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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/
61 Episodes
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Send us a message or question! Have we got a treat for you...Something different - U-boats instead of aircraft! In our final episode of this series, “The U-boat War - Wolfpack,” we explore the U-Boat War from the German perspective with historian and author Roger Moorhouse, whose new book Wolfpack: Inside Hitler’s U-Boat War will be published on 9 October 2025. Hosts James Jefferies and Jane Gulliford-Lowes dive into what life was really like aboard German U-boats, the shifting strategi...
Send us a message or question! In Episode 56 ( the penultimate episode of series 3), we delve into a chilling chapter of World War II history: the murders of Allied airmen in Germany. As the war raged on, downed airmen often found themselves at the mercy of their captors - military, civilian authorities and sometimes ordinary citizens. This episode uncovers the fate of one Allied airman, missing in action in January 1945. We are joined by German historian Thomas Rost, and together we explore...
Send us a message or question! This week, we're joined by Adam Hart, to discuss his new book about a downed Halifax pilot, who also happens to be his great-grandfather. Operation Pimento is a riveting story of courage, defiance, and survival. Centered on his great-grandfather, Frank Griffiths, this extraordinary true account shines a light on the men and women of the French Resistance who risked everything to stand against tyranny and to assist Allied airmen to evade captur...
Send us a message or question! (Available on general release on 10 September) In this episode James and Jane continue their chat about Jane's book, Above Us The Stars: 10 Squadron Bomber Command - The Wireless Operator's Story. Jane continues the story of the Pennicott crew, through the summer and autumn of 1943, and into 1944 and discusses the emotional toll of writing about such a difficult subject. Jane reveals how a chance phonecall transformed the book, and how the story might hav...
Send us a message or question! This week James interviews Jane about her first Bomber Command book, "Above Us the Stars: 10 Squadron Bomber Command - The Wireless Operator's Story." We can't believe it's taken us 53 episodes to finally get around to discussing it! Jane shares with listeners the background to the book, her motivation for writing it, and describes her research processes (including what it feels like to sit in the wireless op's position in a Halifax). Jane traces he...
Send us a message or question! This week on Never Mind the Dambusters, we answer YOUR questions, on a whole host of issues, including: Could a heavy bomber fly without a full crew? What was Operation Dodge? Mosquito v Lancaster, Lancaster v Halifax Gibson v Cheshire B17s in the RAF Do keep sending in your questions! Support the show Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becomin...
Send us a message or question! In this episode of Never Mind the Dambusters, I take a deep dive into the fascinating and often overlooked world of RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War—through the lens of the airmen's personal flying kit. I'm joined by Daniel Richards an RAF Living History enthusiast, and together we explore the evolution of aircrew equipment, from flying jackets to survival kits, and even the surprising use of pigeons for communication. Using the original clothing ...
Send us a message or question! This week, we celebrate our 50th episode by welcoming Dr Dan Ellin of the University of Lincoln and the International Bomber Command Centre, back to the show. Dan joins us to explore the legacy of the Dambusters , and in particular how the 1955 film has shaped the collective memory of Bomber Command. From Star Wars to adverts for Carling Black Label lager, it's all here! We've linked below the books we discuss during this episode. Books: The D...
Send us a message or question! ***Episode on general release Wednesday 13 August This week, we celebrate our 50th episode by welcoming Dr Dan Ellin of the University of Lincoln and the International Bomber Command Centre, back to the show. Dan joins us to explore the legacy of the Dambusters , and in particular how the 1955 film has shaped the collective memory of Bomber Command. From Star Wars to adverts for Carling Black Label lager, it's all here! We've linked below the books ...
Send us a message or question! (Apologies - no James this week due to technical issues!) This week, Jane is joined by Adrian Bean, a writer and director with a passion for military history. They explore the complexities of RAF Bomber Command, the challenges of adapting Len Deighton's 'Bomber' for BBC radio, and the human stories behind the bombing campaigns of WWII. Adrian shares insights from his recent works, including the incredible short story collection 'L for Lanc' an...
Send us a message or question! This week we each share our top 5 Bomber Command books in the categories of popular history, memoir, academic, fiction and we also throw in a wild card! What are your favourites? Do you love or hate our picks? Spoiler alert: If you don't want to know what we chose, avoid the shopping list below! Jane's choices Popular history: Haynes Manual - Bomber Command Memoir: Bomber Offensive, by Sir Arthur Harris Academic: The Flyer, by Ma...
Send us a message or question! This week, we tackle some thorny issues with our with guest Paul Woodadge, the host of YouTube show WW2TV about the multifaceted history of RAF Bomber Command during World War II. Growing up near former USAAF airbases in Suffolk, just across the border from Essex and Colchester, Paul, who most of you will know simply as "Woody", developed a fascination for history and the Second World War. Paul now lives in Normandy in France, and is a Battle...
Send us a message or question! This week, hosts Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies chat to Stuart Green, who shares the remarkable story of his father Alan, a Bomber Command navigator on Wellingtons and Stirlings. Alan Green took part in some of the most famous operations of the war, including the Channel Dash, the 1000 Bomber Raid, and the secret operation to bomb the Skoda Factory in Czechoslovakia. Friendly fire, German nightfighters, tragedy and betrayal, imprisonment, ...
Send us a message or question! This episode has EVERYTHING! (even the Titanic). This week, Jane and James engage in a rich and absorbing discussion with historian Chris Sams about his book, Flying into the Storm, about the early war bombers of the RAF. The conversation covers personal anecdotes, the significance of various bombing operations, and the challenges faced by bomber crews. They delve into specific events such as the Nickel Raids, the Battle of Heligoland Bight, the Battle o...
Send us a message or question! Welcome to Series 3! In the first episode of the new series of Never Mind the Dambusters, hosts James Jefferies and Jane Gulliford Lowes discuss the often-overlooked role of meteorology in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. Joined once more by Jamie Heffer from RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre, , they explore the challenges posed by weather conditions, personal stories from the MET flights, and the operational significance of these flights in ensu...
Send us a message or question! In the final episode of this series, hosts James Jefferies and Jane Gulliford Lowes are joined by the head of the Norwegian War Graves Service, Haakon Vinje, to explore the often-overlooked contributions of Norwegian airmen in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They discuss the Norwegian War Graves Service, the invasion of Norway, and share poignant personal stories of bravery and sacrifice, including the legacy of Nordal Grieg. The team also t...
Send us a message or question! In this episode of Never Mind the Dambusters ( the penultimate episode of the current series), hosts Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies engage with Dave Gilbert, the losses archivist at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, England. Dave explains the background to the development of the centre, and relates how he (and a team of volunteers) went about compiling the details of over 58,000 men and women who died while serving with, or in suppor...
Send us a message or question! *** (Part 2 of 2) Summary Jane and James continue their discussion about Bomber Command minelaying operations, to mark the publication of Jane's book, The Invisible Campaign: Bomber Command Gardening Operations 1940-1945. In the episode the team consider the strategic importance of these operations, their impact on the Battle of the Atlantic, the Channel Dash, the U-boat campaign, and personal stories from those involved. Jane and James compares the effe...
Send us a message or question! *** PART 1 OF 2 ***Subscribers can listen to Part 2 now. In this episode of Never Mind the Dam Busters, host James Jefferies and guest Jane Gulliford Lowes delve into the often-overlooked history of RAF Bomber Command's gardening operations during World War II. They discuss Jane's new book, 'The Invisible Campaign', which sheds light on the complexities and significance of mine laying operations. The conversation covers the mechanics of mines, the ...
Send us a message or question! Summary In this episode of Never Mind the Dambusters, hosts Jane Gulliford-Lowes and James Jefferies are joined by historian Stuart Burbridge to discuss the often-overlooked aspect of the RAF Bomber Command's offensive against Luftwaffe night fighters during World War II. The conversation covers the technological innovations, strategies, and the psychological impact of the night fighter campaign, as well as the statistical analysis of its effectiveness. Stuart...
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