Lancaster bomber at 80

[James Curry]

Anyone catch the Channel 4 programme on tonights TV, Not sure if it was a repeat

The Lancaster Bomber at 80. Certainly worth a watch. From the development stage into the Bomber it became. So many Bomber command crews lost something like 46% lost. Brave young men one and all.

[Doc Vernon]

My late Uncle Trevor MacDonald was a Wing Commander in the RAF, was with Bomber Command through WW2. Very lucky to not have been killed, but did sustain bad injuries in a Shootdown. Similar with my late Dad who was in the SAAF, but also served alongside the RAF , he too was shot down, bailed out of the Avro Bomber but was caught on the rear Wing Tip, sliced a terrible gash into his back and sides, he fell unconscious to the ground, luckily found and taken to the nearest Hospital where he received 145 Stiches around his midrif! Some of those Guts were Lucky, and others not so! All though true heroes!

[j.sabourn]

#2 That’s not the same Trevor MacDonald as the BBC newscaster was it Vernon ? JS

[Doc Vernon]

#2 That’s not the same Trevor MacDonald as the BBC newscaster was it Vernon ? JS

No JS , not him mate! This one was Trevor de Trafford MacDonald Full time RAF untill retirement! Cheers

Trevor McDonald - Wikipedia We are MacDonald Not McDonald !And Scotts too.

[Doc Vernon]

MY REAL DAD , CHARLES BURCHETT FROM FARNBOROUGH , HAMPSHIRE [ later had a stepdad , took his surname as he brought me up / respect ] ..my dad CHARLES BURCHETT was a rear / Tail end Charlie , gunner
on Lancaster Bombers during the war stationed at St Mawgan / St Evel , Newquay . Cornwall .
he meet my mum who was a WAAF there , she was a local girl from the village of St Columb Minor near Newquay .
he was a Warrant Officer .
When i was born in 1946 we first lived in the Prefabs at Hillgrove Road , Newquay . Cornwall .
Who started life in a Prefab ?

TONY MARTIN / OLDGIT

My post #2 Tony i Omitted to say that my Dad was also Rear Gunner like your Dad , and was a Leuitenant!
Cheers

[James Curry]

Watching that programme last night what those crews went through does not bear thinking about. How it must have affected them in later life. PSTD something that was not realised at that time for what it was. The same must have applied to MN Crews and all forces members. Children living through the Blitz, sadly millions around the world the same. We will never learn, today in Horoshima the G7 members laid wreaths to remember the war dead.

[happy daze john in oz]

Similar prog here in Oz, but about the Dam Busters and the aircraft used then.

[James Curry]

John you may get the Lancaster at 80 programme soon as we had the Dam Busters programme about 2 weeks ago. the raid was carried out 16&17 May 1943. 133 aircrew lost their lives with 3 captured.

[Doc Vernon]

My late Uncle on this list Trevor de Trafford MacDonald
Cheers

Royal Air Force Officers 1939-1945 -- M (unithistories.com)

Tony possibly you could Email this site and ask about your Dad as well, i did and got my Uncle put on, with of course information i had at hand! Just a thought
Cheers

Royal Air Force Officers 1939-1945 -- B (unithistories.com)