Dambusters

Last updated on May 14th, 2019 at 01:34 pm

Reading Time: 3 minutes

I make no apology for the timing of this piece, it’s quite deliberate and something that I’ve wanted to say for a long, long time.

I have heard many calls over the past few years for Bomber Command of the Royal Air Force in the 2nd World War to be regarded as War Criminals, in particular, their leader Sir Arthur (Bomber) Harris.

Well I for one don’t agree with that sentiment on any level. War is a dirty business, kill or be killed. One cannot sit in the comfort of one’s centrally heated home/office and condemn the actions of heroes from a different generation, unless you were there. If a survivor from Bomber Command were to pitch up and say “we were War Criminals, we don’t deserve our medals etc” I would listen to him. I still might not agree with him but I would afford him the respect of listening to him. Anybody else doesn’t have the right to make that accusation in my humble opinion.

A few startling statistics might help put things into perspective;

56% of Bomber Command were either killed in the air or died from injuries received.

12% ended up as Prisoners of War.

Only 14% survived being shot down.

Only 27% survived the war unscathed.

In total, 55,573 were killed with an average age of just 22.

During the course of World War Two, personnel from Bomber Command were awarded 19 Victoria Crosses, 9 of them posthumously.

Aircrews had a 1 in 4 chance of surviving a tour of 30 missions.

The life expectancy of a bomber aircraft was just 13 missions.

All of the men who flew with Bomber Command were volunteers

Bomber Command lost more men in one night, during a raid over Nuremberg in March 1944, than died in the entire Battle of Britain.

So don’t tell me that these boys were War Criminals, they were heroes every one of them and thoroughly deserve their magnificent memorial in London.

Bomber Command Memorial
Bomber Command Memorial

Last night was the anniversary of the famous Dambusters Raid On the night of May 16th, 1943, nineteen Lancaster bombers took off from Scampton in Lincolnshire. The bombs were 50 inches in diameter, 60 inches long and weighed 9250 lbs. Of this weight, 6,600 lbs was powerful RDX explosive. The bombs were not easy to deliver and the crews had to release the bomb while flying at exactly 220 mph and at a height of exactly 60 feet above the water. If the Lancaster was forced into a tight turn at this height, one of its wing tips would barely be above the surface of the water. Precision flying at its best was needed just to get the bomb in motion. To add to the difficulties, the crew had to drop the bomb at exactly 425 yards from the dam wall. There could only be 25 yards either side of this figure

Avro Lancaster Bomber
Avro Lancaster Bomber

Dambusters: All the brave men who took part (click here to see the fate of all those brave young men who flew this mission)

Now does anyone want to talk to me about War Criminals?

As an amusing postscript, Mrs Angry and I were on holiday in Sardinia one year and it became apparent that were the only English people in this particular resort.  Anyway, one evening we were engaged in conversation by about 4 German couples who forced us to drink immense quantities of wine with them, taught us the meaning or Vorsprung Durch Technic and at the end of the evening bade us goodnight with that immortal line “You bombed our chip shop”, proof if any were needed that a) Germans can be generous, b) These particular Germans were not judgemental and c) they had a good sense of humour.

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3 thoughts on “Dambusters”

  1. All the namby, pamby, bleeding heart rubbish comes from the Fabian Liberal Left who try to make victims and softies out of everyone. Pretty soon nobody will be able to do anything without condemnation. As you say war is a dirty business, people get killed, and more importantly we didn’t start it.
    As it turns out our airmen, and all those others who died to maintain our liberty have been betrayed by 5th columnists amongst those in power, who knowingly handed this country and it’s people over to that same foreign power we fought two wars to avoid.
    They then set out to deliberately allow the country to be invaded by stealth, importing supportive voters who never should have the vote on the workings of this country.
    Parliament are trying to get rid of this Constitutional Act by trying to replace it, something they cannot do because of the wording below “according to the same in all times to come” and “established by authoritie of this present Parliament and shall stand remaine and be the Law of this Realme forever “. Maastricht demoted the Queen to being a mere citizen of the EU, and made her change her measures and councils breaking her Coronation Oath, and overawing the Houses of Parliament.

    Bill of Right 1688
    New Oaths of Allegiance, &c.
    Supremacy.
    I A B doe sweare That I doe from my Heart Abhorr, Detest and Abjure as Impious and Hereticall this damnable Doctrine and Position That Princes Excommunicated or Deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome may be deposed or murdered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever. And I doe declare That noe Forreigne Prince Person Prelate, State or Potentate hathor ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preeminence or Authoritie Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall within this Realme Soe helpe me God……..
    extracts – That the said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons being the two Houses of Parlyament should continue to sitt and with their Majesties Royall Concurrence make effectuall Provision for the Setlement of the Religion Lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome soe that the same for the future might not be in danger againe of being subverted, To which the said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons did agree andproceede to act accordingly. Now in pursuance of the Premisses the said Lords Spirituall andTemporall and Commons in Parlyament assembled for the ratifying confirming and establishingthe said Declaration and the Articles Clauses Matters and Things therein contained by the Forceof a Law made in due Forme by Authority of Parlyament doe pray that it may be declaredand enacted That all and singular the Rights and Liberties asserted and claimed in the saidDeclaration are the true auntient and indubitable Rights and Liberties of the People of this Kingdome and soe shall be esteemed allowed adjudged deemed and taken to be and that all and every the particulars aforesaid shall be firmly and strictly holden and observed as they areexpressed in the said Declaration And all Officers and Ministers whatsoever shall serve their Majestyes and their Successors according to the same in all times to come…………………………………………….doe faithfully promise That theywill stand to maintaine and defend their said Majesties and alsoe the Limitation and Successionof the Crowne herein specified and contained to the utmost of their Powers with their Lives and Estates against all Persons whatsoever that shall attempt any thing to the contrary. And whereas it hath beene found by Experience that it is inconsistent with the Safety and Welfaire of this enacted That all and every person and persons that is are or shall be reconciled to or shall hold Communion with the See or Church of Rome or shall professe the Popish Religion or shall marrya Papist shall be excluded and be for ever uncapeable to inherit possesse or enjoy the Crowne and Government of this Realme and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging or any part ofthe same or to have use or exercise any Regall Power Authoritie or Jurisdiction within the sameProtestant Kingdome to be governed by a Popish Prince or by any King or Queene marrying a Papist the said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons doe further pray that it may be…………………………………………………………All which Their Majestyes are contented and pleased shall be declared enacted and established by authoritie of this present Parliament and shall stand remaine and be the Law of this Realme forever ………………………………………….shall administer the Coronation Oath to him or her at the time of his or her takeing the said Oath (which shall first happen) make subscribe and audibly repeate the Declaration mentioned in the Statute made in the thirtyeth yeare of the Raigne of King Charles the Second Entituled An Act for the more effectuall Preserveing the Kings Person and Government by disableing Papists from sitting in either House of Parlyament

    The Crime under the Treason Felony Act 1848
    “It is Treason Felony to ‘compass, imagine, invent, devise, or intend to:
    1) Deprive the Sovereign of the Crown.
    2) Levy war against the sovereign in order by force or constraint to compel her to change Her measures or counsels, or in order to put any force or constraint upon, or in order to intimidate or overawe both Houses or either House of Parliament.
    3) ‘Move or Stir’ any foreigner to invade the United Kingdom, or any other country belonging to the Sovereign.

    Crime committed under Treason Act 1351
    1) Compassing the death of the sovereign, or of the sovereign’s wife or eldest son and heir.
    2) Violating the sovereign’s wife, or sovereign’s eldest unmarried daughter, or the sovereign’s eldest son’s wife.
    3) Levying war against the sovereign in the realm.
    4) Adhering to the sovereign’s enemies, giving them aid and comfort, in the realm or elsewhere.
    5) Killing the King’s Chancellor, Treasurer (an office long in commission) or Justices.
    EU accounts and monies paid illegally against restraints placed on government:

    Money paid illegally
    Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000
    I believe that it may be ‘Section 6 (1) (a, b & c) and 6 (3) (a & c) Resource accounts scrutiny’ and 7 (4) (a,b & c) ‘other departmental accounts’ of that act which are relevant to the EU accounts not being signed off by auditors and constituting corruption and fraud:
    snipped
    6. Resource accounts: scrutiny.
    (1) The Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine any resource accounts which he receives from a department under section 5(5) with a view to satisfying himself—
    (a) that the accounts present a true and fair view,
    (b) that money provided by Parliament has been expended for the purposes intended by Parliament,
    (c) that resources authorised by Parliament to be used have been used for the purposes in relation to which the use was authorised, and
    (d) that the department’s financial transactions are in accordance with any relevant authority.

    (3) Where the Comptroller and Auditor General has conducted an examination of accounts under subsection (1)—
    (a) he shall certify them and issue a report,
    (b) he shall send the certified accounts and the report to the Treasury not later than 15th January of the financial year following that to which the accounts relate, and
    (c) if he is not satisfied of the matters set out in subsection (1)(a) to (d), he shall report to the House of Commons.

    7. Other departmental accounts.
    (1) The Treasury may direct a government department to prepare for each financial year accounts in relation to any specified matter.
    (2) Accounts under subsection (1) shall be prepared in accordance with directions issued by the Treasury.

    (4) The Comptroller and Auditor General shall carry out his examination of accounts under subsection (3)(b) with a view to satisfying himself—
    (a) that money provided by Parliament has been expended for the purposes intended by Parliament,
    (b) that resources authorised by Parliament to be used have been used for the purposes in relation to which the use was authorised, and
    (c) that the department’s financial transactions are in accordance with any relevant authority.
    Information highlighting this Act courtesy of Ashley Mote

    http://www.englishconstitutiongroup.org

  2. All the namby, pamby, bleeding heart rubbish comes from the Fabian Liberal Left who try to make victims and softies out of everyone. Pretty soon nobody will be able to do anything without condemnation. As you say war is a dirty business, people get killed, and more importantly we didn’t start it.
    As it turns out our airmen, and all those others who died to maintain our liberty have been betrayed by 5th columnists amongst those in power, who knowingly handed this country and it’s people over to that same foreign power we fought two wars to avoid.
    They then set out to deliberately allow the country to be invaded by stealth, importing supportive voters who never should have the vote on the workings of this country.
    Parliament are trying to get rid of this Constitutional Act by trying to replace it, something they cannot do because of the wording below “according to the same in all times to come” and “established by authoritie of this present Parliament and shall stand remaine and be the Law of this Realme forever “. Maastricht demoted the Queen to being a mere citizen of the EU, and made her change her measures and councils breaking her Coronation Oath, and overawing the Houses of Parliament.

    Bill of Right 1688
    New Oaths of Allegiance, &c.
    Supremacy.
    I A B doe sweare That I doe from my Heart Abhorr, Detest and Abjure as Impious and Hereticall this damnable Doctrine and Position That Princes Excommunicated or Deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome may be deposed or murdered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever. And I doe declare That noe Forreigne Prince Person Prelate, State or Potentate hathor ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preeminence or Authoritie Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall within this Realme Soe helpe me God……..
    extracts – That the said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons being the two Houses of Parlyament should continue to sitt and with their Majesties Royall Concurrence make effectuall Provision for the Setlement of the Religion Lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome soe that the same for the future might not be in danger againe of being subverted, To which the said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons did agree andproceede to act accordingly. Now in pursuance of the Premisses the said Lords Spirituall andTemporall and Commons in Parlyament assembled for the ratifying confirming and establishingthe said Declaration and the Articles Clauses Matters and Things therein contained by the Forceof a Law made in due Forme by Authority of Parlyament doe pray that it may be declaredand enacted That all and singular the Rights and Liberties asserted and claimed in the saidDeclaration are the true auntient and indubitable Rights and Liberties of the People of this Kingdome and soe shall be esteemed allowed adjudged deemed and taken to be and that all and every the particulars aforesaid shall be firmly and strictly holden and observed as they areexpressed in the said Declaration And all Officers and Ministers whatsoever shall serve their Majestyes and their Successors according to the same in all times to come…………………………………………….doe faithfully promise That theywill stand to maintaine and defend their said Majesties and alsoe the Limitation and Successionof the Crowne herein specified and contained to the utmost of their Powers with their Lives and Estates against all Persons whatsoever that shall attempt any thing to the contrary. And whereas it hath beene found by Experience that it is inconsistent with the Safety and Welfaire of this enacted That all and every person and persons that is are or shall be reconciled to or shall hold Communion with the See or Church of Rome or shall professe the Popish Religion or shall marrya Papist shall be excluded and be for ever uncapeable to inherit possesse or enjoy the Crowne and Government of this Realme and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging or any part ofthe same or to have use or exercise any Regall Power Authoritie or Jurisdiction within the sameProtestant Kingdome to be governed by a Popish Prince or by any King or Queene marrying a Papist the said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons doe further pray that it may be…………………………………………………………All which Their Majestyes are contented and pleased shall be declared enacted and established by authoritie of this present Parliament and shall stand remaine and be the Law of this Realme forever ………………………………………….shall administer the Coronation Oath to him or her at the time of his or her takeing the said Oath (which shall first happen) make subscribe and audibly repeate the Declaration mentioned in the Statute made in the thirtyeth yeare of the Raigne of King Charles the Second Entituled An Act for the more effectuall Preserveing the Kings Person and Government by disableing Papists from sitting in either House of Parlyament

    The Crime under the Treason Felony Act 1848
    “It is Treason Felony to ‘compass, imagine, invent, devise, or intend to:
    1) Deprive the Sovereign of the Crown.
    2) Levy war against the sovereign in order by force or constraint to compel her to change Her measures or counsels, or in order to put any force or constraint upon, or in order to intimidate or overawe both Houses or either House of Parliament.
    3) ‘Move or Stir’ any foreigner to invade the United Kingdom, or any other country belonging to the Sovereign.

    Crime committed under Treason Act 1351
    1) Compassing the death of the sovereign, or of the sovereign’s wife or eldest son and heir.
    2) Violating the sovereign’s wife, or sovereign’s eldest unmarried daughter, or the sovereign’s eldest son’s wife.
    3) Levying war against the sovereign in the realm.
    4) Adhering to the sovereign’s enemies, giving them aid and comfort, in the realm or elsewhere.
    5) Killing the King’s Chancellor, Treasurer (an office long in commission) or Justices.
    EU accounts and monies paid illegally against restraints placed on government:

    Money paid illegally
    Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000
    I believe that it may be ‘Section 6 (1) (a, b & c) and 6 (3) (a & c) Resource accounts scrutiny’ and 7 (4) (a,b & c) ‘other departmental accounts’ of that act which are relevant to the EU accounts not being signed off by auditors and constituting corruption and fraud:
    snipped
    6. Resource accounts: scrutiny.
    (1) The Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine any resource accounts which he receives from a department under section 5(5) with a view to satisfying himself—
    (a) that the accounts present a true and fair view,
    (b) that money provided by Parliament has been expended for the purposes intended by Parliament,
    (c) that resources authorised by Parliament to be used have been used for the purposes in relation to which the use was authorised, and
    (d) that the department’s financial transactions are in accordance with any relevant authority.

    (3) Where the Comptroller and Auditor General has conducted an examination of accounts under subsection (1)—
    (a) he shall certify them and issue a report,
    (b) he shall send the certified accounts and the report to the Treasury not later than 15th January of the financial year following that to which the accounts relate, and
    (c) if he is not satisfied of the matters set out in subsection (1)(a) to (d), he shall report to the House of Commons.

    7. Other departmental accounts.
    (1) The Treasury may direct a government department to prepare for each financial year accounts in relation to any specified matter.
    (2) Accounts under subsection (1) shall be prepared in accordance with directions issued by the Treasury.

    (4) The Comptroller and Auditor General shall carry out his examination of accounts under subsection (3)(b) with a view to satisfying himself—
    (a) that money provided by Parliament has been expended for the purposes intended by Parliament,
    (b) that resources authorised by Parliament to be used have been used for the purposes in relation to which the use was authorised, and
    (c) that the department’s financial transactions are in accordance with any relevant authority.
    Information highlighting this Act courtesy of Ashley Mote

    http://www.englishconstitutiongroup.org

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