Colin and Ewan McGregor fly an original Lancaster Bomber - Bomber Boys - BBC One

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Watch the BBC first on iPlayer 👉 bbc.in/iPlayer-Home More about this programme: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01byv2g Colin and Ewan McGregor fly in an original Lancaster bomber used in WW2 and explore the awesome WW2 fighting force that was Bomber Command.
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[@brytonite1694]

he just got the Highest ground

[@marcleslac2413]

Knew it!

[@cornwallgeezer]

I have my great uncle's log book who was a tail gunner and survived in the Lancaster! Brave men!!

[@rorschach-]

Wow, you have a great uncle ❤️

[@monteceitomoocher]

Tail end Charlie, the most dangerous position in the lancaster, very lucky guy to survive.

[@Sherwoody]

I’ve been in the tail gun position in a Lanc (Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum). It would have been a very scary place in wartime.

[@marcleslac2413]

My grandmas cousin was one aswell, but, he sadly was not that fortunate. Tail gunner is basically a intert foot here stickynote in a plane battle.

[@MarkHarrison733]

They were terrorists, like Hamas and ISIS.

[@Ghostface00007]

Another happy landing

[@Jack908r]

There’s a flying Lancaster in Hamilton Ontario just down the highway from my house. On the weekend flights it goes right over my house. And every time I hear it I rush out to watch it fly by. Amazing machine. You can buy a 40 minute flight on it as well. All money goes towards keeping it flying.

[@SamanthaGuttesen]

I know, I was happy to see it when it came to the UK in 2014. It flew with our lanc at many airshows. They even flew over a taxiable lanc that we have in Lincolnshire, at East Kirkby.

[@BillPurkayastha]

You're so lucky! I would have flown in it over and over again. Each time in a different crew position

[@simonbone]

@@BillPurkayastha It costs CAD 3,600 per seat for a 60-minute flight. If you have that kind of money, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum will be glad to hear from you (after the coronavirus closure ends). And don't forget to share your videos on KZbin.

[@zolfodor4835]

@@simonbone if i had the money,i would love to fly in that beauty,one day 👍❤

[@RoboTekno]

This is the type of entertainment that should be filling our TVs, not the useless rubbish we see nowadays. Great video :)

[@scott4240]

Spot on!

[@daemus0314]

No

[@VelvetMetrolink]

Yeah. If there's one thing we don't hear enough about in the UK it's WW2. Ffs.

[@adrianh332]

​@@VelvetMetrolinkStill better than love island made in Chelsea or TOWIE. What total 💩 modern telly is.

[@neilcunningham8938]

​@@adrianh332 agree most modern TV is not entertaining

[@RADIOACTIVEBUNY]

It almost brings a tear to my eye, the way you Brits so lovingly care for and remember your old warbirds.

[@jonsenior7001]

RADIOACTIVEBUNY And there's still plenty of us 30 somethings bringing up our children to respect and remember the fallen.......it's done at the risk of being labelled by the politically correct mob which is becoming more and more prevalent in Britain unfortunately. But FUCK them 🇬🇧

[@ruialexandre6197]

History should not be forgotten but learnt from. We are behaving like amnesiacs these days with obvious consequences.

[@FranceLiving]

My Grandfather flew in one during the war. How I wish he was still here to tell me his stories.

[@milly-moo9056]

My grandad was a pilot for the Lancaster. She was called Vertgeltungswaffe meaning Vengance Weapon .. she was the only German names aircraft in the Bomber Command. My grandad also got the DFC for landing her with a full b*mb load whilst having an engine on fire, but he had to wait as he was one of the first lot who took off... I've had the honour of meeting some of the crew, but I never got to meet my Grandad. What brave men and women they all were xx

[@warmairjockey]

Absolutely stunning flying, the story of the crews was very moving and I wholeheartedly take my hat off to them for such an incredible sacrifice in very difficult circumstances but it has to be remembered these boys were only doing what they were told. My two sons are the same ages now, as these lads were in 1943, truly amazing to think someone so young was taking one of these machines hundreds if not thousands of miles at night. Admiration.

[@fives2155]

Thank you for your kind words. My great grandfather was KIA in Bomber Command and it is nice to see someone honouring the sacrifice he made for once, instead of hating on him

[@admiralshackleford]

Damn it Obi-wan, that's not a starfighter

[@Rickster621]

+CameronJ His brothers Nickname is Obi-two

[@evanoconnor3781]

Flying is for droids

[@charonsferryold]

I have the high ground

[@redactedagentdataexpunged9431]

@@charonsferryold hello there

[@wellbeatemagain1904]

@Comrade Charlotte, oh yeah? Well I have the HiGHEST GROUND

[@eromnud47]

My Dad worked on the Merlin Engines during the war in England. I have Pictures of the Engines he worked on. Great Photography very graceful plane. Sorry but I loved the music. Wish he was still alive so I could show him the Video. Thanks Dad.

[@Lancaster4926]

I love what Ewan and Colin McGregor are doing making this documentary as well as the Battle of Britain documentary. -Fantastic stuff!

[@MikeRoberts1964]

My Great Uncle Geoff was part of a crew that went down over Germany...They think ack-ack detonated the bomb load...He was 22.

[@stevestruthers6180]

I too lost a relative in the war. My great uncle Victor was in the RCAF and part of the crew of a Halifax bomber. His aircraft was just one of over 600 bombers that was assigned to carry out a bombing mission over Berlin on January 29, 1944. His crew, along with 36 other crews, simply 'failed to return', in RCAF parlance. Nobody knew what happened to his plane - whether it was shot down by a fighter aircraft or blown out of the sky by anti-aircraft batteries positioned on the ground. None of the other crew members on his flight is known to have survived. Accordingly, his name is inscribed on one of the walls of the Runnymede Air Forces Memorial in Surrey, England as he has no known grave, like thousands of other Commonwealth airmen who made the supreme sacrifice in the Second World War. Eorum retinebimus (We shall remember them.)

[@MikeRoberts1964]

That's the thing, Steve...So many planes simply.... disappeared...In the fury of battle, crews were pre-occupied with their own craft and it was probably several minutes before they realised that one or more of the planes had slipped out of the formation, especially in RAF raids that were mostly at night...As well, these lost craft probably came down in pieces or disintegrated on impact, destroying much of the markings.....

[@Holztransistor]

Even if a plane is almost completely destroyed there are still parts that can help to identify it. Serial numbers on propellers, engines and other parts. But of course in times of war, the Germans salvaged the parts and didn't care. But if a wreck is found nowadays, the excavation team takes the time to investigate and often successful.

[@monteceitomoocher]

@@stevestruthers6180 my wife's uncle Ron also perished in a Halifax bomber, they were flying missions for the SOE and were dropping spies plus radios and packages concerned with it, the plane was lost over Norway and he was never found, his name also is on the Runnymede war memorial, best of a generation.

[@PeterStrider]

Respect! My great uncle was a tail gunner in a Lancaster, shot down over Essen in January 1943. My son and I recently visited the Australian War Memorial and were able to access his war records. Cause of death was listed "aerial battle" RIP brave young heroes

[@marmelendez]

I get goosebumps imaginening the sight and sound of 100s of these beautiful planes in formation flown by kids to defeat the pure evil of the Nazi regime... and the drone of 100s of merlin engines... indeed a special time in history... (meanwhile in the big brother house they are having a carrot peeling contest dressed in novelty size bunny ears and tails.... TIMEMACHINE PLZ! )

[@toofless4541]

What a beautiful aircraft.

[@DVjarhead]

My grandfather proudly volunteered to flight Lancasters well after he fulfilled military service in the RAF, he was a brave man who believed as long as a war was on everyone should stay in the fight until it was won… He was one of the many hero’s that never came back fighting for freedom. Live on Philip in the hearts and minds of all the No. 49 Squadron RAF of bomber command. You proud grand Son.

[@offtheice]

My great great uncle was the gunner on the Lancaster for the RAF and never came back after his crew ran out of fuel on a bombing mission to Munich, RIP

[@fives2155]

R.I.P to those who died in the service of RAF Bomber Command. You gave your lives for our freedom, and for that I salute you

[@zathras0015]

Kill the flipping music 🎶 I wish to hear the plane!!

[@vikingraider1961]

The grin on the face of "Obi-Two" when he takes control - what a big kid!

[@paulhubbard2033]

My mum lived in Ludford Magna in Lincolnshire when a Lancaster on the airfield a mile south of the village didn't make it into the air - fully bombed up. Blew out every window in the village. Nothing recognisable left.They did what they had to do to face down tyrany. Many died. Honour them, and remember: it could have been you.

[@daveb6371]

My mum watched a bomber burn on the airstrip at Brooklands during WW2 she said she could hear the men inside screaming.

[@simonbone]

@@daveb6371 As a navigator, my grandfather was the only one to get out of a burning Lancaster alive - and said the same thing about hearing the screams of the others. It could well have been his plane - but unfortunately this happened many times.

[@hughdman]

Thank you so much Ewan. 1943 my father's spending a year in England in Kimbolton flying B17s. For the last 60 years I've tried to imagine what that was like. Thank you for bringing me closer to the reality. Thank you brother for me too.

[@ShawnTheDriver]

Dammit, turn down that music! We want to hear those Merlins howl!

[@melanienagy6389]

I agree I would prefer to listen to the engines.

[@taofledermaus]

The music is a bit too much.

[@williamevans8042]

I felt the music added to the moment. I would have liked hearing engines a bit more but there are several other videos that really do a good job with hearing the Lancaster engines.

[@leon-thorehansen8523]

Are you under every (rc) plane Video? ^^

[@Thorney21]

Yeah shut up mate

[@Bobby-fj8mk]

I can hardly hear what the guy is saying because of the stupid music.

[@strangelman]

My thoughts EXACTLY every time i watch some moving/touching movieclip on the web that "HAS" to have dramatic/sad music in the background. Obviously we are so stupid and/or coldhearted so we need the music to understand that the clip is sad.

[@sazzy6264]

Beautiful aircraft, and the history is stunning. Great vid!

[@santinho212]

Absolutely stunning video. Thank you

[@IronManXXX]

Amazing job chaps...lucky bastards...many of us would love to be up there with you...what a ride...thanks for sharing....

[@TheSirjohn2012]

Otto I agree with you and if the music was muted and kept there it would have made a lot of difference,after all we want to hear those merlins at their fullest as the plane takes off.

[@sambeach2726]

Ewan and Colin’s shows on the bombers and fighters(in a previous doco) are great. Nice to see a celebrity give so much respect to our past. Ewan seems like a nice bloke.

[@peterdarnell9183]

Nicely put 👏

[@BeazleyStudios]

Such a beautiful, majestic plane.

[@ArcticEwi]

My favorite bomber of all times! Fantastic video

[@skipdowning2328]

What a beautiful, beautiful plane, all the more amazing because of it's heritage

[@revman417]

Why oh why do documentary makers all do the same thing, beautiful photography, great editing and them a musical soundtrack that blots out what I want to hear, the Merlins and the crew...sorry BBC you need to learn...and apologies to those of you who do like the musical soundtrack...

[@BradBrassman]

Yep, every frikkin time too!

[@HMSDaring1]

Gonna disagree with you here... The music adds far more feeling than an engine, engines are just white noise. For most of the public, who know little of flying, nor care for the sound of an engine the soundtrack adds much more immersion then a prop. I somewhat understand your point, but from a point of practicality, the BBC are far better off covering it with music. God knows, that most members of public wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the sound of a Merlin engine and a lorry starting up.

[@aaronseet2738]

+HMSDaring Exactly. The regular person is far more interesting in movie drama than boring engine noise. Guess why designers put in so much effort to make modern cars as silent as possible. They simple cannot relate to these types of sounds like enthusiasts do. While I personally do love to hear the roar of engines, I am one of those who believe it best experienced physically there in person to _feel_ it rather than simply hear it via speakers.

[@BazilRat]

I'd agree with everyone else, that the music would be better... if only it wasn't four Merlins. At least give us SOME of the noise

[@luckybabir]

revman417 meh.... ok you're right

[@waggas0349]

Très beau reportage, merci la BBC

[@flatbedbill]

What a beautiful ship the Lancaster is. Such a potent machine.

[@jamiecoons6690]

Makes me cry every time I watch this video

[@foofonix046]

I served at Conningsby and had the opportunity to work on the Lancaster as a Painter & Finisher. The plane is basically made of canvas and we got to repair a portion of it and while we waited, got a tour inside. Truly epic.

[@mitchellmcdowell8546]

Breathtaking

[@032adjutantreflex]

I'd do unspeakable things to fly in a Lanc. Such a beautiful aircraft 😍

[@khndenmark]

Beautiful bomber, thinking abouts all these life we lost during these 5 dark years

[@karenwesley332]

Simply magnificent.

[@robertaccioHVA]

Absolutely Brilliant

[@alessandrobientinesi2625]

La grazia con la quale alza la coda, e la leggerezza con cui spicca il volo e compie le manovre in quota hanno un che di magico!! Grande macchina e grandi gli equipaggi che mantengono in ordine di volo queste opere d'arte meccaniche

[@JamieDodson]

These brothers are so cool and fun!

[@imsneeky]

in Hamilton a few autumns ago and went to the air museum there,as it happens there was a lanc,maybe this one,parked outside running,as it had just taken someone up for a ride...i was near tears,grew up in love with warbirds,and this one was magnificent

[@MarsFKA]

Was that Hamilton, Ontario? If so, it was Vera, the Canadian Lancaster that you saw. The aircraft in this video is in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Britain.

[@magrpe]

My grandfather was a navigator/bombadier (the guy at the front were Ewan was) in a Lancaster during WW2. Awesome video...

[@-ewen]

Great video & music Posted my own flight here in the Lancaster. Flight in a Lancaster Bomber

[@jeanclaudedamamme9874]

Magnificent video. Stunning shot. Marvelous aircraft. Long ligne to BBMF. Lots of thumbs up. Sorry for possible typos. I'm. writing

[@Marcelo1965ist]

Amazing!

[@hannahprents236]

Truely epic. One of the kind.

[@lisannefranken-post768]

I feel so proud of Ewan :)

[@jeremyharker1575]

Our next door neighbour flew lancasters in the second world war, achieving over 30 missions including the dam busters raid. He was a navigator and always used to say not a very good one. I told him well you’re still here so couldn’t have been that bad. He could tell some stories. He died just before Covid struck, just a few weeks shy of his 100th birthday day. Fancy growing up with a next door neighbour like that.

[@ZippyThePinhead]

That had to be an exhilarating experience, not only to ride in, but to pilot that great piece of history. Congrats to Ewan, and Colin. 🙏 There are a few WW2 aircraft I would love to ride in, a B17, B29, and even though it's a single seater, I would love to be able to ride in P51 Mustang.

[@scottwaters2651]

Great video, but remember one thing though Lancaster's never had duel controls.

[@zoranmisic6766]

In the war, very brave man went with this to the hell and back many many times

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

That is one beautiful aircraft. -----should be more flying through out the world

[@gunsaway1]

BEAUTIFUL

[@terinasargeant138]

😭😭😭😭very emotional

[@kontxa63]

Very beatiful.

[@MINXC3]

As soon as the music started I paused the video and left this comment.

[@denismay6011]

Thank you for posting such a great tribute to a magnificent Airplane. But viewers need to turn down the music a bit. Cheers from Australia, Denis.

[@markorollo.]

I live five minutes away from the factory in Chadderton, Oldham, where a lot of Lancaster's were built.

[@FrankTheTank612]

What a beautiful plane.

[@TheMiltonroad]

RIP to my Great Uncle Flight Engineer who served on DV304 of 61 Squadron. Lost in action 18/19 th July 1943 x

[@boopus221]

that was great, my dad was a tail gunner in on of these...

[@pepecohetes492]

Some were converted to passenger airliners after the war; one infamous incident comes to mind, a Lancaster airliner augered into a mountain in Chile in the late 40s, only to be discovered decades later as the glaciers receded.

[@warhamster07]

+pepe cohetes Cool is that really true?

[@WirelessOctopus]

+warhamster07 Yes. Search for 1947 BSAA Avro Lancastrian Star Dust accident.

[@vally1609]

pepe cohetes v

[@SDLRob]

Majestic aircraft.

[@MrFranciscovenci]

Love it

[@aj-tp2yh]

Good work men

[@dapcing]

Four Merlin engines...

[@DavidDominguez25]

Pretty cool Ewan!

[@kobusdutoitbosman6240]

Magnificent recording : well done‼️ 👊🔥 🪖

[@nadogrl]

My Uncle was in the RCAF & flew in a Lancaster with the RAF. They were shot down on the 13th of June 1944, and miraculously 1 of the 7 crew survived. I wish I could have known him. My dad never talked about his brother, too painful I guess. Beautiful plane. Sue in San Diego

[@pierangelosassi257]

GREAT!!!!!

[@broski9938]

Obi-Two comin' at ya with another happy landing. How come its happy, you ask? He has the ultimate high ground.

[@yeaboi1994]

Lancaster amazing plane :)

[@TCUNC76]

Loved thier Battle od Britain dvd.........so please BBC for those of us not living in the UK....get this on on DVD please !!! Look tremendous ! Thanks TCUNC76

[@Bunionification]

Awesome

[@gerganamanolova1980]

beautiful

[@MrSmithyistheman]

i bet that was a day well remembered

[@Filmpilot]

Awesome.

[@gan9e]

These old boys in this film are my heroes.

[@jamiecoons6690]

We as Canadians have the other beautiful Lancaster!! If it wasn’t for all the young men that gave their lives for us we wouldn’t have what we have today. I LOVE ALL OF YOU THAT GAVE YOUR LIFE FOR ME!! Thank you 🙏🏾!

[@johndavid5618]

"A fine beauty till this day. ❤️ 🙌 💪🇬🇧✌️

[@bluemarshall6180]

I Love the Sounds of the Engines and the Music. What title Please?

[@user-mz9xu6os4h]

FANTASTIC One of my favourlite planes ❤❤❤❤❤❤ BEAUTIFUL ❤❤❤

[@brockducharme6948]

What a great bird! We have the second only flying lancaster in the world here in Hamilton. I see her out flying all the time

[@tweakiepop]

Pretty moving...cheers Beeb

[@DrBill-zv5dx]

Over the many years and stories of WW2 I’ve heard in legions, the best story I’ve ever heard was from a 90 years old Lancaster pilot who was impeccably dressed . He did 60 sorties all over Europe . Such a humble , yet sad man talking about the horrors of war. Very grateful for the beer I bought him. I’ll never forget this man. May he Rest In Peace ❤🙏🏼

[@MarkHarrison733]

He was a terrorist.

[@annonimusanynimus225]

Wow, This is cool! :D

[@juliusschwencke142]

...was sitting in a classroom when a French Lancaster, gifted to an Auckland technology museum, made a low pass over the city for its last flight before eventually being dismantled awaiting restoration. Now painted in the Livery of 75 (NZ) Sqn, RAF, under the moniker of The Captain's Fancy, it's a fitting tribute to an aircraft that completed 100 missions between May 1944 and May 1945. Rest in Peace, those that did not return, Bomber Command.

[@victoricron2745]

Que hermoso, muy lindo

[@WarrenNewman]

2:03 Pure joy

[@wingitprod]

Neat. I need to look up how many of these babies were produced. I fear these vintage planes are getting a bit too old to take up anymore. What a lovely experience.

[@ericsorbara5386]

Magnifique

[@simonlunt353]

I have been very lucky to stand behind the engineer and the pilot to my left of me on a taxy run in just Jane and WOW I will never forget this great experience to hear her Engine start up the sound of those Merlin engines just incredible

[@RealNotallGaming]

a piece of art . (point)

[@djlorean]

0:54 this scene is so magic *.*

[@bigmartin]

My grandfather was personally responsible for more Lancaster loses over Germany than anyone else in WWII... Yup, my grandfather was the worst mechanic the RAF ever had 🤪

[@BillPurkayastha]

Did he get the Iron Cross at least?

[@tomapp3608]

Your honesty worth respecting, but how would they know it was his fault when a plane crashed over Germany? I mean nazis were probably not too eager to send Britain the crash investigation results..

[@cameronalexander359]

I never realised how tight the cockpit ia... they're shoulder-to-shoulder!!!

[@MarsFKA]

The Lancaster was designed to British standards and requirements, which were along the lines of: think of a bomb load, design an aircraft to carry it, then, as an afterthought, figure out how to put a crew in there, somewhere. As an even more afterthought, give the crew some means of escape if they get into trouble.. I have "Lancaster The Biography" by Tony Iveson, in which he says only fifteen percent of the crews in shot-down or otherwise damaged Lancasters managed to bale out. The hatch under the bomb aimer should have been larger and the entry door in the rear was right front of the tail, so that anyone baling out through the door had to dive out or hit the tail. As well, moving around inside the aircraft was an obstacle course, getting over the top of the main and secondary wing spars. Great aircraft and it achieved great things, but very crew-unfriendly.

[@sandhopper599]

WOW!

[@fknucklewit]

Beautiful airplane.