I've been putting this talk together over the last week. I have so much to say...

Happy Saturday folks.

Bloody auto correct. If I want to write Woodhall and Kinema I will. Don't change it to wood hall and cinema.

Barnes Wallis and a Vulcan flypast for his 90th birthday, 26 Sept 1977.

I'm giving a talk "Penguins and Chop Girls: Remembering RAF Bomber Command ground personnel 1939-45" Monday 6th October 2025 at 6.15pm, @uolhumanities.bsky.social Brayford campus (room TBC). #WW2 #History @nmtdambusters.bsky.social cityoflincolnbranchha.wordpress.com/.../branch.../

I've just done a bit of research for @lydiajane13.bsky.social and @nmtdambusters.bsky.social. Most enjoyable. @ibccdigitalarchive.bsky.social

I asked Grand-Sprog One to draw a picture of freedom. She drew this.

Meeting with a PhD student, a call about the 'Our Freedom Then and Now' project, emails, and meeting new MA students in the archive. Is it home time yet?

I'm thinking of an open road, probably the one between Fort William and Mallaig, and no looming deadlines.

An important counter narrative to the recent headlines — actual journalism about the daily lives of asylum seekers in the UK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

61 Squadron Lancaster ME732 and crew didn't come back from an operation to the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen #OTD 23 September 1944. Of the 8 crew, one became a POW and one evaded. #History #WW2. losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/122459/

Repeatedly saying 'we need hard graft not a sound bite' sounds like a sound bite to me.

No Lancaster flypasts next year www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I'm seeing posts on social media that today is the anniversary of one famous bomber pilot's death during the war. 15 other men were killed flying with Bomber Command on 19 Sept 1944, including John Lees (RCAF), Robert Emrose (RAAF), and William Woods (RAAF). @nmtdambusters.bsky.social

Gliders on the ground and an aerial photo of the bridge at Arnhem #OTD 18 September 1944. From the @ibccdigitalarchive.bsky.social. #History #WW2 @almurray.bsky.social

This video explains it...

Artistic types and folks who have an opinion on freedom. Upload an image of what freedom means to you here! I've just checked and the upload part is really easy - But what does freedom mean to you, and how do you represent it in an image?

"Shooting Dad down so that he saw out the rest of the war as a PoW saved his life that night and I wouldn't be here without him," The whole crew were screened instructors and they all became POWs... @nmtdambusters.bsky.social #History www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I'm annoyed I bought it TBF...

A poignant new collection was donated to the IBCC Digital Archive today. 'Todd' Hawkins flew on Blenheims and became a POW in 1940. He was killed by friendly fire in 1945. His collection contains his letters home and lots of his art work. losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/212349/

#ReviewArticle – Bomber Command at War by @danellin.bsky.social balloonstodrones.com/2025/09/16/r... #WW2

Today is Battle of Britain Day, so here's some photos to help folks remember that all sorts of people in all sorts of roles and all sorts of aircraft defeated Fascism in 1940. #WW2 #History

I've just been reminded of the "5 O'Clock Charlie" episode from MASH.

A reminder for some folks; an unofficial motto of the Polish forces during the war was "For our freedom and yours". 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

@marybrazier.bsky.social and I had a full house in the Arsenal Stage at the We Have Ways Festival today. Wizard fun! Wizard audience! Thanks folks. #history #WW2

So fantastic to have the issue of veteran testimony and how we approach remembering the bombing campaign discussed. Very much enjoyed this from @danellin.bsky.social & @marybrazier.bsky.social

@luketurner.bsky.social was absolutely wizard talking about the sexual revolution of the Second World War at We Have Ways fest earlier today.

RN types' Help! Is this a courageous class carrier, either HMS Courageous or HMS Glorious - or HMS Hermes. I'm an RAF type, I've not the foggiest. @rnshiplosses.bsky.social ? #History #WW2 #RoyalNavy

This scene from 'Dunkirk' (1958) influenced the opening credits of 'Dad's Army' (1968 - 1977). Discuss.

@marybrazier.bsky.social and I will be talking about how Bomber Command’s operations in 1945 have had an impact on the way the bombing war is remembered. We're on last so we're actually 'headlining' the Arsenal Stage at #WeHaveWaysFest @almurray.bsky.social #history #WW2 @nmtdambusters.bsky.social

What does Freedom mean to you? This autumn, Lincolnshire is creating a giant digital mosaic to mark 80 years since VE Day — and you’re invited to take part. Share an image of what freedom means to you and be part of the artwork unveiled at Lincoln Arts Centre in November. nowandthenfreedom.com

Take a look. Remember. Read the messages that donors have left too. So many memories of fathers, uncles, friends.

Watch the trailer and think about donating a few quid folks. This film really is wizard. www.gofundme.com/f/amemoryowe...

The Bomber County Gateway's Lancaster 'On Freedom's Wings' is now in situ off the A46 near Newark. It represents Lancaster R5689 VN-N which crashed 18 Sept 1942, retuning to RAF Swinderby following a minelaying operation, after both port engines failed. www.bombergatewaytrust.co.uk/about/

Guess where.

We finally have a sign!

Advert in 'Treasure Hunting' Feb, 1978. #detectorists

I'm a big fan of the cartoon dogs from Down Under, but who knew? From the Frank Allnutt collection in the @ibccdigitalarchive.bsky.social. He flew operations as an air gunner with 625 Squadron.

H2S view of mining Gdynia #OTD 26/27 Aug 1944. #History #WW2 @lydiajane13.bsky.social

I've just recorded an interview with Sue Williams in Australia, about her research into her father, W/O John (Jack) Cromie. He flew 13 ops with 460 and 550 Squadrons before being shot down and becoming a POW. There'll be a large collection to go with it, letters, diaries, photographs... #History

Cheerio 'Conker' Bill Evans. 1955 - 2025

@ww2tv.bsky.social As well as the stories, this is a really interesting discussion of the pros and cons of oral history as a methodology: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASpU...

The chaps who ferried a Wimpy from the UK to the US via Iceland, Gander and Montreal 21 Aug 1941. They are wearing civvies because America had not yet entered the war. #OTD #History.

Do you watch TV? Please take this survey to help me understand what audiences think of TV production techniques. app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/edinburgh/... Please share widely, and thanks in advance. #FanStudies #AudienceResearch

Hurrah! I've found a mislaid reference!

149 Squadron Wellington, X9746, 'OJ-A' took some punishment #OTD 18/19 August 1941 #History

I mentioned Chan Chandler during this discussion. His collection in the IBCC Digital Archive is here: ibccdigitalarchive.omeka.net/collections/...

A thought provoking discussion of monuments and memory by @tessadunlop.bsky.social and Paul Bavill from @historyrage.bsky.social podfollow.com/history-rage...

Sad news, this - I posted about John Cruickshank’s VC action back in June. Last surviving WW2 Victoria Cross recipient dies aged 105 www.bbc.com/news/article...