Recognition Extended to Thousands of Previously Unacknowledged RAF Bomber Personnel

Extensive research has led to the forthcoming recognition of thousands of individuals who were part of a “forgotten force” within the RAF during World War Two. The world’s largest archive, located at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincoln, already commemorates nearly 58,000 men and women from Bomber Command who perished between 1939 and 1945. Nevertheless, the identities of 9,000 additional personnel, who served in the Second Tactical Air Force (2nd TAF) and in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North African regions, remained unknown until volunteer Dave Gilbert received contact from their family members. According to Mr. Gilbert, a sum of £350,000 is required to engrave these names onto the IBCC’s walls. Mr. Gilbert has dedicated the last 12 years to researching for the memorial. Since September 2023, he has been examining the extra 9,000 names, prompted by the “disappointment” expressed by relatives who could not find their family members listed on the memorial’s metal walls. The names were incorporated into the IBCC database last week, bringing the total number of personnel recognized to 67,300. Mr. Gilbert elaborated on the importance of acknowledging and honoring all individuals who died while serving in the 2nd TAF and in overseas locations. He stated: “It tends to be a forgotten force, so it’s really important that we tell their stories.” He further noted the challenging circumstances, explaining, “In the Mediterranean they were probably in tents and subject to diseases that just didn’t happen in the UK. And even just getting there was fraught with danger.” He concluded, “I think it’s important that people understand what sort of conditions these people were having to endure.” Mr. Gilbert, an engineer residing in Lincoln, specified that 60% of the 2nd TAF personnel were British, approximately 20% were South African, and another 20% originated from Australia and Canada, with the remaining individuals coming from “almost every one of the Commonwealth countries.” He added that among those who perished, some succumbed to illnesses like malaria and dysentery, in addition to fatalities from road traffic accidents in locations such as Cairo. He emphasized the constant peril, stating, “Every single step along the way, every individual flight was in some way dangerous.” As an illustration, he mentioned flights from the UK to Gibraltar, which involved traversing the Bay of Biscay, a zone where “prowling fighter aircraft just waiting to pick them off” were present. He highlighted the significant loss, remarking, “So it’s an astounding number – 20% were killed just getting there and, again, that’s a largely forgotten story, but a very important one.” Mr. Gilbert recounted that the Kufra tragedy, where 11 out of 12 South African airmen died in the Libyan Desert after a forced landing, had “a profound effect” on him. He described the grim outcome: “Sadly they all perished of dehydration. They tragically shot themselves because of dehydration. It’s a really terrible story.” He conveyed the emotional impact of his work, saying, “Although you don’t know these people, you feel the sense of loss. You kind of grieve a little bit for this person.” He added, “Everyone that you type in, you [feel] kind of onboard the aircraft with them as it goes down. You can’t help that.” Mr. Gilbert expressed his aspiration to uncover further details about the lives he has researched, with the aim of narrating their individual stories. He underscored this by stating: “Knowing something about their lives is really important.” Listeners can access highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, and the latest episode of Look North is available for viewing. The BBC also invites submissions for potential stories. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites and provides details on its approach to external linking.