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*** Episode on general release on Wednesday 9th April 2025 

In this episode of Never Mind the Dambusters, hosts Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies engage with Dave Gilbert, the losses archivist at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, England. Dave explains the background to the development of the centre, and relates how he ( and a team of volunteers) went about compiling the details of over 58,000 men and women who died while serving with or in support of RAF Bomber Command. 

The team debate the emotional impact of this work, and the importance of providing some biographical detail about every single person listed. 

The conversation then turns into the development of navigational technology aboard both RAF and Luftwaffe aircraft. 

You can visit the International Bomber Command Centre Losses Database here , and you learn more about the work of the centre here.

Dave's book, written in conjunction with Steve Darlow, Epitaphs of Bomber Command, can be pre-ordered here. 

Takeaways

• RAF Bomber Command had the highest casualty rate during the war.
• The International Bomber Command Centre serves as a memorial and educational resource.
• The losses database is the world's largest free-to-access database of RAF Bomber Command casualties.
• Inclusivity in documenting losses includes ground crew and associated personnel.
• Accessing historical records can be challenging due to location and processing issues.
• The Wall of Names at the IBCC allows families to connect with their loved ones.
• The emotional weight of the work can be overwhelming for archivists.
• Epitaphs provide personal insights into the lives of those lost.
• Technological advancements significantly impacted bombing strategies during the war.
• Navigational training gave RAF crews an edge over their German counterparts.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to RAF Bomber Command
03:20 The Role of the International Bomber Command Centre
06:08 The Losses Database: Origins and Development
08:28 Inclusivity in Documenting Losses
09:48 Sources of Information for the Database
12:02 The Wall of Names: A Memorial to the Fallen
14:14 Emotional Impact of the Work
16:30 Future of the Database and Ongoing Research
20:55 The Epitaphs of Bomber Command
23:53 Advancements in Bomber Technology
33:21 The Significance of Navigational Techniques
37:46 Engaging Audiences Through Technology
39:25 Show intro.wav

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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