Remembrance Day: Bomber Command veterans speak about wartime experiences

As Remembrance Day is here and we reflect on the sacrifices made by the people who served, the RAF Benevolent Fund spoke to three Second World War veterans. 

They talked about their service and how it had affected them and others who have seen conflict. 

They also highlighted the importance of remembrance and their support for the RAF Benevolent Fund. 

George Dunn DFC LdH, 100, who lives in East Sussex, initially trained as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, before training as a Pilot.

He said: "Bomber Command means everything to me because I think without it the war would have gone on much longer. Thankfully we had a leader in 'Butch' Harris and that was the turn of the tide. 

"The Bomber Command Memorial is important to me because I think it was long overdue. Bomber Command had some bad press after the war, mainly involving Dresden, but I think the fact that nearly all the Royal Family were there to make the unveiling in 2012 was the turn of the tide for public feeling. It was then that the public realised what a contribution Bomber Command had made in the war effort. 

"I have been involved with the RAF Benevolent Fund since about 2009. It shows that we can contribute to the welfare of those that are less fortunate, and the demand is still there. Even though we are not at war, there are still people that are suffering from the effects of the last war, or World War Two, or the Falklands, and they still need the help of the RAF Benevolent Fund."

George completed 44 operations during the Second World War. He flew his first tour from May to October 1943 on Handley Page Halifax bombers with 76 Squadron, during one of the most intense periods of bombing of the war. On completion of his tour, and after a period as an instructor pilot, he then took up duties flying de Havilland Mosquitoes, firstly with 608 Squadron and then with No. 1409 Met Flight.

John Bell MBE D.F.C, L'dH, who turned 99 in March and lives in West Sussex, was a Bomb Aimer in Bomber Command. 

He said: "I joined the RAF as soon as I was legitimately able to, in 1940/41, to fly. 

"The Bomber Command Memorial brings back many thoughts of the people I served with and the crews and people on the Squadron. I think Bomber Command has a great legacy and [because of the memorial] we are able to tell the public about what their families did."

"The RAF Benevolent Fund does a great deal of work, I have never had to call upon it so far for assistance, but I do contribute to content and I have seen the things that the Fund does to help people."

John took part in several missions during World War II, including the D-Day landings.

Russell 'Rusty' Waughman D.F.C., A.F.C., L'dH was a Lancaster Pilot and now lives in Warwickshire. 

He said: "At the time – when I was 20 years old – it was a bit of an ego trip, but as I grew up, I learnt what was going on and what I actually did. The unfortunate thing is you remember you bombed Berlin and you bombed all the big cities, and you suddenly realise – how many people have I killed? And this came to me very seriously after the war. 

"In 1991, when they were rebuilding Berlin as the new capital from Bonn, I said to a lady, 'They're not doing much to mend that church,' and she said, 'No, that’s going to be kept as a memorial to the 260 children who were killed when we were bombed.' And you suddenly realised, I could've done that. That was when it started to come back and you realise what you did. But, at the time you had no consciousness about it at all, you’re just doing a job." 

He added: "The Bomber Command Memorial means an awful lot. It should have been done years ago, of course politics came into it, but it really was a remarkable effort to get the funding and get the money to do it. The RAF Benevolent Fund and those who organised it did a wonderful thing. The expression on those faces on the memorial really means something. When you look at it, it takes you back all those years."