Gents,
Don Charlwood
Don Charlwood, who has died aged 96, flew as a navigator in Lancaster bombers and wrote a classic account of the experiences of the young men serving with a Bomber Command squadron.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituar ... lwood.html
I think we have all read his masterpiece.
RIP
Don Charlwood RIP
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smudgersmith218
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Don Charlwood RIP
No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron 1918-1945
The Nomads
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Nocturna mors
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Re: Don Charlwood RIP
Hi Steve,
Many thanks for posting, although i am very saddened to hear the news. Having read No moon tonight as a child in an effort to learn about the Bomber war, it has always been one of my favourites, ...a masterpiece! When i was about 16 and having the luxury of a Vespa scooter, i made a pilgrimage to RAF Lichfield home of 27 OTU,....Don,s former base before he went to 103 Sqn. Quite a lot of the book covers his time with 27 OTU.
The Churchyard at the nearby village of Fradley contains the graves of some of the people mentioned in the book including Don,s best friend.
The airfield itself was very large with about 10 hangars still standing and in use for storage. The Watch tower, tech site, runways and peri track were all their. The only thing missing were the wimpys!
Walking about the site where all these events took place, left a lasting impression on me, so much so, that i revisited the base about two years ago,........this time without the Vespa!
To my horror,...the place was unrecognizable. It is now the home of Fradley park industrial estate. Only 2 hangars remained in wartime condition, a few others had been transformed for their new role as warehousing but, everything else had been cleared.
I wonder what goes through the minds of veterans who return to their old bases only to be confronted with the march of time?
Farewell Don,.......rest in peace!
Rgds Tom
Many thanks for posting, although i am very saddened to hear the news. Having read No moon tonight as a child in an effort to learn about the Bomber war, it has always been one of my favourites, ...a masterpiece! When i was about 16 and having the luxury of a Vespa scooter, i made a pilgrimage to RAF Lichfield home of 27 OTU,....Don,s former base before he went to 103 Sqn. Quite a lot of the book covers his time with 27 OTU.
The Churchyard at the nearby village of Fradley contains the graves of some of the people mentioned in the book including Don,s best friend.
The airfield itself was very large with about 10 hangars still standing and in use for storage. The Watch tower, tech site, runways and peri track were all their. The only thing missing were the wimpys!
Walking about the site where all these events took place, left a lasting impression on me, so much so, that i revisited the base about two years ago,........this time without the Vespa!
To my horror,...the place was unrecognizable. It is now the home of Fradley park industrial estate. Only 2 hangars remained in wartime condition, a few others had been transformed for their new role as warehousing but, everything else had been cleared.
I wonder what goes through the minds of veterans who return to their old bases only to be confronted with the march of time?
Farewell Don,.......rest in peace!
Rgds Tom
"Rule Britannia two tanners make a bob,three make eighten pence and four two bob"!