I was at a remembrance day ceremony in my hometown today, and I started thinking specifically about the pilots at Bomber Command. Imagine yourself, a 19 year old kid, with only a couple hundred hours of flight experience, climbing into a Lancaster Bomber. The guy in the right seat has even less experience than you, and you're blasting off into a war zone knowing that there's a good chance you're going to die tonight. These pilots must have been scared as hell, but they went anyway and got the job done.
Kinda different from our current "the world owes me happiness" generation, isn't it?
Please take a moment to remember these pilots and all the other people who gave it all to ensure that you have the freedoms you do today.
A Remembrance Day Thought
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TenForTwelve
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Dust Devil
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There are groups of small a/c flying about in formation in the clag here in Vancouver, doing their bit for Remembrance Day...filthy day, but it always is on November 11th. They should be in the Legion...
My grandfather was at Vimy, and my father was a fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain...I have not served Canada like they have and I can only remember the stories and try to appreciate how their lives were changed forever by their sacrifices and how they made Canadians revered in the world for our self-sacrifice and principles. And how lucky I am for my very existence, as both of my 'fathers' survived, when very many did not.
And it should also be a reminder that we all have to stay vigilant in our small ways, to guard against the crap and corruption and mediocrity that many try to force upon us, and to try and keep sight of the ethics and morality that our ancestors fought for.
Je me souviens.
My grandfather was at Vimy, and my father was a fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain...I have not served Canada like they have and I can only remember the stories and try to appreciate how their lives were changed forever by their sacrifices and how they made Canadians revered in the world for our self-sacrifice and principles. And how lucky I am for my very existence, as both of my 'fathers' survived, when very many did not.
And it should also be a reminder that we all have to stay vigilant in our small ways, to guard against the crap and corruption and mediocrity that many try to force upon us, and to try and keep sight of the ethics and morality that our ancestors fought for.
Je me souviens.
"What's it doing now?"
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
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av8tor_assrope
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TenForTwelve....excellent topic and post. Since we’re on the topic I’d like to share a story about what happened to me today. My two buddies and myself were roaming through Yorkdale on our way to the subway when a group of people formed a circle getting ready for the moment of silence. So we joined the circle. And as we were waiting, 3 individuals of colour (no racial slur intended…simply a description) with their pants down to their knees walk by and screamed “stop waiting….fc@k remembrance day” So I kindly turned around and reminded them that I’m able to bang their mother’s due to the freedom fought and earned by all of our veteran’s. Well you can just imagine where this was headed until they realized the two friends I was with; which both play university football and are about the size of a kitchen fridge……so they just buggered off and we continued and respected the moment of silence.
If you can read this…….thank a teacher. If you can read this in english…….thank a soldier!!!!!!!
Lest we Forget
Cheers
If you can read this…….thank a teacher. If you can read this in english…….thank a soldier!!!!!!!
Lest we Forget
Cheers
I want to die like my grandfather did, peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming in terror like his passengers...
Being scared as hell and going out to do the job anyways is what courage is about. It's not about going out to pitch in the ALCS ala Curt Schilling in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS. Nobody was going to die if he didn't go out and throw. Boston would have added another disappointment to the long list of reasons why they hadn't won the world series in 86 years and counting.TenForTwelve wrote: Imagine yourself, a 19 year old kid, with only a couple hundred hours of flight experience, climbing into a Lancaster Bomber. The guy in the right seat has even less experience than you, and you're blasting off into a war zone knowing that there's a good chance you're going to die tonight. These pilots must have been scared as hell, but they went anyway and got the job done.
Going to war and dying for something that you believe (or possible don't) in is definately the ultimate sacrifice. Everyday a soldier is asked to possibly lay their life on the line. They aren't asked to like it, they are asked to do it. The courage that it takes to stand up in the face of carnage, noise and onslaught is tremendous. For that reason I will never criticize the job of a soldier. I may not agree with a reason for war being waged, I might not like the person waging the war, but I will never disrespect a soldier for doing their job.
There are 19 year olds over in Iraq that have experienced more in their tour of duty than 19 of us put together will ever face in our entire lives. A lot of being asked of them with not much being returned.
From To Kill A Mockingbird,
Atticus Finch on why he decided to defend a black man in To Kill a Mockingbird. That about sums up what courage is.It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.
JUGGS-A waypoint in Idaho too!
We sacrificed so much so that we can post here.
Hug a Vet!
Hug a Vet!
"FLY THE AIRPLANE"!
http://www.youtube.com/hazatude
http://www.youtube.com/hazatude
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Cool Rythms!
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Driving Rain
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I phoned my last surviving Uncle today...... Uncle Bert and Aunt Rina of Burlinton Ontario. Uncle Bert is 84 and his Wife, my Aunt Rina is 83. Uncle Bert entered the RCN 66 years ago on the eve of war with Germany in 1939. Before that he was just an 18 year old kid from Hamilton ON. When war broke out he was working in Central Pat or Pickle Lake to most of us.
He told me he didn't join out of some deep seated loyalty or anything like that. He joined because as a kid growing up in the depression the few bucks the RCN paid to it's then reservists came in handy, he was in the RCN reserve. His first trip to Great Britain from Halifax was on a "Cheese Cutter" as he called it. They were Destroyer Escorts that Canada had purchaced from the US at the outbreak of war. Canada had less than 10 war ships at the out break. The escort he first served on "The Mahone" (US Name) it's hull was layed in 1918. Uncle Bert served until the 2nd last day of the War, returning to Halifax in April 1945. His "war bride wife" Rina Campbell was waiting for him in Hamilton, having braved the waters of the North Atlantic prior to the end of hostilities from her home in Glasgow, sailing on the Queen Mary.
He worked below decks as a stoker/oiler/engineer or what ever it took to keep the engine running. He served on a RCN mine sweeper that swept the Normady Beaches at 0330 hour prior to the D. Day landings. After the sun came up on D Day and the German shore batteries had been silenced he told me about fishing bloated bodies out of the water and saving a few guys. He fought in the longest and certainly one of the deadlest battles of WW2, "The Battle of the Atlantic"
He asked me why I was calling, "is everything OK"?, "Yes Uncle Bert" I told him "everything's fine" I just wanted to say thanks".
He told me he didn't join out of some deep seated loyalty or anything like that. He joined because as a kid growing up in the depression the few bucks the RCN paid to it's then reservists came in handy, he was in the RCN reserve. His first trip to Great Britain from Halifax was on a "Cheese Cutter" as he called it. They were Destroyer Escorts that Canada had purchaced from the US at the outbreak of war. Canada had less than 10 war ships at the out break. The escort he first served on "The Mahone" (US Name) it's hull was layed in 1918. Uncle Bert served until the 2nd last day of the War, returning to Halifax in April 1945. His "war bride wife" Rina Campbell was waiting for him in Hamilton, having braved the waters of the North Atlantic prior to the end of hostilities from her home in Glasgow, sailing on the Queen Mary.
He worked below decks as a stoker/oiler/engineer or what ever it took to keep the engine running. He served on a RCN mine sweeper that swept the Normady Beaches at 0330 hour prior to the D. Day landings. After the sun came up on D Day and the German shore batteries had been silenced he told me about fishing bloated bodies out of the water and saving a few guys. He fought in the longest and certainly one of the deadlest battles of WW2, "The Battle of the Atlantic"
He asked me why I was calling, "is everything OK"?, "Yes Uncle Bert" I told him "everything's fine" I just wanted to say thanks".
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Scuba_Steve
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I hate to break it to you, but we are at war right now...Tamago wrote:Let us not forget the horror of war.
Thank God Canada is not at war now.
My grandfather served with the 2nd tactical airforce in occupied europe, flying reconasance (nightime) and tactical bombing for the advancing allied armies. The thing that always got me was that as a bomber crewman you had a statistically ZERO chance of serviving the war. With a 5% loss rate on each mission your number came up after 20 missions. Scary stuff..
Sure makes you think.
Re: A Remembrance Day Thought
I'd like to point out that the Lanc didn't/doesn't in fact have a "right seat" - there was one guy to do the job. That kinda kicks it up a notch, eh? Now that's pressure.TenForTwelve wrote:...Imagine yourself, a 19 year old kid, with only a couple hundred hours of flight experience, climbing into a Lancaster Bomber. The guy in the right seat has even less experience than you...
"It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues." - Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
remberance day
the history channel did a good show this week called bomber boys was filmed in picton and hamilton ont with boys from around the world involved as well s there there grandfathers kinda neat to see it all and at least there are 7 more teenagers out there that know part of what there grandfathers and other vets out there went through glad it was done and wish more out there could do it so they to could get the feel of the cost of there freedom this coming from a 25 year old
ULTOR UN UMBRIS
Battle of Britain
Here are some interesting stats on the Battle of Britain:
PILOTS/ COUNTRY/ KIA
1822 RAF & Commonwealth 339
56 Fleet Air Arm 9
21 Australia 14
73 New Zealand 11
88 Canadian 20
21 South African 9
2 Southern Rhodesia 0
8 Irish 0
7 American 1
141 Polish 29
86 Czech 8
One of the youngest pilots I am aware of was 17 yrs of age, completed 15 hrs in basic flight training and saw combat over the English channel in a Spitfire at the peak of the battle after completing 5 hrs as a conversion to type.
PILOTS/ COUNTRY/ KIA
1822 RAF & Commonwealth 339
56 Fleet Air Arm 9
21 Australia 14
73 New Zealand 11
88 Canadian 20
21 South African 9
2 Southern Rhodesia 0
8 Irish 0
7 American 1
141 Polish 29
86 Czech 8
One of the youngest pilots I am aware of was 17 yrs of age, completed 15 hrs in basic flight training and saw combat over the English channel in a Spitfire at the peak of the battle after completing 5 hrs as a conversion to type.
HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO DREAM DREAMS AND ARE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE TO MAKE THEM COME TRUE: CARL BOENISH
Not to be confused with Springjob, Handjob, Blowjob or any other job......except a flyingjob!
Not to be confused with Springjob, Handjob, Blowjob or any other job......except a flyingjob!
I went and got my poppy from a vet that was selling em, I was in my flightsuit at the time and I think it made his day, and that, made my day. If there's any vets out there reading, thank you!
Both my grandfathers served and have passed away now, which is a shame; I was too young to remeber/appreciate the stories from one, but the other's were gems, talk to your seniors!
Both my grandfathers served and have passed away now, which is a shame; I was too young to remeber/appreciate the stories from one, but the other's were gems, talk to your seniors!
