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 16 - The Memory Minefield: Veteran's Stories & Tall Tales, with Ally Campbell-Grieve
Jane is joined by Ally Campbell-Grieve ( James isn't available this week) to debate the thorny topic of how we should deal with veteran's accounts as historical sources.
They explore the challenges historians face when analysing accounts from veterans, particularly those from Bomber Command during WWII. The conversation delves into the background of Ally's great uncle, Steve, and the discrepancies in his accounts of service during two operational tours, which culminated in his aircraft being shot down in July 1944. The episode emphasizes the importance of critical analysis of veteran narratives, the influence of memory, and the impact of popular media on how stories are told. It concludes with reflections on the need for sensitivity when dealing with family histories and the importance of questioning accepted narratives in military history.
Links:
The Veteran's Tale by by Frances Houghton
Collected Memories: Holocaust History and Postwar Testimony, by Christopher R Browning
Article:
THE MEMORY MINEFIELD – VETERAN TESTIMONY AND THE SEARCH FOR THE ‘FACTS’, by Jane Gulliford Lowes
Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.
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
