A few months ago during a special event
G'day,
Well, mate, mixed feelings on this one.
As an Aeroplanologist, I fully understand the deep fascination of aquiring and possessing & learning about bits of Kit which pertain to long gone Aeroplanes, & the people who flew them ; when I was about 6 years old I used to wind my grandfather's Sam-Browne Belt twice around my waist (from his days in the Australian Flying Corps in WW-1) and climb up to perch atop the Rotary Clothes-Hoist in the backyard, pretending to fly my Sopwith Camel over the Trench-Lines of France..., imagining the sweet scent of the half-burnt Castor Oil... (olde Bean) !
However it's difficult to not regard it as being a bit weird for a bunch of Grownups to have gone to such extraordinary lengths to recreate the assemblage of Uniforms, Caps, Badges, Kit and Caboodle..., all to be able to (essentially) gather together to play Dress-Ups, and sit in a (beautifully) restored old Halifax, and and therein (presumably) "reinact" what they imagine the Intercom Conversations would have been ; ie,
"Rear-Gunner to Pilot, Night-Fighter Aporoaching, 5 O-Clock High ; Corkscrew Starboard - Go !",
or perhaps,
" Bomb-Aimer to Pilot, we're smack on the Run-up now Skip...., Steady..., Left, left, Steady..., Steady..., Right..., Steady..., Steady......., Bombs Gone...!, Oh NO, Shit..., Skipper, don't turn yet - what about the Photoflash..?!".
All while pretending to hear the concerted roaring of 4 times The Sound Of Round, growling away on the Wings...
The French Accent from the "Rear-Gunner" was pretty good, but nobody in the RAAF ever sounded like that "Pilot"..(!).
To be honest though, when I have beheld "Reinactors" marching up the mainstreet of my hometown's Celtic Festival, the Platoon of English Redcoats with their Brown-Bess Muskets and the Roman Legionaries (in shiny Chromed Armour !) have competed in my estimation for the position of which was the more ridiculous spectacle - the Redcoats, the Legionaries, or both of them marching in a Parade of Antipodean Celtic Clans, all stepping out to the sound of Bagpipe Bands...(?) !
It's only the Aeroplane in this context, and my own personal prejudices and predelictions, which rescues these Bomber-Command Aircrew Reinactors from being seen as an equally anachronistic bunch of Wannabe's - all systemstically glorifying the institution of War in general, and the mass Firebombing of Civilians in particular (see the Nose Art on the Halifax..!).
One wonders if they afterwards sit around drinking Pints of warm weak English Beer, practising their singing of the Drinking-Songs popular in Bomber-Command Aircrew's Messes in 1943 ?
"We shall bomb the
Blind and Helpless,
We shall kill the
Halt and lame...
We'll burn Mothers and their Babies,
For they're Germans ;
All the same....!".
" Cheers, Matey, here's Mud in y're eye !".
Mind you, between 1980 & 1984, as a Student at a Repatriation Hospital (RGH-Concord, Sydney), I nursed some 2,000 Veterans of every Military Adventure in which Oz was ever involved, from 1914 to 1984, for an average of 10 days each ; and it was those Veterans who re-educated my own understanding of War, Warriorism, and Military Forces - leading me to realise that ALL War is ALWAYS total BULLSHIT, regardless of whomsoever one fights for, or against, when, or where, or "what for" - because 20 or 30 years after they stop shooting at each other, the surviving Combatants on all sides are gathering together in Pub's beside their old Battlefields, on the annual anniversaries, to eat & drink & get pissed together and swap stories of how very Scared they used to be, of each other, back when they were trying to kill each other - and all because they had all foolishly believed all the Bullshit which their Parents, Teachers, Neighbours Magazines, Newspapers, Movies, Newsreels and Politicians had told them - about each other...
So, yeah..., while I realise that these blokes in the Video are all very well meaning, and earnest, and that they've all worked very hard to reach such a pinnacle of Mimicry....; they have apparently missed the whole point of the prayer,
"Lest We Forget The Horrors Of War..."
Probably because the Recruiters who organise Memorial Services for Wars past always assiduously amputate those final 4 words, thus deliberately malappropriating the meaning of the whole, in their presentation of Half of the Story ; whereas half of The Truth is ALWAYS 100% of a Lie, in Real Life...
Just(ifiably ?) sayin'.
Take it easy,
;-p
Ciao !
+Gannicus
G'day,
Thanks.
Let me guess, you're a Chome-Plate Armoured "Roman" Reinactor, with purple Plastic Pig-Bristles on your favourite Helmet ?
Or some other form of "Reinacting" Wannabe, perhaps ?
And, how many War Veterans have you nursed, when you were picking up the pieces left over after "a jolly good War" is over ?
At least I've had enough to do with the Subject to be qualified to pass an informed opinion on the matter...
I had one patient die on me in 1982 from Cardiac Arrest due to Septicaemic Shock following yet another surgical attempt to debride & clean the never-healed Gunshot-Wound through & through his Left Knee in what had been a straight line in 1942 when he was sitting on a Dispatch-Rider's Motorcycle he was riding in Malaya, at the moment a Japanese Air-Gunner strafing the Road shot him off the Bike ; and the foetid Jungle Mud from the Drain beside the Track that he fell into got into the Wound, and he'd spent 40 YEARS limping & doing Dressings on the Entry & Exit Wounds - becsuse
+WarblesOnALot
Oopsie,
Sent Early by Finger-Trouble.
...because he didn't want to lose his Leg.
So, nope, I definitely will NOT "stfu"..., not to please the ignorant likes of You.
Such is Life...
Have a good one,
;-p
Ciao !
WarblesOnALot nah mate I'm just an internet troll who loves history and I must say I'm extremely sorry if not ashamed of my response to your comment. Carry on
Warble on, brother.
"Lest We Forget The Horrors Of War..." - You want us to never raise armed forces again?
Or do you want us to recruit soldiers, sailors and airmen by showing them pictures of amputees, dead people, burned down houses and rape victims?
Excellent, sad more french couldn't be saved at dunkirk .. and their fleet in north africa.
I must admit that I don't "get" the whole reenactment thing. Dad was a navigator in B-17s and I grew up listening to the war stories of him and his friends. Oddly enough... his two best friends were "Klaus", a Luftwaffe Bf-109 pilot with three kills, and "Mr. Abe" who crashed during his first training flight while he was on a path to, probably, become a Kamikaze pilot. Funny. All three of them probably survived the war through being wounded and missing the final flurry of action.
None of them thought their experiences were cool or ever demonstrated any desire to revisit them in this way. I don't think there's any disrespect intended but the whole thing strikes me as being a bit silly and creepy.
The heroes of the past trod their own paths and we tread ours.
Some people play football for the excitement but sometimes that’s not enough and people need to go to the extremes to have more fun, like airsoft.
It looks like several non reenactors don't "get" it. Its like an actor acting his / her favourite part person. Many veterans I spoke about reenactors dont seem to mind at all. It struck me that many veterans are pleased that (good) reenactors go into the efford to represent the men and the unit they once served in. Could be that they are able to talk to reenactors about the long forgotten "boring" aspects of military life that most other people are not interrested in.
Need to stop rewriting History ! ! Reality is that most of the Crew were not Officers, but Sergeant's etc ,, simply to keep costs down .. RIP all those lost..
hello bro
Would there really be that many officers in one plane, even the gunners?
It was possible but rare in RAF crews, less rare in Commonwealth crews. Most NCO Pilots, Navigators and Bomb Aimers would have eventually been Commissioned if they had survived long enough. Promotion for them could be fast due to losses - three times a year was not unusual. Flight Engineers, Radio Operators and Air Gunners that had not progressed to a second Tour would mainly be a maximum of Flight Sergent. If promoted further they would generally still be NCOs, Warrant Officer or, later, Master Aircrew but some were Commissioned. Being Commissioned was much more common in the Commonwealth airforces so this 'all officer' crew would have been seen more often in an 'International' crew like this.
I wasn't really surprised about the Bombardier, Navigator, and Copilot (or flight engineer for the British) would have been commisioned in the US Army Air Force. I was surprised that they would have a commissioned tailgunner.
PS. They are also a bit old. Crew age was generally from 19 years to mid 20's with an average of 21.
Lieutenant *DAB* by
Sehr interessant
An all officer crew?
Flight engineer was a sergeant
How many Halifax were ever Made?
Including all the variants, 6,176 according to the Wikipedia article. Only 3 survive - this one, one in Canada and one unrestored 'skeleton' in the RAF Museum in Hendon
Wow
Good video but...Air gunners would have been NCO's!
Not true. Off the top of my head, I can think of one notable exception - Flt Lt Richard Trevor-Roper, of Guy Gibson's original Dam Busters crew.
@@rogercooper4817 Andrew Mynarski VC was a pilot officer.
You're right there were many air gunners who were officers.
A lot of it depended on their experience and survivability as to whether they got commissioned
Vive les FAFL ! ^_^
RAAF NUMBER 1
It doesn't fly does it?
I've seen the Halifax in Canada (Trenton Ontario) and they say it's in flying condition but they will never fly it since it's one of the only ones left.
It is priceless !
Frenchy says “uh” a lot lol
I don’t think that guys hat could be less on his head.
99 likes
Very interesting, but nit fully authentic. You would never have a crew on a british bomber, all officers!
Retired Warrant Officer I
In my dad's Squadron's orbs I've seen crews that were all officers but it was rare.