Never Mind The Dambusters

Episode 3 Handley Page Halifax - A Flight Engineer's Story


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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 strategic bombing, mine laying, and other operations during World War II.

They also interview Tom Davidson, a flight engineer with 466 Squadron, who shares his experiences of flying in the Halifax and the strong bond he had with his crew. Funny, moving, and tragic - this is an episode you won't want to miss - and how can you not love that Geordie accent?
Watch out for photos of Tom, his pilot Pat and the rest of the crew on our social media.

You can read more of Tom's story, and about the Halifax and the men who flew it,  in Jane's book, Above Us The Stars.

If you'd like to see a real Halifax (well, a reconstructed one), visit Yorkshire Air Museum and Friday the 13th. You can even go on a tour of the inside (well worth it!) Details here
There's also S-Sugar at the RAF Museum in Hendon, still in the same state as when it was fished out of a Norwegian fjord...a very thought-provoking sight. 
 
Keywords
Handley Page Halifax, Bomber Command, strategic bombing, mine laying, World War II, flight engineer, air crew, sacrifice, Royal Air Force , Arthur Harris

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Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)

You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .

You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here


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Never Mind The DambustersBy Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies

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