I’ve done this all over the place tonight, I thgought you guys wouldn’t mind.
I’ve mentioned several times about my Grandad. He was a rear gunner in a Lanc in WWII. Tonight is 79 years ago since he got shot down in Holland. Here’s his story, I’m sure some of you haven’t come across this before.
[aircrewremembered.com]
What an amazing story, you must be very proud of your grandad. The civilians who provided shelter to strangers at risk to their own lives were equally brave.
I’ve seen this before but still read it again with such admiration for them all.
You look like your grandad by the way
Good for you - and your grandad, Hank.
My old man fought at the Battle of Nijmigen 17-20 September 1944. 18-years old.
My Mum told me that genial old Stan up the road had been at Belsen when it was liberated.
Eddie, whose car I used to wash as a boy, had fought at Monte Cassino - an absolute bloodbath.
Neither they nor my Dad ever talked about it, naturally.
Spitfire flew over Totnes today, as it happens.
I know nothing about planes but know a flying Rolls Royce when I hear it 😆
Thanks all. Mo you’ve probably seen it several times haha
Yes we are all extremely proud of him. As the page says, he passed away on May 5th 2021. He was 96.
But, of course in Sept 1944, when he was the only survivor of the crew, parachuted down, found the most incredible people who looked after him - he was 19. Just thinking about myself dealing with that situation aged 19 fills me with horror.
At any age it’s incredible what he went through.
Glad you’ve got the memories
Thanks for posting, I'm sure we are all very grateful.
Which one was he out of the crew?
Foxtrot OscarThanks for posting, I'm sure we are all very grateful.
Which one was he out of the crew?
He was the Rear Gunner.
The mind blowing thing for me, always, is the stowage of the parachute and the design of the parachute changed - and this flight was the first one. As Grandad says, if he'd got the original parachute stored behind him - it would have been burnt to a crisp
Fantastic story, much love to our Dutch friends
KRO
Have a soft spot for the Dutch of course!
My wife’s dad was also a rear gunner. One of the few to survive the war.
Died a slow death of cancer in the 90s. Not sure which was worse…
it’s a fantastic and wonderful story Hank - but Lucky he didn’t land with a Dutch family who were sympathetic to Nazi’s - they did exist.
It’s all very nuanced. All those young people all over Europe trying to kill each other, or just survive. My old fellow wax on s destroyer which was in that famous convoy to Malta when a load of ships in the convoy were sunk. Had the front bend of the ship blown off and lots of mates killed. Something similar happened on the Murmansk run in between chipping off ice to stop the ship from being pulled down .
Never mentioned it. Hopefully, like us, none of our kids will have to fight a war and none of our future generations will have to be declared the heroes our predecessors never considered themselves to be.
My dad was in the middle East, Toubrook. Never spoke about the war. I only recently visited the Normandy DDay landing sites. At Omaha museum it was too much emotionally to look, listen. A total experience lost for words, tears rolling down the cheeks.
Since, I have watched Netflix WW2 in colour series, highly recommend as great historical documentaries.
KRO