Never Mind The Dambusters
Never Mind The Dambusters…It’s The Bomber Command Podcast!
Join historians and authors Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies as they delve into the world of RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War. In this weekly podcast (episodes released every Wednesday), Jane and James explore strategy, policy, and the events which shaped one of the most controversial campaigns of the war.
Despite their iconic status, Bomber Command's history extends far beyond the famed Dambusters raid of 1943 and the Avro Lancaster. Through insightful discussions, expert analysis of the strategic bombing campaign and first hand accounts by veterans and civilians on the ground, Never Mind the Dambusters offers listeners a comprehensive exploration of Bomber Command's operations and the diverse aircraft it employed, as well as tackling some tough topics.
Jane and James will be joined by leading academics, historians, aircraft enthusiasts, technicians and engineers and veterans' family members. Expect discussions on relevant books and films and a spotlight on a different aircraft in each episode. Please send in your questions to us on X (twitter) at @RAFBomber_Pod and on Instagram at @NeverMindTheDambusters. You can email the show at nmtdambusters@gmail.com.
Never Mind The Dambusters
Episode 9 Behind the Scenes at the RAF Museum
Jane and James discuss their upcoming talks at the We Have Ways of Making You Talk Second World War History Festival in July, and introduce their guests, Dr. Megan Kelleher and Rab Cooper, from the RAF Midlands Museum.
Megan and Rab discuss the challenges of presenting the Air War to modern audiences, including the ethical questions surrounding strategic bombing in the Second World War. They also talk about the importance of engaging with younger generations and the evolving nature of memory and scholarship. The conversation covers various topics related to the RAF Museum and the memory of the air war in Britain.
The hosts and guests discuss the importance of museums in preserving history and honouring the memory of those who served. They also mention specific objects and aircraft on display at the museum, such as Wing Commander Guy Gibson's medals and the V Bombers, and even Douglas Bader's legs! The conversation touches on the emotional impact of memorials and the stories behind them. They also talk about the research projects and exhibitions at the museum.
Keywords
We Have Ways of Making You Talk, Second World War, History Festival, talks, RAF Midlands Museum, strategic bombing, ethical questions, scholarship, heritage sector, presenting the story, generational shifts, challenges, modern audiences, engagement, technology, living memory, access to objects, conservation, artificial intelligence, public history, heritage sector, bombing war, memory, air war, museums, objects, aircraft, memorials, research projects, exhibitions
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and We Have Ways of Making You Talk Festival
03:03 Guest Introduction: Dr. Megan Kelleher and Rab Cooper
07:21 The Ethical Questions of Strategic Bombing
19:09 Memory, Scholarship, and Keeping Exhibitions Relevant
21:14 Challenges of Engaging with Younger Generations
25:45 The Importance of Museums in History Education
27:18 Memory of the Air War and Conceptualizing Memorials
31:51 Researching and Remembering Ancestors
36:44 Favourite Objects and Aircraft at the RAF Museum
43:18 Personal Stories and Emotional Connections
49:58 Future Plans for the Museum
51:06 Upcoming Episode: Researching Your Bomber Command Ancestor
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Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)
You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .
You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here
