Rage, rage against the dying of the light

2014 - Centenary 

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on that sad height,

Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 

My Father - WW2 114 Squadron

My Father - WW2

Bomber Command

Remember the  55,573 who never returned

I recently uncovered his RAF 114 Squadron Log Book.

From the faded pages history revealed itself. A record of courage, of fear, of heroism.  

On one page, in careful pointed handwriting he wrote:

 "Dec 27th 1942 - OPERATION

Roads near Tunis, Heavy Cloud

Crashed circling Drone. Observer Killed, Pilot Injured.

Self Uninjured."

There are many similar entries. He rarely spoke of this. He told me once that he was always frightened - tomorrow it might "you". But every tomorrow you got into the plane and flew into - what......
It was painful - men, colleagues, friends - died - never returned. 

Young Men - Young Women - Dealing with Disaster  

He was treated post War for what today we call Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET....

My Father and his best friend Ken

Ken died when their Flak Damaged Lancaster Bomber crashed in Tunisia

My Father walked out uninjured

RAF 114 Squadron

So Much, Owed by So Many, To So Few

Of the 110,000 who flew with Bomber Command, 55,573 never returned, having made the ultimate sacrifice. For many of them the white cliffs of Beachy Head were the very last sight of their homeland. Beachy Head was the point of departure from British soil for all RAF bombing raids to targets in the central, southern and eastern parts of enemy territory. The more direct route from the many RAF bases in central and northern England would have been across East Anglia. This route could not be used because of the huge presence of the 8th USAAF in that area. The Bomber Command Tribute Beachy Head is the only operationally relevant Memorial to Bomber Command.