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, and continue the conversations in our Facebook group.
Never Mind the Dambusters Merchandise is now available at https://never-mind-the-dambusters.teemill.com/
Never Mind The Dambusters
(EARLY ACCESS) Episode 74 - Easy Elsie: The Battle to Save a Lost Lancaster, with Dave King
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Ep. 74 – Easy Elsie: The Battle to Save a Lost Lancaster
What happens when a wartime Lancaster disappears into a Swedish bog—and eight decades later, a dedicated team sets out to bring her home?
In this episode of Never Mind the Dambusters, Jane Gulliford Lowes is joined by Dave King, a British adventurer and expedition leader based in Sweden, to discuss one of the most remarkable aviation recovery projects currently underway.
Dave's latest mission centres on Lancaster ND587, "Easy Elsie", which crashed in Sweden during the Second World War and has remained in a bog ever since.
Together, Jane and Dave explore the story of the aircraft and her crew, the circumstances surrounding the crash, and the extraordinary effort to recover the Lancaster and preserve her legacy for future generations.
In this episode
- Dave King's background and how he became involved in historic aircraft recovery expeditions.
- The story of Lancaster ND587 "Easy Elsie" and her operational service with RAF Bomber Command.
- The crew aboard Easy Elsie and the mission that ended in Sweden.
- What happened on the night of the crash, and why the aircraft remained largely untouched for decades.
- The archaeological, engineering and political challenges of recovering a wartime heavy bomber from a bog.
- The international collaboration behind Project Easy Elsie and the ambition to return the aircraft to the United Kingdom.
- Why preserving aircraft like Easy Elsie helps keep alive the stories of the men who flew them.
About our guest
Dave King is an aviation historian, adventurer and expedition leader, based in Sweden. You can read more about Dave and his expeditions at https://arcticalive.com/
To learn more about Project Easy Elsie and follow the recovery effort, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/268947476623077
Follow the project on social media for the latest updates, photographs and news from the recovery team.
Join the conversation
What responsibilities do we have when recovering wartime aircraft?
Should historic bombers be restored to flying condition, preserved as archaeological artefacts, or displayed exactly as they are found?
We'd love to hear your thoughts. Join the discussion in the Never Mind the Dambusters Facebook group or connect with us across our social media channels.
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
