Never Mind The Dambusters

Send us a message or question! In a change to our usual format, this episode focuses on the Victoria Cross winners from RAF Bomber Command, specifically Sergeant Thomas Gray and Flying Officer Donald Garland.  Over the course of the current series, we'll be telling the stories of the men who received the British Military's highest award for gallantry "in the presence of the enemy&qu...

Send us a message or question! This episode has it all... Bombers in WW1,  Coastal Command in WW2, Air-Sea rescue, anti-shipping operations, Balfour, Portal, Blenheims, Hudsons, Ansons, Kestrels, lifeboats and even flying naked over Norfolk in a bi-plane... Tune in for a fantastic discussion with Jamie Heffer, Chairman of the RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre. We delve into the history of RAF Bir...

Send us a message or question! Welcome back - Series 2 is here! In this episode of Never Mind the Dambusters, hosts Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies welcome historian Andrew Rawson to discuss the design and manufacture of bomber aircraft during World War II. The conversation covers the evolution of the aircraft industry from pre-war rearmament to the establishment of shadow factories, the...

Send us a message or question! 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 In this final episode of the series, James Jefferies and Jane Gulliford Lowes are joined by Dr Dan Ellin to reflect on the significance of Christmas during the Second World War, particularly for RAF Bomber Command crews during the winter of 1943. They discuss personal stories, listener contributions, and the hars...

Send us a message or question! WARNING: This episode includes discussion of  issues surrounding the Holocaust and genocide which some listeners may find distressing. In this episode, the hosts engage in a profound discussion with Dr. Waitman Beorn about the controversial topic of whether the Allies could and should have bombed Auschwitz during World War II. They explore the historical context, the...

Send us a message or question! In this episode, James Jefferies and Jane Gulliford Lowes engage in a lively discussion with author Luke Turner about the complexities of Bomber Command's history, model-making, the legacy of the Dambusters film, his fascination with 158 Squadron, and the personal stories of individuals like Bertram Warr. They explore themes of masculinity, memory, and the impor...

Send us a message or question! This week, Jane and James explore the training of bomber crews, and the perilous nature of life at the OTUs and HCUs.  They discuss the training structure, the tragic story of a training flight that ended in disaster for the Canadian crew, and the importance of memorializing those who lost their lives in training. Jane talks about a new bomber command memorial and te...

Send us a message or question! In this episode of Never Mind the Dambusters, hosts Jane Gulliford-Lowes and James Jefferies engage with historian Andrew Bird to explore the often-overlooked role of Coastal Command in the RAF during World War II. The conversation covers the origins and structure of Coastal Command, its critical role in the Battle of the Atlantic, and the ongoing resource struggles...

Send us a message or question! In this week's episode, hosts James Jefferies and Jane Gulliford Lowes discuss the significant contributions of African and Caribbean men in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They are joined by historian John Concagh, who shares insights into the motivations behind these men joining the RAF, the challenges they faced, and their experiences during and after...

Send us a message or question! In this episode of Never Mind the Dambusters, hosts Jane Gulliford-Lowes and James Jefferies delve into the complexities  and controversies of the Allied strategic bombing campaign during World War II.  Did the campaign succeed? How is success measured?  They explore the ongoing debate regarding its effectiveness, the shifting objectives of the campaign, the aims of...

Send us a message or question! In this episode of Nevermind the Dambusters, hosts Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies discuss the intersection of video games and military history, particularly focusing on RAF Bomber Command. Joined by Ethan Adato, they explore how video games can serve as educational tools, the ethical implications of portraying historical events, and specific games like Bomb...

Send us a message or question! Battle of Britain Part 2 This week Jane and James continue their discussion on the role of Bomber Command during the Battle of Britain. They discuss the 'Battle of the Barges',  the heroic actions of Sergeant John Hanna VC, and the daring Dortmund-Ems Canal raid. The conversation also highlights Winston Churchill's recognition of bomber crews in his fa...

Send us a message or question! At last! We finally got around to talking about Bomber Command's often overlooked role in the Battle of Britain. In the first of two episodes on this topic, we chat about the run up to the Battle, and highlight the significant contribution of Bomber Command, particularly in attacking Luftwaffe airfields and attacking the Kriegsmarine. The conversation covers ear...

Send us a message or question! This week we welcome Graham Waterton, author of 'The RAF's Youngest Bomber Pilot of World War II'. The conversation delves into the life of Flight Lieutenant Brian Slade DFC, Graham's uncle, who served as a Wellington and Lancaster pilot (and Pathfinder) . Brian Slade lied about his age to enlist (abetted by his father) and joined Bomber Command a...

Send us a message or question! We're delighted to have James back on the show and in good form... This week we're having a random chat about all sorts of stuff, from books and films to 'dream flight' scenarios.  We answer listeners' questions, and debate whether the USAAF could've carried out Operation Chastise, and whether more targeted bombing could've ended th...

Send us a message or question! This week, host Jane Gulliford Lowes engages with American historian Abby Whitlock to explore the portrayal of the bombing campaigns during World War II in the series 'Masters of the Air'. They discuss Abby's personal journey into military aviation history, the cultural perceptions of RAF and USAAF crews, the representation of German civilians, and the...

Send us a message or question! Jane is joined by Ally Campbell-Grieve ( James isn't available this week) to debate the thorny topic of how we should deal with veteran's accounts as historical sources.   They explore the challenges historians face when analysing accounts from veterans, particularly those from Bomber Command during WWII. The conversation delves into the background of Ally&...

Send us a message or question! This week we discuss the role of RAF bomber aircraft as glider tugs in the Arnhem airlift and airborne operations. We're joined by Matt Yates , the Chief Operations Officer for the Vickers Machine Gun Collection and Research Association, and owner of the Chalk Glider Pilot Regiment Collection. Matt provides insight into the formation of the Glider Pilot Regiment...

Send us a message or question! Jane is flying solo again this week so this is quite a short one! In this episode she discusses the Norwegian campaign from April to June 1940, which is often overlooked in the history of Bomber Command and World War II. Bomber Command's role in the campaign included bombing German air bases, attacking Kriegsmarine shipping, and mine laying. However, the operati...

Send us a message or question! ‘Even heroes have a breakdown point. Honour and moral fibre are variables. Like pain, the threshold is different in each of us.’                                                                             - Phillip Gray, Bomber Pilot. This week, Jane discusses the issue of psychiatric casualties in Bomber Command, with Dr. Dan Ellin (University of Lincoln and Interna...

Send us a message or question! **Episode on public release 28 August 2024   ‘Even heroes have a breakdown point. Honour and moral fibre are variables. Like pain, the threshold is different in each of us.’                                                                             - Phillip Gray, Bomber Pilot. This week, Jane discusses the issue of psychiatric casualties in Bomber Command, with Dr....

Send us a message or question! Jane and James are joined by writer and historian Daniel Knowles to discuss the cultural memory and evolving opinions of RAF Bomber Command. They explore topics such as the role of Bomber Command in the defeat of Germany, the influence of the Dresden raids, and the moral debate surrounding area bombing.   The historiography of Bomber Command is also examined, with a...

Send us a message or question! In this episode, Jane and James have a good old chinwag about We Have Ways Fest and their own research projects. Jane chats about her upcoming book on the Lofoten Commando raids, while James reveals his exciting news of writing a book on the Augsburg Raid.  In the second half of the show, the team answer listeners' questions about the fate of crews after complet...

Send us a message or question! We answer the question we get asked most frequently - "How do I go about researching someone who served with RAF Bomber Command?" In this episode, we discuss how to research ancestors or family members who served with RAF Bomber Command during World War II. We provide a guide to tackling this topic and share own own experiences. We'll cover topics such...

Send us a message or question! Jane and James discuss their upcoming talks at the We Have Ways of Making You Talk Second World War History Festival in July, and  introduce their guests, Dr. Megan Kelleher and Rab Cooper , from the RAF Midlands Museum .  Megan and Rab discuss the challenges of presenting the Air War to modern audiences, including the ethical questions surrounding strategic bombing...