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Apologies for the delay
You may have noticed that there has been a delay since the last post on this blog. My apologies, but I have a good reason for it. Some seven weeks ago, I had what in medicine is called a hemorrhagic...
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Wing Commander John Bell hits his century
Wg Cdr John Bell. [Pic: 617 Squadron Association.] Guest post by Dr Robert Owen, official historian, 617 Squadron Association. Wing Commander John Bell MBE, DFC, L d’H, the last British wartime...
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Lancaster tributes to Dams Raid crews on Dutch Remembrance Day
Wreaths laid at Gilze Rijen, 4 May 2023. [Pic: Kath Fisher] Today, the RAF BBMF Lancaster was involved in tributes for wartime activities in the Netherlands on Dutch Remembrance Day. Two of these were...
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Seeing the Möhne Dam from the German side
Guest post by Michael Richter [Michael Richter, a German reader of this blog living near the Sorpe Dam, has written to me about recent work carried out in Germany. This is at the crash site of the 617...
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New film: Attack on the Sorpe Dam
A new film featuring George “Johnny” Johnson’s Dambuster crew has recently made its UK film premiere, in the run up to the 80th anniversary of the Dams Raid this week. The film is now on a UK tour and...
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The Dams Raid: 80th anniversary
This year marks the first anniversary of the Dams Raid to take place after the death on 7 December 2022 of Sqn Ldr George ‘Johnny’ Johnson, aged 101, the last survivor of the 133 men from the Allied...
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Guy Gibson and his Dambuster crew
I am glad to say that my new book Guy Gibson and his Dambuster crew has now been published by The History Press, and should now be available in all good bookshops. The ISBN is 978 1 80399 213 6. You...
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Wing Commander John Bell: the last of 617 Squadron’s wartime veterans to leave
From left: Sqn Ldr Benny Goodman (24 September 1920-18 July 2021, Wg Cdr John Bell (25 March 1923-18 March 2024, Sqn Ldr Johnny Johnson (25 November 1921-7 December 2022). Photograph of the three...
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John Bell: Daily Telegraph obituary
Obituary in the Daily Telegraph, Friday 22 March 2024. Daily Telegraph, 22 March 2024
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John Bell: Times obituary, Monday 13 May 2024
Obituary in The Times, Monday 13 May 2024. John Bell’s time as the President of 617 Squadron Association is mentioned in The Times obituary above. He will be remembered by many who attended the...
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