Never Mind The Dambusters

Send us a message or question! In this conversation, Jane and James chat to historian  and author Professor Alan Allport about the decision of the British cabinet to allow the RAF to start bombing Germany's Ruhr Valley. He explains that this decision, made in May 1940, was a watershed moment in the war and really marked the beginning of the bombing campaign 'proper'.  Allport also d...

Send us a message or question! Jane and James interview Dr. Sarah Louise Miller about her new book on the Avro Lancaster, The Lancaster Story . They discuss the significance of the Lancaster in RAF Bomber Command during World War II and its cultural impact. They also explore the personal stories and experiences of those involved with the Lancaster, including ground crew and WAAFs. Sarah shares her...

Send us a message or question!  In this episode, Jane and James discuss RAF Bomber Command's role in Operations Neptune and Overlord,  initially focusing on the preparations for the invasion, particularly the mine-laying element known as MAPLE. They explore the complexities, challenges, and successes of the mine-laying operations, highlighting the inter-service cooperation and the strategic s...

Send us a message or question! WARNING: This episode contains graphic descriptions of war, death and injury which some listeners may find distressing. In this episode, Jane and James  continue their discussion about the Wuppertal raid of May 1943, focusing on the experiences of two crews from 10 Squadron, Penny's Prangers and the Clarke crew, each taking part in their first operation.  The co...

Send us a message or question! In this episode, Jane and James discuss the  planning of the raid on Wuppertal on 29/30 May 1943. They explore the reasons why Bomber Command targeted the Ruhr Valley and how targets were selected and operations were planned. They also focus on two rookie crews from 10 Squadron who took part in the raid, the Pennicott and Clarke crews. The episode highlights the cons...

Send us a message or question! 100 year old  RAF veteran Tom Davidson shares his experiences of flying on a Halifax in 1944-1945 . In this episode of Never Mind the Dam Busters, Jane and James discuss the Handley Page Halifax, an unsung hero of Bomber Command. They delve into the evolution of the Halifax, from the 'death-trap' early Marks to the magnificent Mk III, and its role in strate...

Send us a message or question! In this episode, the James and Jane are joined by Dr. Dan Ellin to discuss the role of ground crew, ground personnel (there's a difference!) and Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) during World War II. The conversation touches on the concept of the 'chop girl' and the superstitions surrounding dating aircrew. The hosts also explore the relationship...

Send us a message or question! Welcome to the first episode of Never Mind The Dambusters! In this episode James and Jane discuss the origins of their mutual interest in RAF Bomber Command, and talk about the evolution of Strategic Bombing Theory from the Great War to the late 1930s. What did it take to build a strategic bomber force and why was it necessary?  How do you build a bomber base? James...

Send us a message or question! Welcome to Never Mind The Dambusters, a brand new podcast dedicated to RAF Bomber Command's wartime history.  The Dams raids were perhaps amongst the most famous and daring of the Second World War, but there's so much more to Bomber Command's history. Join historians Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies fortnightly for a deep dive into Bomber Comma...