Excellent work. You shine a light on a disgraceful aspect of our post-war history and, rightly, on the efforts made in the 21st Century to right the wrongs visited upon our brave ‘bomber boys’. Keep up the good work.
Many thanks for this. I read it with clenched fists, knowing it couldn’t possibly end well. I had an uncle who was a navigator on many of those flights, and I don’t want this country to ever forget these heroes.
Agreed. The good thing is recent generations have rediscovered these stories and are preserving them. It is why I tried to end on a positive after a very sad story.
I too had an uncle who was a navigator and didn't return. My grandfather blamed my Dad for enlisting , because his younger brother would follow. Hence the " blame". Later in life, when I reached out to Veteran Affairs regarding my Dad, I was told he really wasn't a veteran because he didn't serve overseas. As if he had a choice! So the tragedy of one " boy" was visited on the other "boy". Never imagine that the pain of war doesn't touch many lives, for a very long time. In our small family, however, both "boys" were always loved and honored, into the next and current generation.
What a touching and well researched article. I was unaware that a 20 year old Canadian reached the pinnacle of Bomber Command.
I often think of the pressure on the navigator and bomb aimer to guide the plane in total darkness to a sweet spot and place the cargo on the money.
It’s easy for me to sit back and second guess the strategy of Bomber Command but the air crews didn’t have the luxury. Orders were followed and everyone did their best against steep odds that they would not make it back home.
The accuracy was so terrible in the early years that is why the Pathfinders were created. Interesting note is that when I went through my Navigator training in ‘96 we were still doing astral navigation in the same fashion as the bombers had. It was stressful doing a three star fix at 0 dark 100 but very rewarding.
I marvel at the mathematical aptitude behind learning navigation skills for the bomber crews. Some of the enlistments were one room school grads but whatever time was spent in school was put into good use.
Happiness is a small cocked hat! Brilliant story, Erin, thanks. To paraphrase: Flying is not inherently dangerous, but it ruthlessly rewards merit and grace under pressure.
Same thing happened to an extent in my extended family — to an uncle who was an Air Gunner in 6 Group, RCAF. The Valour and the Horror series did not help these folks either. Very poor research. The book on Bomber Command by Bashow is excellent as a reference.
Thank-you. Because you cared enough to tell the story, there is no longer an empty place in my head where there should have been long-standing knowledge of such a good man and worthy soldier. GB, Hamilton, ON.
Excellent article. We need to celebrate our Canadian heroes and the sacrifices made for our freedom and country. Thank you, Erin, for shining a light on one hero and also the Canadian Bomber Command.
A great story to tell. I've been researching my uncle who flew Halifaxes with 426 Squadron in 1944. In his life, he never spoke about the war outside the Legion. It is a shame that since 1918, successive governments have abandoned their obligation to our veterans, and now the military as a whole.
Thank you for this. At the present time when we are struggling as a country it is good to remember what our past has been and what our future could be once again.
It's perhaps worth noting that Patrick Bishop's book "Bomber Boys" makes no mention of Byron Rawson and features only two passing references to the RCAF in its 400-odd pages - all too typical of British historians of World War II who ignore the Empire's substantial contribution to the war effort so as to propagate the fiction that "Little Britain" stood alone against Nazi Germany, at least until the Americans joined in.
Thanks. I have watched the Churchill at War Netflix series over the holidays and thought the same thing. It is excellent overall, but Britain being "alone" before the US entered the war was mentioned many times and that bothered me.
Thanks for this deeply moving story. It brought tears to my eyes. My father served as a Pilot Officer with RAF 514 Squadron, the only Canadian on his crew. He was a mid-upper gunner on a Lancaster and remarkably, completed a tour. Like so many others, he did not talk about his wartime experience. We applied for and received his Bomber Command ribbon. This history should not be lost.
Great work Erin. It is an important story and you tell it well. Well done.
Excellent work. You shine a light on a disgraceful aspect of our post-war history and, rightly, on the efforts made in the 21st Century to right the wrongs visited upon our brave ‘bomber boys’. Keep up the good work.
Nicely put, Rob.
Many thanks for this. I read it with clenched fists, knowing it couldn’t possibly end well. I had an uncle who was a navigator on many of those flights, and I don’t want this country to ever forget these heroes.
Agreed. The good thing is recent generations have rediscovered these stories and are preserving them. It is why I tried to end on a positive after a very sad story.
I too had an uncle who was a navigator and didn't return. My grandfather blamed my Dad for enlisting , because his younger brother would follow. Hence the " blame". Later in life, when I reached out to Veteran Affairs regarding my Dad, I was told he really wasn't a veteran because he didn't serve overseas. As if he had a choice! So the tragedy of one " boy" was visited on the other "boy". Never imagine that the pain of war doesn't touch many lives, for a very long time. In our small family, however, both "boys" were always loved and honored, into the next and current generation.
What a touching and well researched article. I was unaware that a 20 year old Canadian reached the pinnacle of Bomber Command.
I often think of the pressure on the navigator and bomb aimer to guide the plane in total darkness to a sweet spot and place the cargo on the money.
It’s easy for me to sit back and second guess the strategy of Bomber Command but the air crews didn’t have the luxury. Orders were followed and everyone did their best against steep odds that they would not make it back home.
The accuracy was so terrible in the early years that is why the Pathfinders were created. Interesting note is that when I went through my Navigator training in ‘96 we were still doing astral navigation in the same fashion as the bombers had. It was stressful doing a three star fix at 0 dark 100 but very rewarding.
Great insight.
I marvel at the mathematical aptitude behind learning navigation skills for the bomber crews. Some of the enlistments were one room school grads but whatever time was spent in school was put into good use.
Happiness is a small cocked hat! Brilliant story, Erin, thanks. To paraphrase: Flying is not inherently dangerous, but it ruthlessly rewards merit and grace under pressure.
Same thing happened to an extent in my extended family — to an uncle who was an Air Gunner in 6 Group, RCAF. The Valour and the Horror series did not help these folks either. Very poor research. The book on Bomber Command by Bashow is excellent as a reference.
Thanks Erin. Getting W/C Rawson recognized was an honour and a privilege…his family deserved closure.
You are a great Canadian my friend.
Thank you for sharing this piece of Canadian history.
Wishing you a peaceful and prosperous Happy New Year!
Thank-you. Because you cared enough to tell the story, there is no longer an empty place in my head where there should have been long-standing knowledge of such a good man and worthy soldier. GB, Hamilton, ON.
An excellent article as always, good sir. And a history that should be honoured, celebrated, and remembered.
Happy new year Wayne!
Excellent article. We need to celebrate our Canadian heroes and the sacrifices made for our freedom and country. Thank you, Erin, for shining a light on one hero and also the Canadian Bomber Command.
A great story to tell. I've been researching my uncle who flew Halifaxes with 426 Squadron in 1944. In his life, he never spoke about the war outside the Legion. It is a shame that since 1918, successive governments have abandoned their obligation to our veterans, and now the military as a whole.
Thank you for this. At the present time when we are struggling as a country it is good to remember what our past has been and what our future could be once again.
It's perhaps worth noting that Patrick Bishop's book "Bomber Boys" makes no mention of Byron Rawson and features only two passing references to the RCAF in its 400-odd pages - all too typical of British historians of World War II who ignore the Empire's substantial contribution to the war effort so as to propagate the fiction that "Little Britain" stood alone against Nazi Germany, at least until the Americans joined in.
Thanks. I have watched the Churchill at War Netflix series over the holidays and thought the same thing. It is excellent overall, but Britain being "alone" before the US entered the war was mentioned many times and that bothered me.
Thank you for this! I lost two uncles in the RCAF in 1944.
Thanks for this deeply moving story. It brought tears to my eyes. My father served as a Pilot Officer with RAF 514 Squadron, the only Canadian on his crew. He was a mid-upper gunner on a Lancaster and remarkably, completed a tour. Like so many others, he did not talk about his wartime experience. We applied for and received his Bomber Command ribbon. This history should not be lost.
I am very glad he got the Bomber Command bar. His service was extraordinary.
Terrific.