Bomber Command Association

Bomber Command Association The Bomber Command Association is a veterans' organization formed by former aircrew and ground personnel of the Royal Air Force RAF Bomber Command and allied Bomber Command (RAF) units that served in the Second World War. It preserves the memory of personnel who served in operations tied to Battle of Britain era organizations, the Eighty Squadron, and other formations that participated in campaigns such as the Combined Bomber Offensive and the Oil campaign of World War II. The association maintains links with organizations associated with the Royal Air Force, Commonwealth Air Forces, and allied veteran groups including the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the South African Air Force.

History

Founded in the immediate post-war period by survivors of squadrons like No. 617 Squadron RAF and No. 100 Squadron RAF, the association grew from reunions held by veterans of raids including operations linked to Operation Chastise and the Dambusters raid. Early patrons included figures from the Air Ministry and veterans who served under commanders such as Arthur Harris and contemporaries active during the Strategic bombing during World War II debates. Over decades the association navigated contentious historiographical disputes involving authors like Sir Max Hastings and institutions such as the Imperial War Museums and the National Archives (United Kingdom). It maintained commemorative ties with memorial projects related to the Bomber Command Memorial, London and partnered with advocacy groups that engaged with inquiries similar in spirit to those around the Bomber Command Medal campaign. The association weathered generational change as veterans who flew with crews on Lancasters, Halifaxes, and Stirlings passed responsibility to descendant organizations akin to the Royal Air Force Association and heritage trusts like the RAF Museum.

Mission and Activities

The association's stated mission is to commemorate personnel who served with units such as No. 9 Squadron RAF, No. 76 Squadron RAAF, and multinational crews from the Royal New Zealand Air Force while promoting historical awareness of operations including the Battle of the Ruhr and the Bombing of Dresden. Activities include organizing annual commemorations aligned with ceremonies at locations such as the Avenue of Remembrance, Nottingham, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries where crews are interred, and services held at cathedrals like St Paul's Cathedral and memorials associated with the Royal Albert Hall. The association works with heritage bodies including the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Churchill Archives Centre, and regional museums like the Yorkshire Air Museum to preserve logbooks, squadron diaries, and oral histories from veterans who served alongside figures such as Guy Gibson and Leonard Cheshire. It liaises with educational institutions such as the Imperial War Museum Duxford and participates in film and documentary projects produced by broadcasters like the BBC and independent filmmakers exploring subjects like strategic air campaigns and aircrew training at RAF Cranwell.

Membership and Organization

Membership historically comprised former personnel from units including No. 35 Squadron RAF, No. 617 Squadron RAF, and foreign-manned squadrons under the RAF Second Tactical Air Force umbrella. The association structured itself with regional branches in cities such as London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin, and Cardiff, establishing links with allied veteran networks in Ottawa, Canberra, Wellington, and Pretoria. Leadership has included chairmen who previously served with squadrons like No. 103 Squadron RAF and committees involving representatives from the Air Training Corps and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. The organization collaborates with preservation groups that maintain aircraft collections such as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and restoration projects for types like the Avro Lancaster and the Handley Page Halifax. Membership categories extend to veterans, family members, and associate supporters including historians affiliated with universities such as King's College London, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge.

Commemorations and Memorials

The association has been central to events commemorating operations tied to locations like the Elsenborn Ridge and campaigns including the Western Allied invasion of Germany. It played a consultative role in ceremonies at the Bomber Command Memorial and fostered relationships with sculptors and planners involved in memorialization comparable to works at Green Park and national remembrance services on Remembrance Sunday. The association supports maintenance of graves and memorials overseen by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at sites such as Rheinberg War Cemetery and Runnymede Memorial, and organizes pilgrimages to former bases like RAF Scampton, RAF Coningsby, and RAF Waddington. It has contributed to public debates connected to historiography of bombing campaigns alongside academic centers such as the Institute of Historical Research and think tanks that study the legacy of air operations.

Publications and Outreach

The Association issues newsletters and journals that document squadron histories, personal memoirs, and operational records involving aircraft types like the Short Stirling and crews trained at stations including RAF Finningley. It sponsors oral history projects in partnership with archives such as the British Library and publishes tributes to airmen whose service is recorded in collections at institutions like the National Army Museum and the Science Museum. Outreach includes lectures delivered at venues such as the National Memorial Arboretum, collaborative exhibitions with the Imperial War Museum North, and participation in anniversary documentaries alongside contributors linked to programs on the BBC History channel. The association also supports educational awards and scholarships in concert with organizations like the Royal Historical Society and the Heritage Lottery Fund to encourage research into the operational, social, and cultural dimensions of air campaigns.

Category:Royal Air Force