Ditching in the North Sea - A Story of Survival

[@airstation2030]

our lives are forever changed by the actions and character of these children of the depression who reported for duty in the service of our country and saw a world at war we are blessed by their grace as their memory is not to be forgotten

[@leesherman100]

Another member of the "Lucky Bastard Club". An incredible tale of survival.

[@bobthomas5808]

Another great interview! Thanks so much for all of your outstanding work to preserve these wonderful aviators' history.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for watching.

[@VOOODOOO37]

wow the cavalier attitude, but underlying PTSD is so common with the WWII veterans, they wanted revenge, and wanted to win, they gave it their all, and didn't shy away from it. Just unreal to hear his survival story. True American hero, although he wouldn't want those accolades, he deserves it. Thank you Sir!

[@chrisphillips408]

My dad was a combat veteran of WWII and every time I see an interview of one of those men I think of dad and how much I miss him and miss that generation. I think how is America gonna continue without those men and women. I hang on every word of how they made it.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thank you for sharing your perspective. I don't believe we are going to see another generation of men and women as this group. When we interviewed them and they would begin to reflect on their WWII experiences they would have a certain....sincerity that is very endearing. Thanks for watching.

[@georgielancaster1356]

This was so moving. I gasped with distress when they were picked up, all safe, then strafed and one of the gunners was killed. I had been surprised at the start, because it seemed like they were safe. Then the navigator... I feel so stressed that I hear these terrible things, and I can't do anything to help. I know it is nuts, but it so distresses me. I want to reach back through time and make things right. And I couldn't help but weep when Bob started weeping. And I am weeping almost 15 years after he wept. That is the extraordinary gift - heartbreak of these recordings. So moving. I am always trying to see the young men, in the old. Often, I can't visualise the boy in the old man. Too big a jump. Or I see the faintest ghost of the boy. I am just so distressed, today, that there are almost none left, who served in WW2, after weeping with Bob. It is just so wrong. It might be biological fact, but it is just too sad. I just think they should get a bonus decade - a bonus 50 years.

[@Mrtom248]

These videos are amazing and a fitting tribute to the men. I've met a few veterans here in the uk and I am in awe of what they went through for freedom. Thank you for the videos.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching.

[@DataWaveTaGo]

AGAIN - What a wonderful man. Couldn't ask for a better human being.

[@jameswebb4593]

This is far and away the best interview of the series . At the completion of his tour he displayed what medics call today Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. A good black & white British film of the fifties pays homage to the RAF Airsea Rescue Service " The Sea Shall not have them ." By the end of the War they had saved 8000 aircrew and 5000 others around the world .

[@jpollard1984]

I just stumbled across this channel from other B-17 videos. I mean it when I say this channel and the interviews with these men are gold. Solid gold. The value of the stories told by these men can’t be calculated. Thank you for taking the time to share a few minutes with these great men.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thank you and thanks for watching.

[@johnhanson5943]

What a great chap and another wonderful interview. I reflect on these men today. They stood tall to defend our way of life, civilisation, democratic process and decency against totalitarian barbarism. Now it’s our time to stand tall and do the same! Never let their efforts and sacrifice be forgotten!

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Bob was a really wonderful guy. Thank you and thanks for watching.

[@1daddyDA]

Amazing! When I married my second Wife I moved to Gorleston outside Great Yarmouth over eight years ago now. What an amazing story. My late Fatter served with the British Army in WW2 and saw action in Burma and the Far East.

[@barryrudge1576]

Another wonderful story of a young man's ability to survive against all the odds during a time of conflict. Many of these men who survived WW2 are no longer with us and the majority who are still with us are well into their 90's and their stories need to be recorded and preserved for prosperity.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Well said and thanks for watching.

[@georgielancaster1356]

@@raymondmcfalone26 Did you interview any Americans or Canadians, or Brits who moved to USA, who flew Lancasters, in your interviews? I so wish I could have lined up 200 Brit vets for you to interview. So often, the Brit interviews are brief and the chap is never coaxed to talk. And I never hear the questions I long to ask. That is sadder and sadder as they disappear.

[@nervouspenguins9982]

Lovely man. Very courageous. 🇬🇧

[@seashepherds4959]

I have watched many of these interviews and so impressed by the great questions and responses. I know they mean it when they say "I'm not a hero" they are just COMMON MEN and this is what makes the United States great when we work together for each other. A Fanfare for the Common Man is all we need to rejuvenate our purpose to stay calm and carry on.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thank you for your insightful comments and thank you for watching.

[@burtthebeast4239]

Such a fantastic channel. THANK YOU SIR, GOD BLESS YOU ALL 🙏. I just don't have the words for all the Brave Men and Women who served During WW2. All that had to go on, in order to win. There's stories we will never know. TRULY THE GREATEST GENERATION. Taking nothing from those who served before and after. GOD BLESS ALL WHO SERVED AND, OR MADE A DIFFERENCE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. THANK YOU.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thanks for watching.

[@jammininthepast]

This man touched my heart and soul. God bless him and thank you to all that serve/served.

[@williamking2249]

Thank you for sharing these interviews with us🇺🇸👍

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Our pleasure! Thanks for watching.

[@natureschild2000]

All these accounts are well done and a preservation of the personal general history of WWII which show the nature of war and human nature. It is a great service and a tribute to those who fought. thank you

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thank you for your insight and thanks for watching.

[@karlaiken6152]

What a great story. Thank you Bob and thank you Ray for doing these videos....Lest we Forget.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

You are very welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@jerryogstad2775]

May GOD bless these men we are free today because of them

[@anthony1636]

A fine man who gave more than any of us could ever give thanks for. Here in the UK we have never forgotten all of those young men who fought alongside our own, and made the ultimate sacrifice. And those that lived, but never fully recovered from the horrors that will never leave them. Thank you.

[@robertmashburn8330]

Awesome Video of a Hero!!

[@MoreFormosa]

Thank you to the greatest generation and their sacrifices. Thank you for recording this wonderful history. Thank you to this veteran for his commitment and sharing his painful experiences. This veteran has unusual speaking cadence, speaks with a fast staccato, like a whispering machine gun. I think it helped him speak without the emotions overtaking him

[@raymondmcfalone26]

I never asked him specifically, but I think Bob had a neurological condition that affected his speech. Over the years I saw the condition worsen until he passed on. I'm glad we interviewed him before it got worse. Thanks for watching.

[@MoreFormosa]

@@raymondmcfalone26 That's awesome work, we are all thankful for that fact too... your work is irreplaceable.

[@Dark-7070]

Incredible thank you so much for preserving this important part of our history young men sacrificing all for us. Words cannot express our gratitude

[@stevel6939]

No shame in falling apart when it was over. Thats just stress relief.

[@johnjaco5544]

A true champion thank you

[@demiurgiac]

That was hard when he broke down... some emotions never leave you.

[@americanpatriot3638]

It's hard for me to see that and not feel just a little of what they feel. I ALWAYS end up with tear im my eyes when i see that.

[@staryjdido918]

Amazing story, Thank you for posting this video.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Glad you enjoyed it! Bob was such a great person to interview. His humanity is right there in his eyes.

[@m18tankdestroyer43]

Thank you for telling this video.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

You're welcome and thanks for watching.

[@j.dunlop8295]

Amazing the intensity of memory details, sixty years later. Survival in the north sea, very sketchy, limited success, cold. Close to shore, 5mi? Air and sea rescue, lucky, except for the sinking rescue boat! PTSD anguish. 🙏 "Let me go, he felt warm!" Last stage of hypothermia, you feel like warm and happy!

[@paulp96275]

Thanks Ray on my sea survival course you where told that in the North Sea or the channel in winter you last max of 10 minutes the summer months you may last 15 before Mr cold swims with you 👍👨🏻‍🏭🇬🇧

[@rrichardloring6717]

Tefel an island..Lucky cos gets rough at times...tides powerful too

[@theprofiler8531]

Great guy.

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

He's so sharp!

[@pup1008]

That was a very interesting part of a fascinating interview when he was talking about the death of navigator.... The fact he was calling for help could indicate that something had got him. There is currently a lot of debate here in the UK as to whether or not we have Great White sharks here, there are certainly BIG mako & porbeagle in the channel. I think there was a remote chance the guy was taken by a shark.....😕

[@grandadlovestheo2387]

Such a cool guy 👍🇬🇧

[@donharvey4237]

Love his story

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Bob was such a sweet and kind man. I enjoyed interviewing him very much. Thanks for watching.

[@marknelson5929]

Excellent indeed, many thanks! Do you know what happened to Bob after his tour was over, did he go back to the states to instructional/trainee duty or leave the military etc.? I was fortunate to meet the pilot of the 'Memphis Belle' a number of years back, lovely guy.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

You can watch Bob's complete interview at the following link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioPUaZ5mZ8iKfrc

[@PaddyPicasso]

So many sacrifices for a better world

[@nelsonde]

Kids killing kids. He had been carrying that realization around for a long time.

[@swright5690]

Jesus....kids killing kids....that got me in the feels too...

[@garrydeutschlander7404]

Wars have always been fought by teenagers.

[@woodgreen8982]

i live on texel my grandfather used to live in the horentje on texel during the war. ad night a bomber crashed outside the harbor mouth of the teso boat, my grandfather got into a boat and saved 1 of the pilot.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thank you for sharing your family story. Most interesting.

[@woodgreen8982]

@@raymondmcfalone26i also got a picture of the pilots /gunners. en a friend of mine got the buggles of a parachute from one of the pilots so maybe the one my grandfather saved .after dey where on dry land dey where brought to a farm where dey got aressted . my english is bad hope you can understand sumthing about it.2839 is the number on the nose of the plane

[@jamesmcgee1311]

go see the 390th bomb group museum, in Tucson, AZ. VERY GOOD WORTH THE TRIP. A COMPLETE B17 IN MIDDLE OF MUSEUM.

[@pfossful]

Maybe a shark got the member of the crew ? (sea member)

[@stevenhuckaby2902]

Helluva Man

[@ddtrahan]

This should be a mandatory watch in every grade in America. “Kids killing kids.”

[@paulw176]

Two Nazi's went thumbs down.

[@oceanhome2023]

Kids killing Kids triggered him so true !!!