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Bacon and Eggs…not radio but very interesting.
6 April 2023 | by 
My dad passed while I was at a very young age but through my mom, I learned that he was a Lancaster bomber pilot in England during WW2. I remember asking her questions but she did not know much as he spoke of his time in the war very little.
What I did know was he was a commercial pilot in Ireland and then joined the Air Force during the war. At the time he was asked to train as a tail gunner as at the time there were too many pilots and not enough Lancaster aircraft. He completed his training but never sat in the tail gunner turret as he was called up as a pilot. That's all I know of his military time but I have always had an interest in that part of his life. When I lived in Ontario just outside Toronto is the home of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. They have one of the very few flying Lancaster bomber aircraft. In the book the sound of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines of the Lancaster were often mentioned. I can somewhat understand this, when the museums Lancaster was out flying as it did often you could hear the rich sound of the 4 engines.
This brings me to the book I just finished reading called Bacon and Eggs the story of a Lancaster bomber crew. It is a fictional story based on real crew and actual events. This book goes over the events of the formation, training and missions of one Lancaster crew. It's a short read and is available on Amazon as a book and ebook. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited then it is a free read. In closing, after reading the book I look at sitting down to a meal of bacon and eggs in a different light now.
4 Responses to “Bacon and Eggs…not radio but very interesting.”
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Thanks Mike for your stories! This one reminds me that I was born in England in 1943. My Mum used to tell me that I would scream when the V1 “Buzz bombs” came flying over, and we would get under the kitchen table for protection(?) She used to work in the factories making radio components for the war effort. Dad enlisted in the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, went through the Basic training, and shipped over to England. While on a pass, he went to a movie, and while in the queue, met my mother. Fortunately we all survived the war, and while Mum & Dad have both passed, I and my sister continue our adventures today. Brother John is no longer with us, having passed away in recovery, after a groin injury. John & Helen were born after the war, and we had some good times in the late ’40s and during the ’50s. Memories, fueled by history and research make for some wonderful stories! 73 Bob VE3ETE
Very interesting, Mike.
If you interested, you can apply to the UK MoD for your father’s service record. If your mum is still alive then the application would need to be in her name as she is next-of-kin. Just search for MoD service records.
Also, one of the online ancestry sites (I think it’s Find My Past) has digital records of pilot log books from WWII.
With a bit of digging, you can found a lot. I’ve done this with my father’s army service records and was able to get a detailed record that allowed me to locate the relevant war diaries for the units in which he served. You should e able to do the same for the squadrons your father served in.
Good luck, It can be frustrating, but also very rewarding. If you want tips, email me.
73, Gareth
Good morning Bob and very nice to hear from you, I am to young to have seen any of WW2. After the war my parents came to Canada where I was born but as your mom mine as well worked in a factory but she made plane parts. I just can’t imagine what it would be like to hear buzz bombs.
73,
Have a great long weekend
Mike
VE9KK
Good morning Garth and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, it would be very interesting to get the service records. My mom passed shortly after my dad so I am the next of kin. Speaking of accessing records good friends of ours there hobby is genealogy searching. With very limited information from me they accessed records and I was able to get my UK citizenship. I was shocked how deep they could dig with the limited information I had.
When I get some time I will contact the UK MoD and see what I can come up with. I may take you up on your offer for assistance in my search.
Garth thanks for your comment and have a nice weekend,
73
Mike
VE9KK