Episode 7 - The Avro Lancaster, with Dr Sarah-Louise Miller

06/18/24 • 33 min

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 research process and the new perspectives she brings to the history of the Lancaster.
The team discuss some of the lesser-known life-saving missions of the Lancaster, such as the MANNA and EXODUS operations, which are often overshadowed by the aircraft's destructive capabilities. They also highlight the vital role of the WAAF in supporting the Royal Air Force (RAF) and challenge the narrative that women were merely support workers. The conversation touches on the importance of representing women's contributions in historical narratives and the need for more accurate and inclusive storytelling. The guests also discuss the challenges and emotional impact of researching and writing about these topics, and Sarah talks about her new project, telling the story of Hawaiian women in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor.
Keywords
Avro Lancaster, RAF Bomber Command, World War II, cultural impact, personal stories, ground crew, WAAF, research process, new perspectives, Women's Auxiliary Air Force, MANNA, EXODUS, , support workers, representation, historical narratives, challenges, emotional impact

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Previous Episode

Episode 6 Bomber Command and D-Day (extended episode)

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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 significance of the campaign, which has been so often overlooked. ( You'll be able to learn more about Bomber Command minelaying/gardening operations in Jane's forthcoming book, Invisible Campaign - Bomber Command Minelaying 1940-1945, due to be published by Tempest Aviation at the back end of 2024).
The team then go on to discuss the wide range of bombing operations Bomber Command carried out before, during and after D-Day in support of the invasion. Jane and James delve into the success and significance of these operations, the challenges faced, and the impact on the war effort.
Dr Joseph Quinn (@ww2research on X/twitter) joins the conversation to discuss the University of Oxford's 'Their Finest Hour' project, a digitization initiative to preserve and share personal stories and materials related to the Second World War. The conversation covers the democratization of a public history project, the preservation of wartime stories, and the challenges of memory and oral history. It also delves into the stories of RAF aircrew involved in operations supporting Overlord. You can access the Their Finest Hour Website here, and the archive opens to the public at 6am on 6 June.
You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support .
Keywords
D-Day, RAF Bomber Command, Operation Overlord, Operation Neptune, Maple Minelaying Plan, mine-laying, inter-service cooperation, strategic significance, World War II, bombing, Their Finest Hour, digitization project, personal stories, war materials, public history, wartime stories, memory, oral history, veteran accounts.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overview of Operation Overlord
11:55 The Complexity of Mine-Laying Operations: Strategic and Tactical Aspects
27:48 The Crucial Role of Mine-Laying and Bombing in World War II
43:12 Preserving Personal Stories: The 'Their Finest Hour' Project
55:22 Democratizing Public History: Crowdsourcing and Volunteer Efforts
57:18 Challenges of Memory: Oral History and Story Preservation
01:00:00 RAF Missions: Operational Details and Significance of Bomber Command

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Episode 8 - Arthur Harris and Area Bombing, with Professor Alan Allport

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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 discusses the Butt Report, which revealed the ineffectiveness of the early bombing raids, and its impact on Bomber Command. He then explores the appointment of Arthur Harris as the head of Bomber Command in the Spring of 1942, and his role in shaping the strategic and operational policies of the bombing campaign.
The team explore the policies surrounding area bombing and Harris's interpretation of the rules. They also discuss Harris's place in the collective memory and post-war historiography of Bomber Command.
Finally, the conversation touches on the effectiveness of the Fairy Battle aircraft and the importance of operational circumstances in determining an aircraft's success. Overall, the conversation challenges conventional wisdom and offers a nuanced perspective on Harris and the bombing war.
Jane and James refer to Alan's books Britain at Bay and Browned Off and Bloody Minded, as well as Arthur Harris 1947 book, Bomber Offensive.
Keywords :
World War II, Churchill, RAF, Butt Report, Arthur Harris, strategic bombing, operational policy, Bomber Command, area bombing, collective memory, post-war historiography, Fairy Battle aircraft, operational circumstances.

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