What Was Life Really Like For A WW2 Bomber Pilot? | War Story | War Stories

[@bhut1571]

We were lucky. Our Dad had his aircaraft engineer and commercial pilots licence by '35 and was a Sgt in Essex Tanks, a reserve unit. He tried to join the RCAF in '39 but was refused. He was told they could train anyone to be a pilot but it took years for someone who could repair aircraft engines and they wanted him in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. He was stuck there until a replacement was found so he could join. By the time he got to Britain he didn't have many missions as a F/O and was used more in training. He got his Fance-Germany Cross but was embarrassed that he didn't get another medal because he wasn't considered in the service during the first year or two in the Air Training Plan. He lost a lot of flying and tank crew friends. Sadly his plane went down on a forest fire run in '50. Thankyou for this piece. After all these years, I miss my Dad and think of all the kids who lost their sooner in Bomber Command.

[@J23-o7u]

Wow so sorry:-(

[@jefferygrow1648]

Can we talk about true Sacrifice? The ability of the human spirit meets hatred and death and wins .

[@robertdelacruz2951]

I'm only 8 minutes in, and this is EXCELLENT! I don't care how old it may be, thank you for preserving these crews' stories to this day and beyond.

[@garysteinert8040]

Just sitting down to watch this. From my uncles obituary Jeff H. Steinert. In World War II he served as a B-24 navigator and was awarded the Air Medal four times and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

[@aegontargaryen9322]

A brave man among many other brave men who flew in those bombers

[@electricmaster23]

75, 80 years on... and these hardened men _all_ still well up when reflecting on this dark chapter of human history. The loss and turmoil they must have felt all these decades never leaves them.

[@Sol-Cutta]

I think ull find they are all dead. My mother was born immediately following the war she is 77. I remember 20yrs ago them saying the last of the veterans are dying.

[@Sol-Cutta]

Do u mean at the time of these recordings which is the 90s

[@GraemePayne1967Marine]

My mother lived and worked in London all through the war. Her attitude was that the enemy deserved everything they got, because they started it.

[@scottscottsdale7868]

Absolutely.

[@MARIEBalagot-v4n]

They did worst 😢

[@aegontargaryen9322]

I had relatives who lived through the blitz in London and also through the V1 and V2 campaigns . Also had old in-law family from Coventry , they said if they had any more nights of bombing the city would have just ceased to function . Believe me when I say these people thought the world of our bomber crews , it was the only way Britain could strike back at one point

[@markhodgson2348]

All as bad as each other that's what humanity does fight and breed

[@scottscottsdale7868]

@@markhodgson2348 this is simply not true. Try the Holocaust.

[@warrencox8290]

All I can say is, Thank you so much for your bravery and sacrifice.

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

A wonderful narrative and truthful showing of British pilots, aircrews, ground crew ... about brutality, terrifying, cruelty emotions of warriors in skies, seas, and ground battlefields...thank you 🙏 ( war stories) channel for sharing

[@lesliemaitland3551]

They weren't just British. Canadian, Australian, New Zealanders, Poles, etc. You weren't alone. And you never will be.

[@moncaman1]

Very courageous men... So sad..... What had to be done....

[@andrewmorton9327]

My father was in the Royal Engineers in Germany in 1945 and passed through a town in which one brick wasn't standing on another. When I expressed some sympathy for the people of the town he said, 'The Germans deserved everything they got'.

[@DeaconBlu]

As a student of history… As a student of this conflict… After watching this video……… Tears… Just tears… I’m not exactly sure what to say, tbvh. I know what happened from 36’ and forward and I’m quite sure that without Bomber Command and 8th AF things would have been Very different. The outcome would have been the same. No question in my military mind. But to hear these stories….? It’s just heart rendering…. I hope to God that we, as a species never have to endure this level of violence and destruction again. With the current level of capability? We very well may not survive. Great vid folks. Thank You! 😔👍

[@samuelpancake4084]

You need to study the wars and conflicts after WW2 . It got worse all the way up to the present day . I'm a combat veteran and fighting over in the sand box was some of the most disturbing things I've ever seen. Not saying WW2 wasn't bad it was . And the death rates were huge . But I'm also a military history buff as well and study all the conflicts

[@shaunmcclory8117]

Having been fortunate enough to have been inside a Lancaster bomber and experienced what it is like to get to the different crew stations on the ground it is a miracle any of the crew got out of a likely out of control damaged aircraft

[@towgod7985]

The B17 and B24 are the exact same way.

[@santamarian3578]

To those of us who followed ... we can never repay the debt we own to these brave men... most too young to have fought and died. The greatest generation ... we will remember 🍁🍁🍁

[@tombriggman2875]

Today's generations will never understand what our parents generation went through, they saved the world. Thank ypu for putting this material out there.

[@dwightlarson6449]

My uncle, who I never knew, died on his 33rd bombing mission after returning from France to Bari, Italy in July 1944. My father, who was his brother, was 15 years old and never spoke about it.

[@dwightlarson6449]

I failed to include the fact that he was a pilot on a b24....stationed in Bari, Italy

[@woodystreeservicePNW]

9:40 dam that pilot held the plane long enough for everyone to bail out

[@brianrobertson1211]

We owe our freedom to these brave men who were tasked to do terrible things to stop terrible things. Thank you sirs.

[@redwatch1100]

It must have been interesting talking to returning vets during the late 40s when they were all still here and young. By the time I was born, they were already much older and many had passed. By now we just get the scattered stories of the few guys still with us.

[@jamesvandemark2086]

Our relative loved being a bomber pilot. However he flew a Mosquito with the RCAF, which made a difference to say the least.

[@MrFishermanbob]

My friend's dad was a WWII bomber pilot. He used to yell in his sleep about attacking German fighter planes.

[@DillonDaVillain222]

Now that was a good documentary!

[@markfryer9880]

I do believe that the Germans were bombing European cities earlier than 1940. The Condor Legion bombing Guernica during the Spanish Civil War? Does that count? How about Warsaw and other cities during the September 1st, 1939 Invasion of Poland? Then in May of 1949, Rotterdam and Prague, Oslo, Copenhagen? Don't these cities count if they are not British? And I bet that they forget to mention the sacrifice of young men from the Dominions, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, Kenya? Or don't these men count now that the battle is won and their bodies lie cold in graves in foreign lands or on the bottom of the ocean? Lest We Forget. Mark from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺 Former Australian Army Reservist '88 to mid 90s.

[@Am_Yisrael_Chai_7]

Guernica was more like a village with 5000 inhabitants. But of course all cities/villages bombed by the Luftwaffe count. To be honest, plenty more civilians were killed by british and american bombers. But the reason for that is the Luftwaffe didn't have the capabilities to cause more harm.

[@jimclip2012]

This was so good, thank you!

[@JOHNBANNON-ib3cj]

......#IIHATEWAR!!!! Been there, done that!! This is ..HISTORY!!! GOD BLESS ALL VETS!!!!

[@bikenavbm1229]

the pain still so evident, peoples words and visuals so powerfull, good documentary thank you

[@petepal55]

Blocking the horrible sights from people is a bad thing. The whole purpose of showing how horrible war is is to keep the following generations from becoming ok with the idea. With the computer games these days portraying war as just clicks and keystrokes the young don't get the gist of what they are actually playing at. Show them these horrible pictures and maybe they won't be so willing to use a gun as easily as they seem to nowadays.

[@sebastianrosa4651]

I think its because of KZbins content guidelines. I've seen other channels do this also.

[@robertdelacruz2951]

Most FANTASTIC!

[@Matt9Xx]

Merlin wasnt messing around lmao

[@brettcurtis5710]

Over 55% casualties 56,000 out of 110,000 who served! New Zealand did it's share through the EATS program and one draft of RNZAF personnel to Canada to train in 1941 - 6 returned out of the 105 in the draft - most perished in the big raids of 1943-44 - Lest We Forget!

[@dmeinhertzhagen8764]

Excellent documentary, my only complaint is that I wished they would mention which units these courageous men served with. Everything indicates RCAF but that would have been nice to know precisely which squadrons they belonged to.

[@davidcarr7436]

I only recently discovered that my dad's uncle served as a Lancaster pilot with the RCAF. He served from 1941 until September 1946 He went on to raise a family and have a successful career in the insurance industry, retiring as a vice president of a large Canadian firm. He never spoke about the war.

[@pickititllneverheal9016]

Its odd you wont show the horrible crimes against humanity pictures.

[@adamburge5988]

KZbin won't let them.

[@J23-o7u]

Just watch master of the air series I have nothing to say unbelievable how amazing these guys had to be wow smh

[@gothmamasylvia462]

Made me think of my father, a navigator on a B -17.

[@stephenstill1890]

This is a fascinating film!They were brave men to go night after night.Bomber command lost so many of it's crews.Most of the bombs did miss,infact nowhere near the target

[@Dark_Knight_USA]

Greetings: I have met many of that era. Me, being better than most, educated of the era., equipment and people, made many great acquaintances. I learned 1st hand from there experiences rather than of books, movies, media and educators. These were /are fine men and warriors . My highest respect and appreciation is deserved them. They R of a time of pride, respect, skill, fine home training. Such has been in society. It is a shame that much of their service has been forgotten, insufficient rewarded and neglected by society. Thx 4 Ur service and loyalty. Thx 4 the share.

[@angiehemp4295]

Busy listening to Bomber, audiobook by Len Deighton. Phenomenal.

[@mkrbrtsn1]

great documentary, really emphasizes the human side on both sides

[@midnightchannel111]

50% death rate for Allied bombers...

[@oldskool731]

brilliant

[@jamiegroves5155]

MY grandfather was general Leslie Groves,he said that everyone who was in a B-17 flying fortress were the greatest of all the defence forces in world war 2 they had a worse shelf life then marines

[@THB1945]

Good to be here early

[@jameswebb4593]

Only an opinion , but many . maybe most chose the Airforce rather then becoming a soldier . With the horrors of the trenches of WW1 must have been in the minds of those young men . I know that if given the option of flying on missions and having a comfortable life when free of ops , where I would take my chances.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

That is fair comment I knew a couple did just that. However all airforces of all major combatants suffered a higher proportion of deaths than of the other two armed branches navy and army.

[@robertheinkel6225]

I joined the USAF to avoid being a ground soldier in Vietnam. I was going to be drafted into the Army, but enlisted in the USAF instead. I already had a sister in a MASH unit in Nam, and our family didn’t need two members overseas in the same war.

[@premierhoner614]

We salute you all oh brave souls. May you all rest in peace... From Capetown South Africa.... 😢😢

[@eoinmurphy210]

Brave men ,for sure,but sadly nothing has bean learned,as we speak its going on and on -man will never learn -PEACE AND LOVE.☮

[@curtisgallow1384]

They should show everything I hate. I hate that they are so soft about history this is what happened let's not repeat it..

[@lukeyeates8595]

Did German civilians know about the blitz? Did they understand that the Nazis were doing that?

[@anthonyeaton5153]

You bet they did.

[@olesuhr727]

They may have known, but nobody spoke up against it. That would have been certain death.

[@Am_Yisrael_Chai_7]

@@olesuhr727 The Nazis killed thousands of Germans who spoke up against the regime and the war

[@brianschumaker5912]

I'm a little disappointed that the more gruesome photographs were blotted out. Not because I enjoy seeing them. People need to see the savagery of war so they are not so inclined to start another one.

[@ColinFreeman-kh9us]

I wonder if they ever think about the kids and civilian population down there, pretty terrible stuff

[@robertheinkel6225]

Just like a fighter pilot is just shooting down an aircraft, not the crew. It was machine against machine, not an individual

[@WarPhotographer1974]

Thanks for censoring the images I might find shocking. Keep it up

[@HatBilly2008]

Sad , Putin would not understand this, because he doing this to Ukraine now. As my father said some people like, and want war. Others love peace.

[@noldo3837]

I was shocked when one my colleague has compared Israel to Russia in this. But she's from a strongly catholic country, ... Catholic antisemitism was the roots of fascist antisemitism. Thats why catholic church always supports fascist dictators. Two of fascist dictators actually WERE catholic priests, and a Hitlerjugend became pope.

[@Am_Yisrael_Chai_7]

Putin wants to become like mass murderer Stalin

[@GREGLUCAS-u4f]

An excellent video. Your editing is not correct, dead persons are shown on other u tube video's why not yours.😮

[@briandstephmoore4910]

You can’t do the same supposedly evil thing and still have moral superiority. If your actually better be better.

[@JamesMiller-q9w]

And now we rest to repeat in 2024 ?

[@adventuresoflittlejohnny]

So how come they never bombed "Happy Valley"?

[@anthonyeaton5153]

What is Happy Valley.

[@StephenRae-u1t]

They did bomb 'Happy Valley', many many times. It was called that because it was the most heavily armed area in Germany with anit-aircraft guns. Cologne, Dusseldorf, Dortmund, Essen all part of the Ruhr Valley targets. A large part of the Spring and Summer of 1943 was spent attacking these cities, with considerable losses of aircraft.

[@Am_Yisrael_Chai_7]

They bombed it plenty times

[@simonclark29041978]

The attitude of the day in the Uk was they bombed our cities so we did the same where as the Germans had medium bombers like the Heinkell 111 , Dornier 17 and Junkers 88 that could carry around 4000lbs of bombs. . From the end of 1940 we had the short Stirling , The Halifax then from 1942 the Lancasters and Mosquitoes entered service the Lancasters average bomb load was between 8-14000lbs of bombs from 20000 foot the Mosquitoes were strengthened to carry a 4000lb bomb from 1943 onwards the Germans started the war we finished it and won with the help of our Colonies and the USA .

[@franceyneireland1633]

As well as the Polish and Czechoslovak pilots who helped defend in the Battle of Britain and against the Germans in Europe under British command , as well as the Polish army also under British command.

[@pickititllneverheal9016]

Looks to me like a lot of civilians were targeted. Crimes against humanity anyone? Just pointing out we are not shameless. The greatest generation was also the one of the worst generations.

[@noldo3837]

Well, boomers are the worst. The gteatest generation at least volunteered to fight against fascism. Boomers cheer for fascism from their suburban houses, voting the fascists to go intoo the White House the main door.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

The Bomber offensive was an attempt to end the war. The Holocaust was not.

[@Am_Yisrael_Chai_7]

@@noldo3837 You should study the meaning of fascism

[@robertheinkel6225]

You mean the citizens that were supporting the war machine? Willingly or not, they helped make the war possible.

[@angiehemp4295]

On both sides. Dresden, Coventry.... All too awful

[@janostoth7406]

idiotic censorship blurs image

[@billotto602]

IT'S WAR ! SHOW THE DAMN PICTURES ! HEY UTUBE ! 🖕🤬🖕🤬🖕🤬

[@peterbamforth6453]

Mmmmm...Bombing dresden was not bombs going astray there wasn't much there of strategic value just a beatifull medeivel city.

[@bobbyb379]

The debate about the military significance is still unresolved and there are valid points on both sides. However, it was a (largely) untouched, vital rail hub that was in the way of the Soviet advance. It would have been impossible for the Soviets to go around Dresden, they would have had to take it, which would have taken a lot of additional time and extended the war - don’t forget that the Ardennes Offensive had just been launched by Germany and there was real concern amongst the Allies that Germany was a long way from being finished. Raids like this were a way to try and break the national morale through shock and awe. The same logic that was used in the atomic bombings - and worked.

[@billotto602]

HEY UTUBE 🖕🤬🖕🤬🖕🤬