Private Tour Of A Fallen WW2 Bomber | Forces TV

A rare example of an early World War Two bomber has been pulled back together for the first time since its wreckage was discovered. Only three Hampden bombers of the original 1,430 are left. This one, which was discovered 27 years ago at a crash site in Russia, is the best - and the subject of a painstaking restoration project at the RAF Museum in Cosford.
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[@jennyleech5717]

My Mum was the lady mentioned who sewed the Irish linen onto the air frames of the Hampdens, straight from school at age 14. She worked for English Electric in Preston and the girls had to do 8 stitches to the inch and a double stitch every 8 stitches. She later worked at the airfield, climbing up onto the wings and patching up damaged planes. We took her to Cosford in 2009 to see the restoration and she was able to identify one of the parts for Darren. She still had the needle she used throughout the war and donated it to the museum. She died age 90 in 2016 and still talked about her visit to the museum.

[@THE-BUNKEN-DRUM]

Aww what an absolute legend. R.I.P To an unsung hero.

[@jennyleech5717]

@@THE-BUNKEN-DRUM Thanks Adam. These women never got any recognition after the war like the land girls did, but they all worked really hard for the war effort. Lots of people think that airplane wings covered in linen were only in WW1.

[@THE-BUNKEN-DRUM]

@@jennyleech5717 : And I whole heartily thank you, for sharing this and also giving me a chance to appreciate such a legend. God bless these ladies and also you my friend 0:)

[@timhancock6626]

My wifes uncle was a front gunner in a Wellington. He never stepped on an aircraft again after the war. Looking at the cramped conditions and poor defences in the Hampden helps you understand why the people who flew those things were braver than brave.

[@dylanmilne6683]

Tim Hancock iirc around 50% of bomber command were lost during the war - the highest percentage of any British unit in WWII. They deserved their memorial long ago, thier bravery and sacrifice is infallible.

[@None-zc5vg]

The 'Hampden' was designed for Handley Page by a German designer. Its slim fuselage was reminiscent of the contemporary German Dornier 17 light bomber and helped give the plane a decent performance, but it was still outclassed and underdefended/-protected by WW2 (like most other pre-war British bombers). Most bomber crewmen had no armour protection and could only escape by parachute with difficulty (if they had the time and hadn't been cut to pieces by German fighters or -anti-aircraft shells).

[@breakingtoast2255]

rip to the brave men that fought on that fallen bird

[@joethorstenson1181]

Breaking Toast a

[@neinnein9306]

Ruhet in Frieden aus Deutschland. Wasted lives in a brother's war.

[@timmytwatcop8764]

@@neinnein9306 True, we should have united and made a really great Europe.

[@neinnein9306]

@@timmytwatcop8764 I wish alternate history with Weimar Republic as a part of an early and satisfying EU.

[@petehall889]

A really interesting video. I am very pleased to see this restoration, as my father, Sqn. Ldr. Geoffrey Hall D.F.C. Bar, flew the Hampden with 106 and 61 Sqns. on his first tour of ops. Particularly interesting was the reference to the expected maximum operational limit of about 8 1/2 hours. As a young Pilot Officer of 21, my father's log shows that he flew for 9 hours 50 minutes on the 26th September 1940 in P4413 with 106 Sqn. from R.A.F. Finningley , followed by 9 hours 15 minutes on the 22nd November 1940 in X 2981 while with 61 Sqn. from Hemswell. I have many letters he sent to his father during the war, giving fascinating info. I quote verbatim from one he sent to his father on the 28th September 1940 referring to the 9 hour 50 minute Hampden flight "...We had a long trip on Thursday night (26th Sept) in the most appalling weather. There were low rain clouds all the way, and heavy sleet in the target area made it impossible to see anything. I was circling for nearly an hour before we positively identified the target and were able to attack it. It took us six hours to get home against headwinds and the whole trip took ten minutes short of ten hours - that's a long time to sit in one place. The blokes on the ground had an anxious time waiting for us, because these aircraft are only supposed to stay up for eight hours. However, I have made a study of fuel consumption and I nursed it carefully. .... One of our blokes wasn't so fortunate and ran out of fuel over the coast, having to abandon the aircraft. ..." My father was a lucky pilot and survived his two tours of ops without losing any aircraft or crew, despite lots of unexpected ventilation, courtesy of the Luftwaffe and flak. Extremely sad that so many other brave lads were not so fortunate.

[@markfryer9880]

The thing to remember when looking at just how narrow the fuselage of the Hampden is that you need to factor in wearing a flying suit [think boiler suit overalls] and numerous layers of clothing to keep warm, plus you need to consider the parachute harness, flying gloves, goggles and boots, leather helmet. Just getting into the aircraft would be a struggle, never mind trying to fight off enemy fighters or escape from a damaged and/or burning aircraft that may or may not be still under control. Brave young men.

[@kgs42]

Yep ..... not a good design.

[@regmiles1970]

Reg Miles aged 94 and counting, during WWll I worked in a crashed Hampden, they were fitted with cable cutters on the leading edge of the wings fingers got chopped off if not careful, I also flew 41 ops on Halifax mark 3 and Lancaster, Stirling and many hours on Yorks , all as second pilot and Flight Engineer , exHalton App 39th Entry . Want info just ask

[@GhostofCicero]

Thank you for you service. Why did they fit cable cutters to the leading edge of the wings?

[@saacexe]

GhostofCicero it was for barrage balloons I believe, how effective they were I have no idea

[@stevetaylor5933]

Thank you for your service sir, total respect, God bless you, 🇬🇧

[@davemacdonald3889]

A big thanks for your service sir from all of my family.🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@spoilerboy4026]

Thanks for your service. Sounds like low flying was in the job description. Can you tell us what it was like flying low over hostile territory?

[@tgtips]

Thanks for this. My Dad flew in a Hampden. Alan Golsen. He was only 5ft 1" tall, so a good fit for rear gunner. Apparently, if you weren't shot down, there was risk from the undercarriage collapsing on landing!! His plane had engine failure over Germany in probably 1941, he bailed out and survived, but alas the other 3 crewmen perished. He was captured, and a PoW in Stalagluft III (Great Escape, but wasn't part of the escape). If he hadn't have been a PoW from early on, he probably wouldn't have survived the war.

[@HydroSnips]

OMG this place is amazing. Just parts of superb 1940’s-vintage aircraft just sat there in the background

[@cityandsuburb]

My old man was Hampden 144sqn bomb-aimer navigator. Shot down over Hamburg 1940 - Stalag Luft 1B four years, death march etc. Sadly pilot roman candled & created four foot trench in soft ground. Hamburg fire officer contacted in 1980's with photos of crash site & pilot with chute cords etc. Good old boy now gone.....

[@g2macs]

I don't care if it was a terrible design and obsolete virtually as soon as it came out. I have always loved the shape of the Hampden.

[@nicholasbell9017]

It was actually quite nippy, and highly manoevrable. Out of date by the time it went to war. Terrifying, to be squashed into a 3ft wide capsule. Humbled by the courage of those young men.

[@aaaht3810]

Not too often that you get a close look at a Hampden. Very informative video. Very interesting that it was modified to have a beam gun that had to be manually moved from one side of the aircraft to the other. So sad to think about the airmen who died on this airplane in combat. Brave men all.

[@davidmcque627]

My Uncle Fred was a wireless operator on 144 sqn Hampdens.He was killed in 1941

[@dattape2828]

wow. awesome. please keep our history alive!

[@animalian01]

I've been to see this wonderful aircraft,hampden is one of my favs for looks not for fighting in though

[@keatonsparksvideoproductions]

At the canadian museum of flight in Langley bc canada is the only complete handley page hampden on display in the world

[@oldbaldfatman2766]

Thanks for the video. Hopefully, someone's been taking a lot of photos of before & after restoring the various parts of the aircraft. Would make a hell of a reference book for a modeler.

[@garystorey]

I got to work on a section of one of these at 217 maintenance wing RAF Cardington as part of a restoration project about 25 years ago. Been fascinated with them ever since.

[@XHollisWood]

Commendable on the restoration work and the story behind this War Bird. My Best to you !

[@kurtovesen2975]

wow just loved this video.more please..

[@robertgillcash1696]

There's a complete Hamden at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, British Columbia.

[@gingermegs138]

Brave Blokes Aviators.

[@oxcart4172]

Excellent!!

[@harryfaber]

Interesting tour. Thank you.

[@TCMontyDibs]

I hope they keep the damage visible and also display the original parts with it.

[@lynnmorton7544]

I remember many years ago reading about how a Hampden pilot was killed by a flak-shell burst and how the navigator flew the plane home, saving the rest of the crew. Somehow - despite the cramped conditions - the dead pilot was moved out of the way to make room for the navigator (presumably he followed another plane home , therefore relieving him of his navigation duties). On the other hand, he could have sat on the lap of the dead pilot for the rest of the trip. This sounds gory, but I can't see any other way they could have did it

[@spercepolnes21]

There's a Wellington in the background!

[@glenngroves6322]

spercepolnes21 just to let you know that the Wellington in the back ground is R for Robert which crashed in to lock ness and i spent 2 wonderful years working on the restoration at Brooklyn's museum in the early 90s

[@timcattley1056]

Brooklands not Brooklyn's

[@chrishartley4553]

That's not R for Robert. The RAFM museum have their own Wellington (the only other complete one) currently undergoing restoration.

[@EdVanMeyer]

Amazing work.

[@James-pb1st]

Wonderful job

[@grahamsawyer831]

it's about time for someone to deep dive into the history of RAF over Soviet Union in ww2

[@gary11able]

Fantastic video, you can see why the Hampden had the nick name of "Flying Suitcase"

[@lynnmorton7544]

I saw a Vickers Wellington in the background. There's one at the RAF Museum in Hendon, an early one at Brooklands, Surrey, and this one. That makes THREE survivors, not just two. Where did it come from?

[@zoesdada8923]

The thing is you have to pretty much replace the entire plane. By the time your done it's a new plane that looks like an old one.

[@maxwellfan55]

Great work guys, great work.

[@freddiestamper9338]

there was a Wellington in the background

[@charleseldridge9365]

My father was a WAG in a Hampden Torpedo Bomber 415 Squadron RCAF!

[@richpurslow3283]

How is the restoration going?

[@mikebaird6788]

are they going to make it to fly or is it just going to be a static exhibit

[@966Mako]

Would've been nice to incorporate a photo of what one looked like, I'm gonna have to go google now.

[@stulynn2005]

How's that restoration going? This is an old video

[@ottch8670]

what sort LMF human being thumbs down this great vid

[@crafter170]

Must have been really shitty to be under attack in those planes. You could spit through those planes .Makes you think how brave they were.

[@iainmac6136]

Brave men & women

[@ihavenoname3014]

Oof. I'd not have restored it. It would have been a remarkable piece, reassembled as best as could be with the original parts left, of a plane's (and a couple of the crew's) last mission. A frozen in time remembrance. A shame they rebuilt it.

[@buckhulit2718]

Is that a Wellington in the background?

[@AnthonyHodges-f9w]

Leonard frank Redfern pilot RAFVR 1166466 flew in HampdenAE361 and sadly died with his crew in. operation archery 27th Dec 1941 over Malloy Island Norway.

[@jethawk9941]

In my opinion I would not fix up a shot down aircraft especially if airmen died in the aircraft because all the damage to the aircraft is a story of its downfall and when you fix it up you get rid of all the original markings and damage

[@timorvet1]

A question, I've noticed this aircraft has a faded type A1 fuselage roundel on the starboard side boom. But looking at the restored tail fin it appears to be a type C fin flash, rather then the type A. My question, I now this aircraft was lost in Sep 42, and type C1 roundels and C type fin flash came into effect in Jul of that year, is there anyone who can confirm for me if the new roundel type was painted over the original, and faded away in all its years outside in the weather? Thankyou.

[@CaveSpiderRider]

I think the RAF weren't too strict about the roundels. If the ground crew had better things to do (which, when your aircraft gets filled with bullets every night, you do) and the old roundel was still visible, they wouldn't bother. They probably only updated roundels if the bit of plane it was painted on was replaced, or if the ground crew were really bored and had plenty of paint. There wouldn't be much point painting new shiny roundels on an aircraft if there's a depressingly high chance you'll never see it again.

[@roconnor01]

Unfortuantely the Hampdens were woefully inadequate for the task set by Arthur Harris. They were slow, and as a result fell easy prey to German night fighters

[@johngraves1558]

It was,not called the flying suitcase for nothing .

[@cass276]

No wonder the crews nicknamed the Hampden 'The flying Suitcase'!

[@shumyinghon]

a toilet in a bomber this small, luxury :)

[@jamesross1799]

A forgotten aircraft the hampden

[@alneal100]

The Hampden looks structurally weak.

[@vqey2]

Brave brave men it was a flying coffin

[@None-zc5vg]

Even the Lancaster was a death trap that was hard to escape from (but you don't hear/read much about that).

[@kendal5210]

How are they going to tell the German pilot that this wellington crew won the gulag and are redeploying so his kill doesn’t count

[@magna4100]

She’d geddit.

[@benters3509]

Kudos to the museum for doing this great work. It will bring to people's attention some of the awful airplanes our boys had to fight with in the early years of the war. Very sadly, the reputation of these incredibly brave men and boys in Bomber Command will now always be tarnished with the name of "Bomber" Harris. I'm sure he started off with the best of intentions, as bombers were the only way we could take the war to Germany. But somewhere along the road, he seemed to lose it, and wanted to keep on plastering beautiful Medieval towns in Europe that had no strategic importance at all. To our PC way of thinking nowadays, it seems as though he wanted to kill as many innocent civilians as he could. He argued, of course, that there were no "innocent" civilians. But a look at the victims of the Blitz ought to have shown him that this was not true.

[@jeffreywright4656]

Pity the interviewer was too idle to show a bit of enthusiasm.

[@conceptalfa]

👍 👍 👍!!!

[@colinjkershaw]

mli13htgMgw for an update on the restoration of the aircraft.

[@BenSmith-xq2ng]

Knew from that slender tail that it was a hampton

[@nigelchowzhenglong]

I refer the German messcherschmitt plane and heinkel he plane 2

[@estebanwedontneednostinkin9969]

I was a tail gunner a Huey in Vietnam🤓🤪

[@spenner3529]

Oh, the reverence humans have for war machines used to kill humans.

[@pbysome]

You miss the point t entirely.

[@spenner3529]

pbysome: Enlighten me, please.

[@pbysome]

Those war machines where borne of necessity in times of great danger to our very existence, the reverence shown to the symbols of our survival and the sacrifice that so many young men made is justified.

[@spenner3529]

pbysome: blah blah blah

[@pbysome]

@@spenner3529 I doubt it would be possible to enlighten you.

[@chevybob9836]

Couldn't understand a word he said

[@jonyoung6405]

Why? No speakazee English?

[@thethirdman225]

@@jonyoung6405 Septic needs subtitles.

[@jonyoung6405]

@@thethirdman225 Right mate.

[@stulynn2005]

How's that restoration going? This is an old video