Bomber Command Memorial unveiled in England

[Thomas Hinderks]

Some very personal thoughts:

A little earlier today Queen Elizabeth attended the unveiling of a memorial dedicated to the members of Bomber Command during the Second World War.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/r...g-overdue.html

Many thousands of Canadians flew with RAF Bomber Command and RCAF Group 6 of Bomber Command during the Second World War.

In the town of Nanton, Alberta South of Calgary there is a black stone wall that carries the names of the slightly over 10,000 Canadians killed in action while serving with Bomber Command during the Second World War.

This of course does not include the many thousands more wounded in action or the many more that suffered from what we now recognize as PTSD the balance of their lives..

So considering how great a contribution Canada and Canadians made to this effort during the Second World War I was surprised at how little coverage of the event existed here in Canada, the odd mention or nod.

Just before Canada Day.

Lest we forget

Tom
The opinions expressed are mine alone and not those of my employer or anyone else.

[Thomas Hinderks]

For immediate release June 29, 2012

As I sat last night in my office I took a few moments to peruse the internet and watch the coverage of the unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial in England, attended by Queen Elizabeth II.

The Second World War ended for all intents and purposes August 1945, just shy of 67 years ago, 67 years before Britain honoured the contribution of tens of thousands of young men, including those from the Commonwealth countries, that served their countries with distinction carrying the war to the enemy. In the process many, many thousands were killed in combat.

Of those young men killed 10,000 were Canadians. From Prairie Boys to East or West Coast Fishermen, as young as their late teens they volunteered to go war in what today would be considered smaller aircraft, smaller and lighter than those that WestJet flies.

They went as pilots, gunners, navigators, bombardiers and flight engineers. They flew into the pitch black of enemy territory with no GPS or modern navigation aids. To be hunted by enemy fighters and assailed by enemy artillery that reached several miles into the sky.

While some modern historians have minimized their contribution one only has to look at what they did accomplish:
- They took the war to the enemy at a time when Europe was all but conquered.
- They gave hope to a Europe that the enemy had bombed into submission from the air
and took the war to an enemy that bombed Britain nightly.
- They destroyed factories, materials, fuel stores and military equipment helping stall
the enemy’s ability to wage war.
- They tied up thousands of artillery guns, millions of tons of shells and munitions as
well as many, many tens of thousands of soldiers that would have otherwise been in frontline
combat.

Can you imagine how different D-Day would have been had the enemy had those resources available? Would Europe have been freed? Can you imagine what the world would be like today if Europe had not been freed?

Canadians gave their youth and in 10,000 cases their lives in the service of their country in the first truly “Total War” and played an important role in setting the stage to end a war that had cost millions of lives across continents East and West as well as virtually every ocean.

While other airman, soldiers and sailors have many memorials dedicated to their service and the price they paid it is fitting that those of Bomber Command are recognized now.

Even if it is 67 years after their sacrifices were made and duty served.

Now that Britain has recognized the contributions of Bomber Command surely it is time Canada did the same, in time for the 70th Anniversary of Canada’s RCAF Group 6 of Bomber Command.

I know that I will be thinking of the Canadians of Bomber Command this Canada Day. Will you?

Thomas Hinderks
Executive Director
Alberta Aviation Museum Association