Raf Bomber Command at War 1939-45 1 - Raf Bomber Command At War 1939-45 Vol. 1

28 tracks. CD41 are proud to announce a 72 minute audio CD collection of rare archive recordings from the Second World War, featuring broadcast and actuality recordings made during RAF Bomber Command raids on Essen, Stettin, Kleve and Berlin in 1943, together with crew debriefs and war correspondent reports. Largely unheard for more than sixty years, these astonishing actuality recordings were made by plucky BBC engineers, who bravely joined the crews of Lancaster heavy bombers for night raids on German targets. The recordings were made on portable midget disc cutting machines plugged directly into the Lancaster's intercom system, and capture the drama as it unfolds of anti-aircraft fire, night fighter attack, evasive action, "bombs away" and the ever-present danger of mid-air collision. The war correspondents featured include such celebrated names as Wynford Vaughan Thomas, Edward R. Murrow and Richard Dimbleby. The CD also features recordings made by aircrew after returning safely to base, including an air gunner's account of the devastating raid on Dresden in February 1945, and a remarkable report on the daring raid on the Dortmund-Ems Canal in August 1940, for which the speaker (Flt Lt Roderick Learoyd) was awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest gallantry award. The booklet features detailed recording and historical notes by James Hayward as well as rare photographs. All audio content has been carefully digitally restored for CD release. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the CD will be donated to the RAF Association. The CD is an absolute must for all historians and researchers, as well as collectors of archive sound and broadcast recordings.