The Story Of WW2's RAF Bomber Command | Bomber Boys with Ewan & Colin McGregor | Timeline

Check out our show Real Fake History's episode on the Battle Of Britain! 👉 • What If Nazi Germany H...
Brothers Colin and Ewan McGregor follow up their documentary The Battle of Britain with a film exploring Bomber Command, a rarely told story from the Second World War.
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[@krimm1450]

"Bail out? And what? Leave my mates?" the lad seemed as if he was about to cry. that got me.

[@ecyt2447]

Feelsbadman pilot wanted him to bail because the sheer size of his balls weighed the plane down

[@ArthurofBritain]

@@ecyt2447 LOL !!!

[@warrenchambers4819]

Yeah it's tough to handle when a man show's his emotions, it's why we don't do it often and when we do sadly so many fail to see us the real us we hide from the world.

[@TheChippewa77]

A brand of loyalty and comradery that few have experienced.

[@AmazinglyGayPhil]

@@warrenchambers4819 Real men show emotion.

[@wijcik]

When you're a famous actor, but your brother is a super cool RAF pilot and all you can do is be obviously proud of him. Love it. Really great documentary about the bombers.

[@cjpmedic]

Am so profoundly jealous of the opportunity to sit and listen to the stories of these men who are just about completely gone. My grandfather served in the South Pacific and it wasn’t until the later days of his Alzheimer’s that I got to hear much of his experiences. Granted he thought I was one of his crew….but how I treasure what he shared with me.

[@nickmerino9440]

I'd be honored to "be his crew" 👋

[@DarknessNam]

My Grandfather flew these and Hurricanes during the war. I’m lucky enough to live near Hamilton, Ontario where the other flying Lanc is. I get to see her flying on a regular basis. Respect to the crews who flew these, and those that keep these pieces of history airborne for us to remember by.

[@finalsymphony]

Yes, my great Grandfather was part of, I forget the squadron at the moment, The Dambusters. I have all of his flight records and journals etc. But unfortunately his place burned a while ago and some of his pictures of the Squadron were burned. The Avro Lancaster will always be remembered, respect to the people who flew in them

[@tim7052]

@@finalsymphony To fly in 617 Sqn, Bomber Command, during WWII proves your Grandfather was one of the very best - and with balls of steel too!! My sincere respect and heartfelt thanks to him, and his generation, for fighting to preserve the freedoms I'm fortunate to have today!! 😊👍

[@peter2023]

Greetings from whitby ..while in the uk my dad took me to see the American bomber crews in Cambridge cemetery , a field of crosses ....my buddy Kenny Grant Toronto Ontario tail gunner Lancaster, his brother was killed at dieepe,,, he had no remorse, I suppose its like revenge for Coventry. London dockside ...war is only personal #, when your enemy killed your family

[@rosswarner4855]

My Jamaican step dad flew 82 missions in Lancs, Radio operater/ 2nd upper gunner. Greatest man I ever knew....

[@markharrison2544]

So he was a war criminal.

[@ThroneOfBhaal]

@@markharrison2544 Oh look. A wild douche bag.

[@seekter-kafa]

so what's your point??? dropping bombs makes you a great(est) man??? you go fish as well

[@kimokla3874]

YES heroic FRREDOM FIGHTERS

[@richardkuehn7015]

My Polish father, he too was a radio operator and gunner. A very stoic chap was my Pa but I dont wonder why.

[@sirengriffon5734]

Never thought I'd watch Obi-Wan talk about the bombing of Dresden, but here I am

[@InteloPL]

So uncivilized...

[@hd591]

Obi-Wan and pilot brother (Obi-Too?)

[@hd591]

@@InteloPL '"It's over Anakin, I MOST DEFINITELY have the high ground"

[@matthewcohen7488]

Or his breakout character: Renton

[@jameshinton2621]

Ok PO

[@nzfreeski]

I'm a kiwi and grew up to the stories of these incredible guys. My Grandma lost her brother over Germany in 1942 flying a Lancaster. A special generation. Thank you for bringing their stories to life McGregors!

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

Ordinary British people still remember the sacrifice of your great uncle and his compatriots every remembrance sunday in the UK.

[@robinjohnston24]

My grandfather lost his brother as well, in ‘43, also on a Lanc. He was a tail gunner.

[@kristhompson8112]

John Bell I'm pretty sure was also a fellow Kiwi like myself

[@nzfreeski]

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 thank you so much for the kind words.

[@christopherjenkins2373]

My father was a navigator on a glider with the 82nd airborne that went into France the night before D-Day. I have seen many, many documentaries trying to understand how it was, My father passed at the age of 48 and never said a single word about the war. This is one of the finest I have ever seen. I was moved to tears several times. Thank you for your vivid and sensitive treatment of those difficult days. I am the better for having seen this! --- Rev. Christopher T. Jenkins

[@troyhudson2825]

Soon to be a 3rd!!!! being rebuilt in Sidney Canada. My dad is one of the engineers behind the rebuild to flying status. I could not be more proud.

[@ArcturanMegadonkey]

is this 100% true? if so tell your dad and all the engineers thank you! I fly model aircraft from an ex-RAF base RAF Bardney where 9 squadron Lancasters used to fly from. I live in Lincolnshire which is of course known as 'bomber county' and we are so very very proud of our aviation heritage. We often see the BBMF Lancaster flying around our county. When 'VeRA' came to visit I was at RAF coningsby when she first landed and was there to photograph her, the BBMF Lancaster and the Vulcan XH558 as they all flew over the turf cutting ceremony at the bomber command memorial in Lincoln (my home town) To see Thumper, Vera, Just Jane (raising funds to make airworthy) and the Lanc from Sidney Canada would be a sight to be hold, does she have a name? Wish them the very very best from us at bomber county. Paul

[@anapaulatillman.6133]

I saw that kite in pieces in Hope BC! Awesome that soon there'll be a third. When I saw the trucks I couldn't believe it, as I'm currently working on a novel about Bomber Command. Must be fate!

[@rgkrazor8788]

Fantastic , any idea on the time line to being complete ?

[@theradgegadgie6352]

Wonderful news. :)

[@frankvandenberg3767]

They say it should take 10 to 15 years to get FM 104 airworthy. KB 882 is being restored to static condition in Trenton and FM 212 is well under way in Windsor.

[@mackdaddy1911a1]

The Lancaster was nice, the history was nice, but the respect and obvious admiration the McGregor brothers showered upon the Veterans . That was Awesome. From this American Southerner, well done .

[@kimokla3874]

YES honor the WW2 veteran God bless their TRUE HEROISM

[@waynejfoster9860]

@@WilliamJones-Halibut-vq1fs Can I please ask you a question. What drugs are you using and where can I get some? After everything the Nazi's done and what they stood for how can you say that they were the good guys? I'd love for you to be able to travel back in time to France 1942 and tell that to 17 members of my family (eldest one was nearly 70 and the youngest only 14) that were taken from their homes, shipped to Germany and ended up dying in a couple of concentration camps. Their crime.... They were so called 'sub human', they were worse than vermin. In a word you might understand, they were JEWS. So please don't say that the Nazi's were the good guys. They were far from it. I'm not Jewish and I know and respect a few German people and let me tell you, they would tell you the same as I have in a heart beat.

[@stevetaylor5933]

@@WilliamJones-Halibut-vq1fs you sir are a fool, nothing else to be said

[@KoriEmerson]

@@waynejfoster9860 well said.

[@duncankent1330]

@@waynejfoster9860 just ignore him mate he knows damn well the Germans was the evil that the world need to end I bet he only posted it for a response because that's how none eventful and sad his little life is. I'm sorry for your family loss in France I joined the army an infantry regiment called the woofers in 1996. The regiment back in ww2 would of been called the sherwood foresters but since 2007 the joined with other infantry regiments to now be called 2nd battalion mercian regiment. Like I said just ignore the silly little man he obviously has issues.. German troops was bad evil and murderus people. Once again I'm sorry for your loss it still makes me sick to think what happened to Jewish people in ww2 very sad era on earth. Take care buddie and live a long healthy life.

[@halyourpalg2019]

The journey the brothers took us on to see ALL sides of the Air war....was masterful and pure genius....my dad was with Patton and so I have a lifelong fascination for the history of WW2. I'm surprised that these videos haven't won some kind of awards.

[@sharoncassell9358]

My uncle was a bombardier in a B25 and got out in 1946.

[@DaddyKratosOfTheShire]

At her age still having that muscle memory for the rivets is absolutely amazing. Thank you all 4 your service

[@MrEric2cu]

Wasn't she lovely? You know when she saw the plane again, she was 16.

[@paulgriffin9355]

kids can learn so much about character from these men, shame theres not many left.

[@jonathanpowdrell828]

Paul griffin i agree with you we are losing more and more veterans every year that goes by we loss more of those heroic people

[@guywerry6614]

@James Henderson Please feel free to go back in time and show them how to wage a more gentle and kind war.

[@charliestringer1665]

James Henderson haha you would’ve have a German name if it wasn’t for these terrorist..

[@Thomas-yu5kz]

That's stupid there are good and bad people in every generation, some of the men in your generation could also learn from the WW2 vets.

[@Keithbarber]

@James Henderson no worse than what the luftwaffe were - they were the first to bomb civilians, the raf just returned the compliment

[@Skywalker8562]

You can hear how Ewan's voice emotes pride in his brother having flown in Desert Storm. and the follow on operations to deny airspace to Iraqi aircraft that had bugged out to keep from getting captured or torched. He is like a little boy, but older than that now, who still gets a thrill of getting to go to work with his older brother who does work in the real world, hang the dangers involved. It was pure romanticism to Ewan.

[@retroshark]

thats kinda beautiful. I hope my little brother looks up to me that way one day...

[@rodfirefighter8341]

@Fred Flintstone Perhaps you should have live d during the late 19 teens or early 1920's so you could have been in the mix and we could hear firsthand how you really feel!

[@tim7052]

Yeah, I think Ewan is secretly a "wannabe" warrior like his brother was.

[@avoidingtrees560]

Thanks and humble respect from France , GREAT BRITAIN.

[@XGLADIATOR-]

Bombing civilians at night, yea ok

[@benphillips846]

@@XGLADIATOR- sow the wind and reap the whirlwind

[@573998]

As a pilot and a lover of the planes of WW2 , this show was great.

[@jjnelsonnc]

Ewan, thanks for bringing this to us it was brilliantly made; your collaboration with Timeline was terrific.

[@likemike1105]

How did I not know that Ewan McGregor's brother was an RAF pilot? This was an excellent documentary. Well researched and presented.

[@ScottRods]

I think they kept that quiet during Ewans rise to fame, since his brother would be an obvious target in Afghanistan. Just my theory.

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

They played a part in liborating us from the nazi's and i salute them with the utmost respect. This is a fantastic docu, and i thank you for sharing it. Greetings from an old Dutchman, T.

[@rudolfseymour8703]

Respect to all who served Thank you all for your service

[@echoesofthedead]

OUTFREAKIN STANDING!! thank you so much for this show. Those who do not remember the past, lose out-every time. Semper Fi, carry on!!

[@BMW7series251]

Bloody brilliant documentary. The Brothers are natural story tellers. What a fantastic plane. Thank you.

[@cockbreath01]

That Lancaster flew over my town to honour one of the last bomber pilots alive in the U.K. Hearing the drone getting louder then feeling the house shake as it went over was unforgettable.

[@Booboonancy]

The McGregor brothers have a real talent for documentary. Well done.

[@manaboutit1594]

The McGregor boys do a good documentary. Ewan's voice is perfect for the narration. Collin's isn't bad either.

[@dave7072]

Yes but his Mic level was too low in the mix.

[@natrik8118]

I fully agree, I love that Irish accent. Too bad the audio mixing is so utterly incompetent. I wish I could make whoever did this go back and transcribe all of their work to produce subtitles since they so often drown the vocals into indistinguishability.

[@MrBurtbackerack]

@@natrik8118 Scottish

[@Marc1996L]

natrik Irish ??? There both Scottish 😂

[@josfitz]

@@natrik8118 In some ways the Scottish burr does sound very similar to the Irish brogue. However, I was under the impression these lads were Scottish. Nevertheless, in listening on it became apparent that these lads accent is very close to an Irish brogue.

[@JensenBeach42O]

How could you dislike this , those who disliked this are a waste of the precious experience that is life.

[@freemarketjoe9869]

Liberal Democrats!

[@cameronhall4593]

Maybe Germans? Who lost family

[@theharper1]

The audio balance is bloody awful?

[@davidhuber9418]

The gunner Gentlemen is a true blue hero! Great documentary, thank you

[@kristineconstante9060]

I appreciate how this documentary remain unbiased

[@blazesomun6551]

Imagine this being done today... And we are going to go and meet this fascists flying this planes. Fricking toxic masculinity is why they came back.

[@verloren1206]

I have never clicked on a video so fast. I saw Ewan McGregor's name and was like 'HAVE TO WATCH THIS OMG'.

[@mjxvmaaren67]

Verloren Hello there!

[@jona.scholt4362]

Obi Wan took his own advice and took the "high ground".

[@ianpodmore9666]

Imagine being a resident of Cologne and hearing the roar of a 1,000 bombers coming for you. Must have been utterly terrifying. Massive respect for the bomber crews of every allied nation.

[@jamesmatthews1010]

Imagine being in any German city and watching a brilliant red or green marker floating down upon your neighborhood... knowing what is sure to follow. That must have been a very grim sight.

[@tonysid3563]

Always enjoyed Ewan's talents as an actor and my admiration only grew when I came across his adventures as a motorcyclist (a passion I share). Now to see him and his brother sharing another of my loves, aviation, and doing so in a way that pays homage to and immortalizes all those who risked and the many that gave all, is beyond incredible. Hat's off and if Ewan and/or Colin should find themselves near Las Vegas NV, the pints are on me!

[@theowaigel8588]

Good shout Tony so you turned to proper measures for beer at your end, that being pints

[@mikegolden2949]

I live near the Lancaster that's housed here in Canada. I get to see that beautiful bird a lot as it flies around Toronto. A wonderful tribute to those that fought and died for our freedom.

[@tonystanney3804]

I was lucky to see them both! During the visit of the Canadian Lancaster I was at an event at the former-RAF Strubby airfield as they flew over with City of Lincoln flying ahead of the Andrew Mynarski. My one regret was that it they were away and gone so quickly. Fortunately the BBMF is only a short car-trip for me so another visit is in my near future.

[@paulphilipempey1]

Really enjoyed this documentary. Maximum respect to the RAF. Thank you.

[@McEveley1]

I was lucky enough to see the other Lancaster survivor being worked on in Ontario, A beautiful aircraft, And So much respect for all those that fought for our freedoms. THANK YOU ALL!

[@munsterfloyd]

Fantastic show. Great respect shown to the brave veterans. God k owns how they managed to stay sane in those mad times.

[@poeticfrost619]

Ewan dropping bombs on Germany like:"Hello There".

[@khoanguyenavia]

"It's over Adolf, I have the high ground"

[@Downloadguy1995]

Airman Kenobi

[@lukassimontm3546]

Not a high ground but damn, a high plane will do as well!

[@mjxvmaaren67]

"GENERAL KENOBI! YOU ARE A BOLD ONE!"

[@thunder7382]

that is hilarious

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

When your instructor turns up in a spitfire you know he is badass.

[@MrEric2cu]

*I HAVE ARRIVED*

[@michailnizynskyj6394]

Great documentary. My grandfather was a Lancaster pilot in Polish Air Force in England during II WW. In 1943 during his 17th mission he have lost left eye an three fingers, top turret gunner and radiooperator died in this flight. God bless all Bomber Boys.

[@baltsosser]

Wow! Bringing a 4 engine plane back from Germany on just a single engine is no mean feat as a pilot. That must be a great story.

[@basedsalty6970]

No easy feet .what a amazing aircraft.

[@nssherlock4547]

@@basedsalty6970 must of worn out their soles. LOL ( It is feat)

[@Philrc]

@@basedsalty6970 feat

[@RealRayLong]

I enjoyed the doc and learned a lot, but the audio was pretty poorly mixed - music sometimes too loud to hear the narration well.

[@gora2497]

Agreed, pretty annoying

[@martincarty6015]

if i wanted to listen to music i would not be watching this very annoying

[@xj900man]

Yes, they should throw the sound engineer out the bomb bay doors without a parachute.

[@bobbending]

Yup, I have hearing loss, and even with headphones (usually ok) I couldn't hear the commentary over the music. Shame as it let's the production down.

[@TorontoJediMaster]

I noticed that too.

[@rgkrazor8788]

great documentary, well told , having those veterans there to share their memories is priceless.

[@pascalchauvet7625]

As he strains to keep the DC-3 straight is actually so BEAUTIFUL it reminds me of young Eagle doing it's first flight

[@peteroreilly8060]

The only other flying Lanc goes over my house on it's fairly regular summer outings in Canada. I've been saving up for a trip on it. It costs a lot but I am gonna do it.

[@kimokla3874]

GREAT honor the pilots and crews TRUE HEROs

[@basedsalty6970]

Let me know how your flight goes plz

[@Stratovair]

I’ve bought my spot on the Lanc for 2020, I hope you realize your dream as well. It’s going to be a highlight for sure!

[@Ulsterbusman129]

Now that’s pretty cool having one of the 2 only flying Lancaster bombers flying over your house is epic I have the British version just Jane fly over my house when it goes to Newcastle Northern Ireland for the summer air show and on its way to RAF aldergrove which is the only RAF air base in Northern Ireland

[@koitorob]

@@Ulsterbusman129 Considering THAT Lanc hasn't flown for decades and is being slowly rebuilt ready for flight once again, i think you've been drinking too much Guinness! There are ONLY two airworthy Lancasters flying in the world. The one in Canada and the other belongs to the RAF which is part of the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight. I don't doubt you have a plane fly over your house, but it most definatley ISN'T NX611! By all means feel free to make it a reality by visiting www.lincsaviation.co.uk/history/history-of-the-lancaster.htm and making a donation...

[@tw-yc4hz]

Another happy landing

[@kursk_kuku141]

T34 ITS OVER GERMANY! I HAVE THE HIGH GROUND!

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

Not to worry, we're still flying half a Lancaster.

[@outrageousgamer315]

The 225677th Fragment of the Man-Emperor of Mankind 😂😂😂😂

[@Skywalker8562]

@@Big_E_Soul_Fragment The B-17 and B-24s used by the USAAF had two pilots, whereas the Lancaster only had one pilot. If the Lancaster pilot bought it, but the plane was still flyable, who took over the controls?

[@tonybarde2572]

You underestimate my Wehrmacht!

[@HiopX]

Collin McGregors callsign is Obi-Two

[@joshogulnick586]

HiopX is it really? Because that would be absolutely amazing😄

[@lukassimontm3546]

I've heard so, too. But then, again, it was the internet soo... Wether true or not I love the idea.

[@toohottie001]

@@joshogulnick586 yes it is true,He was allowed to change his call sign,which is unheard of in the RAF.

[@JaxJordan35]

GODDAMMIT 😂😂😂

[@robcall5182]

:)

[@wannaduckfin]

Well made! My dad was a gunner for awhile with the ArmyAircorp. He was transferred to radioman. Stationed in Sussex. He told us many stories growing up. So grateful he did.

[@masterblaster9304]

I was a gravedigger in Coventry and the cemetery opposite the old rolls Royce factory still to this day has headstones with holes blasted through them from the Coventry blitz.

[@darrengill4765]

Had the German bomb that landed close to my father, an engineer in aircraft production at the Boulton Paul Defiant factory in Wolverhampton, exploded, myself and five of my seven siblings would not have been born. So yes, it is very sad that the German civilians, to whom I have no bad feelings, suffered beyond all comprehension, but so did many Britons at the hand of the Luftwaffe!!

[@SNP-1999]

I am glad that the MacGregor brothers interviewed survivors from the most horrendous bombing raid of the war in Europe, the bombing of Hamburg in July 1943, which caused well over 40,000 casualties in a horrific fire storm. It is always good to see both sides of history. 🌟🌟🌟 By the way, I originally come from Coventry but have lived and worked in Hamburg for all of my adult life - and have heard survivors from both bombed cities tell their stories. It is not what anybody should experience - even my father, a veteran of WW2 who was in the RAF for over 24 years, said that the saturation bombing of cities was a crime against humanity, regardless which side did it. Not in any way meaning to detract from the courage of the air crews flying on bombing raids against Germany, my father knew what he was talking about - he volunteered at age 18 to join the RAF as an Air Gunner/ Wireless operator in Bomber Command in early 1943 and only escaped probable certain death by being taken off flying duties by an astute medical officer due to a diagnosed oversensitive eyesight. He later was a radio/ signals operator in a Forward Air Control unit attached to the Canadian First Army from D-Day onwards to the end of the war in Europe. He saw the results of area bombing personally in every major German city he witnessed, in particular the destruction of Hamburg, which had suffered terribly in 1943, greater parts of the city having been completely destroyed. He said that nothing he had seen in Britain prior to the Invasion of Normandy was anything like what he saw in Germany in 1945. His best friend in the RAF had flown over 60 missions as a rear gunner of a Lancaster and fully agreed with him regarding area bombing, but that may have been the privilege of hindsight speaking for both veterans. At the time, nobody questioned the validity of Harris' orders and the necessity of bombing German targets, whether large cities like Hamburg or Berlin, or bombing submarine docks in France.

[@lucromel]

The important thing with air combat is to always have the high ground.

[@InteloPL]

And whatever happens, not to worry - you're still flying half the ship.

[@joshuaball2276]

ba dum tss ░▄██████████▄▄░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░▄█████████████████▄░░░░░ ░░░░░██▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀████████░░░░ ░░░░██░░░░░░░░░░░░░░███████░░░ ░░░██░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░████████░░ ░░░█▀░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▀███████░░ ░░░█▄▄██▄░░░▀█████▄░░▀██████░░ ░░░█▀███▄▀░░░▄██▄▄█▀░░░█████▄░ ░░░█░░▀▀█░░░░░▀▀░░░▀░░░██░░▀▄█ ░░░█░░░█░░░▄░░░░░░░░░░░░░██░██ ░░░█░░█▄▄▄▄█▄▀▄░░░░░░░░░▄▄█▄█░ ░░░█░░█▄▄▄▄▄▄░▀▄░░░░░░░░▄░▀█░░ ░░░█░█▄████▀██▄▀░░░░░░░█░▀▀░░░ ░░░░██▀░▄▄▄▄░░░▄▀░░░░▄▀█░░░░░░ ░░░░░█▄▀░░░░▀█▀█▀░▄▄▀░▄▀░░░░░░ ░░░░░▀▄░░░░░░░░▄▄▀░░░░█░░░░░░░ ░░░░░▄██▀▀▀▀▀▀▀░░░░░░░█▄░░░░░░ ░░▄▄▀░░░▀▄░░░░░░░░░░▄▀░▀▀▄░░░░ ▄▀▀░░░░░░░█▄░░░░░░▄▀░░░░░░█▄░░ █░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▀█▄ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ █▄░░█ █▀▀█ ▀▀█▀▀░░█▀▀█ █▀▀█ █▀▀▄ █░█░█ █░░█ ░░█░░░░█▀▀▄ █▄▄█ █░░█ █░░▀█ █▄▄█ ░░█░░░░█▄▄█ █░░█ █▄▄▀ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░

[@CARSON441]

Any combat, if possible! And always remember, if the enemy's in range, so are you!

[@mastathrash5609]

I didn't know the McGregor bros were into aircraft. This is awesome.

[@ianwilkinson4602]

Watching this and knowing the story behind these fantastic aircraft and the devastation that they wrought ,it is almost impossible not to shed tears for all those that died, civilians included.

[@OldFurJar]

my great grandfather was a tailgunner in a lancaster during WW2 for the RCAF this is amazing to see what he endured

[@alastairbarkley6572]

Thank God for his service. Tail gunner was the most dangerous station on the Lanc. The four .303 guns in the hydraulic turret weren't any great deterrent to night fighters.

[@roconnor01]

The most dangerous of dangerous jobs. Respect.

[@michailnizynskyj6394]

Matt Eden My grandfather was a Lanc pilot in Polish Air Force. Best regards :)

[@mattdonaghue4375]

My grandfather was a mid upper gunner in a Lancaster

[@Bella-fz9fy]

My father was a rear gunner and said there would usually be places missing at meal times.That’s the only thing he mentioned about it!

[@jasoncaldwell5627]

Wow. What a fantastic documentary- from it's excellent score to the interviews showing both the heroic and morally indefensible sides of the war...I'm blown away.

[@pistonburner6448]

Morally indefensible? Just woke idiocy. Germany started the war, bombed cities. Allies bombed German *_war production_* which with tech of that time required bombing the whole area of production. How are the masses of people working in factories to produce the weapons for killing ally civilians illegitimate targets? To me their behaviour was more like using human shields, having their war production in major cities and the people making those weapons mixed in with civilians. Targeting those working every single day to kill you is legitimate.

[@neilvandepol2903]

Built many model WW2 planes as a boy. Used to climb on the Landing Gear of a Lanc, that was parked on display, at the Oshawa Ontario Airport., in the 60s. Seen the one in Hamilton fly a few times, What an awesome sound. Also had the opportunity to crawl through its fuselage and cockpit with my son. Truly a remarkable plane, but more so the men who crewed on them in battle. Grateful for all our Servicemen and Women. Very much enjoyed the documentary.

[@johnds1963]

I live directly under the flight path of the only other flying Lancaster bomber left in the world. What a thrill it is to hear those four Merlin engines roaring as it flies literally 500' above my head. Living history kept alive by the Hamilton War Museum.

[@ScottRods]

Hello neighbour! I'm in the Meadowlands. What a joy it is to see (and feel) the Lancaster fly over our house on a regular basis in Summer.

[@TheChippewa77]

Fantastic film. Aside from the technical and crew details that were impressive, seeing Ewon McGregor interact with his brother and those veterans developed a new respect for this actor as a man for me, not simply a celebrity/actor (retired USAF). Sean Bean in another documentary about Waterloo engendered similar feelings.

[@DonGurugay]

So far the best movie I've ever seen on KZbin - it had facts, a sense of adventure, sadness, camaraderie, real life experience and a dash of humour. They should have shown this in the cinema!

[@charlesseymour3387]

I think the macgreggors Should do a doc on every aspect of WW2, these are some of THE BEST documentaries ever made. Just classy. Thank you gentlemen

[@stephanieh.777]

In the discussion about the firestorm of Hamburg and of Dresden, in the context of the war, we need to remember that the Germans would have done the same thing to every town across Europe if they could have; the Nazis were merciless, dragging innocent civilians out of their homes and executing entire villages across Poland and other countries; they stole a generation of young men to be starved and worked to death as Todwerker - slave labourers in places like Guernsey and Jersey (Channel Islands). The Nazis were sadistic psychopaths, and every effort - including "de-housing" by the RAF, was a necessary tactic to stop the steamroller of Hitler's thugs... The McGregor brothers brought respect and dignity to the elderly heroes on both sides of the conflict; their passion for the topic and their brotherly banter made the documentary all the better for it!

[@theshamelesskid2950]

As a German I have to say I agree

[@deplorabledave1048]

They spent a lot of money on this doco. I watch a LOT of docos. This was much better than most. Well done. Plus, I like Ewan for his motorcycle docos. Not many people know how much this man has traveled on two wheels. Epic stuff!

[@smoothmicra]

Truly our finest hour. I love listening to these old boys who went into this insane adventure with such naïve optimism. Nothing else in British history comes near; we opposed the most odious regime the world has ever seen. A tiny island with the odds stacked against it when all our neighbours had crumbled. I just love that we declared war against the Nazis without being attacked (the only country to do so). We also delivered the first defeat to Hitler's regime; the beginning of the end. Nothing else comes close; these people put the "Great" in Britain.

[@anuvisraa5786]

hhHhhaaa. you were an aristocratic empire that subjugated most of asia africa and the pasific. frosed nations to poberty and disperced drugs to china. What you got in ww2 was your fault, you declared the war on germany to keep them from becoming more powerfull than you and the funi ting is that you failed miserabli and lost your empire and importance.

[@terryofford4977]

Thank you for your comments. Having lived thru' the bombing for around four years in England as a very small kid, !940-1945, I was lucky but a cousin of mine who lived forty miles from me lost her Mum when shrapnel from a bomb took her mother's face off, BANG just like that, My cousin is still alive but still recalls that dreadful night.Unless a an individual has lived thru a bombing, I feel they have no right to discuss the matter and the apologists concerning Dresden. Frankly, they make me feel sorry for their ignorance,

[@hannecatton2179]

Wow , what courage it took to do that. Brave young men. Hardly able to comprehend that degree of courage.

[@josfitz]

@James Henderson What is wrong with you?

[@waynejfoster9860]

To those brave lads of bomber command that are still alive today and also to those that lost their lives during the war I have just two words for you...... THANK YOU.

[@xXE4GLEyEXx]

no matter the side, we must never forget the deeds of these warriors, and the horrors of war, if we do, we will repeat history and its errors

[@aarondawson9990]

Forget the bible if there is another war has nothing to do with the bible im sorry but it hasn't so stop with the bible talk.

[@avshutsach]

When you realize Collin's callsign was "Obi two"

[@tbwpiper189]

Good brothers who love one another....May God bless them.

[@jasonmccoy4217]

I absolutely enjoy hearing these old warriors talk about their war experience. There's not many of them left.

[@ezell8884]

Never was so much owed by so many to so few - Winston Churchill

[@t_k_blitz4837]

Never have so few stolen so much from so many - LCdr Matthew Sherman

[@edwardsmith7109]

Yeah but he wasn't talking about Bomber Command but Fighter Command.

[@sebastiantiainen2749]

@@edwardsmith7109 to be fair I think he meant the fighter pilots

[@lorddaver5729]

+Ezell This was what Churchill said about RAF Fighter Command during The Battle of Britain in 1940. He did not say it of Bomber Command.

[@susanadams8595]

It was Churchill who snubbed the bomber boys

[@cskarbek1]

sure wish i could hear the narration over the music..... volume control in the control booth, folks! wish the producers/director could take it back and remix it please

[@Philrc]

yes the music , especially towards the end, was way too loud

[@eamondunne8325]

I've had the very rare privilege to have flown in a Lancaster Bomber as a Civilian Enthusiast. I must say, it really put things into perspective with regard to what those brave young Men had to deal with. It's a rough ride, noisy and all that one would expect from such a beautiful Beast, and then imagine being straffed by fighters and dealing with anti aircraft flak...Incredible Men👍🍻

[@basedsalty6970]

Imagine all that and what is was like during night with no lights

[@ofthedarknessthemoonlight5412]

I've also read a lot about the war at sea. British convoys were so at the mercy of German subs. Terrifying.

[@ledwin8770]

I came here to watch ads and I kept getting interrupted by something about bombers

[@Grandizer8989]

L Edwin lol

[@BenAhmed67]

Do remember that Bomber Command played a part in saving Berlin from starvation...

[@mrdfac]

Indeed.

[@Smoshy16]

Mostly the Netherlands!

[@dougie1943]

Niclas Reukauf That’s right. The RAF played a major part flying into RAF Gatow at the peak landing supplies every 30 seconds.

[@ziblot1235]

That should be their proudest moment.

[@alastairbarkley6572]

@Niclas Reukauf Like most Americans, you are almost totally ignorant of the fighting (and dying) that non - American contributed to the war. I doesn't make you a bad person, simply one whose education, world view and conditioning is unable to see beyond America. Many Americans will tell you that it was the US cracked the Enigma codes (wrong), invented the the crucial centimetric radar (wrong), developed the theory and early practice of atom bombs (wrong), defeated the U-boat menace in the Atlantic (it was the Royal Navy - in 1940, the most powerful in the world), invented the GEE-H GPS system used by the RAF and the USAAF for precision bombing (wrong), defeated Rommel in North Africa. America could neverr have invaded Europe in 1944 without its coalition with the British Empire and Commonwealth - which also provided AustrAlia

[@TheMicroPilot]

Have a go at flying (or buy someone a present) on a Lancaster Bomber Simulator Experience with Perry Air! Check out: www.perryair.co.uk/lancaster-bomber-mk1-simulator-experience/

[@KoriEmerson]

War is never kind. It's never fair. Those boys did what at the time was felt to be needed. Hind sight is always 2020. As an American and as a Norwegian American who's Grandfather was in the resistance during the war, I have nothing but love and respect for those boys . We literally owe everything to them. I can't imagine what would have happened if Germany had continued the war and England/the UK had fallen. As we loose the men that had the blessing of growing old , all I can think of is the hugs and the arm punches that are had on the other side as the boys all reunite. Thank you from a grateful American.

[@SaturnCanuck]

Excellent. Brave men. Thanks from the son of a British Vet. :)

[@briankimmell7960]

This guy could narrate how to unclog a toilet and I'd be glued to it....

[@nedergubis2638]

He is strong with the force.

[@MrEric2cu]

*BEST COMMENT AWARD*

[@lindaclegg5771]

I got goosebumps when they mentioned the Canadian Lancaster as she flys over the town where I live and it gives me goosebumps every time she does.

[@venderstrat]

The Allies have nothing to apologise for. They didn't start the war, they just finished it.

[@definitelynotteun]

Did you keep watching at the 1:00:00 mark?

[@stastu6484]

well said Frank

[@jpfreezer6519]

@@definitelynotteun did you know that the germans killed around 14 millions soviet civilians and about half of that was direct killings. War is grey, i’m not saying it was justified bombings but i’m not going to say they weren’t necessarily to win the war.

[@baejiaoflying9434]

My grandmother's house was hit in Sheffield in 1940. The Germans dropped incendiary bombs on civilian targets in 1940.

[@paddy.7784]

Ditto from Aotearoa / New Zealand .

[@AviationNut]

I heard that in desperate times during WWII some fighter pilots would only get as little as 4 to 5 hours of flight training before they were sent on a mission. Which is just mind blowing to send someone on a mission with just 4 hours of flight time.

[@mebsrea]

The Western Allies never had to resort to that, but Germany, Russia, and Japan did.

[@hairtrigger8317]

@@mebsrea they did, it's even talked about in the other documentary Ewan was in with his brother about RAF Fighter command. During the battle of Britain pilot casualties were so high they had no choice.

[@mebsrea]

@@hairtrigger8317 I'd like someone to find a source for that; it's supported by nothing that I've ever read. The minimum figure I've seen was 22 weeks' total training in August 1940, with 40 hours of training on the type to be operated on top of 150 hours of basic flight training. The gap between 190 hours and "4 to 5 hours" is so vast as to make that claim not credible. Entrusting scarce combat aircraft to pilots with that little training would have been simply throwing them away.

[@kevinquist]

amazing documentary. very well done. thank you! and more importantly, thank you to all the veterans.

[@johncochrane1301]

Greatly appreciate this video, thank you. My Great Uncle was 19 year old Pilot. He flew the Halifax, and the Lancaster with 6th Bomber Group (Canada.) He survived his tour and was awarded the DFC/bar during his time. My Grandfather was a Sr. Flight Instructor for the BCATP. He had been awarded the AFC for being one of the first 100 CDN pilots to fly the Atlantic.

[@sharoncassell9358]

I watch plane savers fom Canada who preserve old vintage Dc3 Fokker 100. etc.

[@MaegnasMw]

The thematic of this is absolutely fantastic, the only complaint I can make is that the music was not loud enough, I could still Ewan's voice at times. Please, next time, up the music volume so NOTHING is ever heard of the voiceovers - that's the way you make a proper war documentary!

[@timnystrand5539]

The McGregor brothers have don it again and made a powerful documentary about the royal air force and bomber command in WW2. I can only say: Well don and thanks.

[@chubbycakes6446]

obi wan here trying to learn how to operate portable high grounds

[@MikoyanGurevich-xc7ft]

You must always have the high ground

[@Sean-zf7il]

YOU WERE MY BROTHER COLIN! You're still my brother... but you were my brother too..

[@mitchellfoley4525]

Outstanding documentary.

[@Canine58]

Fantastic documentary and tribute to the brave Men and Women of Bomber Command. Congratulations Ewen and Colin on a very respectful, factual and emotional presentation. Best wishes from Downunder...by the way we have a Mk VII Lancaster on permanent display at the RAAF Association Museum here in Perth WA.

[@KC-UT4rmAZ]

I loved this documentary, these two did amazing with the narrating and hosting this

[@stumaclean111]

Please do more of these Ewan and Collin. I'd love to see one featuring a Mosquito. Incidentally, I've been in the Canadian Lanc though not when flying, in the Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I lived, for many years, a few hours away and made it a stopping point on my trips close to the Toronto area.

[@richardploeser4267]

Another OUTSTANDING Documentary of the Great War WW2!

[@Strawberry-12.]

This gets me my grandfather flew a b-26 during the war. During training they had a saying “one a day in Tampa bay” on account of how difficult it was to learn to fly the b-26

[@iamjarose]

ewan is aging so beautifully 😭😍

[@RandomPlaceHolderName]

Sure but this is Bomber Boys from 2012 (filmed in 2011) and not the 2018 RAF at 100 documentary.

[@theradgegadgie6352]

Which is to say, he isn't. Witchcraft!

[@markselvin2230]

he's got the force

[@MrCrumpets368]

I saw the Lanc in Hamilton, Ontario. OUTFUCKINGSTANDING

[@FreeFallingAir]

Ewan always has the "High ground" ;). Really enjoyed this, Thanks.

[@user-ps4mw5om4j]

He had the high ground after all.

[@mjxvmaaren67]

Not just the physical high ground, but the moral high ground as well!

[@waltergurke4560]

I'm german and I am not really sure if i would have been so sorry for the germans killed in the air raids, like Ewan and the other people in the documentary seem to be. Of course killing civilians is and was never a great thing, but I don't think there really we're many other options, especially since it simply wasn't possible to bomb precisely. Still I feel kind of moved to see this documentary, because it doesn't overglorify anything and the dead on all sides of the conflict seem to get respect, at least in my mind.

[@grownjohnboy]

Well said.

[@bojankotur4613]

Being able to bomb precisely has nothing to do with it when you deliberately bomb a whole city to the ground. The allies have done this much more thoroughly.

[@foxyrene1]

Bojan Kotur Allies were war criminals just as many times as the Germans, the amount of civilians they killed was pathetic!

[@MichaelBrown-vv8xx]

@@foxyrene1 oh, and what would your solution have been?

[@limbardo9169]

A German who lacks empathy for fellow man? Didn't see that coming

[@kevintaylor1928]

WOW, that was wonderful work guys! Thank you!

[@colingrant767]

i enjoyed this thankyou McGregor brothers

[@towgod7985]

STAGGERING GREAT VIDEO! Great men of Bomber Command ! GOOD LADS THE LOT OF THEM! !!!