AFV Club 1/35 AEC Matador British Army Artillery Tractor

In 1943 the average life expectancy of bomber command air crew was 3 weeks. Sobering thought isn't it.

PS. I'm glad you both enjoyed the Aussie language lesson. Just a bit of fun. We also have a habbit of speaking to our mates as if they were our worst enemies. It tends to confuse visitors though. And John, if you ever come to Oz, ignore people who tell you to watch out for the 'drop bears'.

Dodgy

Awsome info mate. Have the RCAF any records?

 

There is a few records like flight logs and target information that have been declassified, but I am betting their is more when I contact the RCAF Veterans organization for help. I know of at least three service metals Uncle Harold and his crew members would have earned before his death. The thing about these air crews of Bomber Command is they were so busy toward the end of the war under Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris they didn't have time to get into their dress uniform.

Harold

 

Dodgy

In 1943 the average life expectancy of bomber command air crew was 3 weeks. Sobering thought isn't it.

PS. I'm glad you both enjoyed the Aussie language lesson. Just a bit of fun. We also have a habbit of speaking to our mates as if they were our worst enemies. It tends to confuse visitors though. And John, if you ever come to Oz, ignore people who tell you to watch out for the 'drop bears'.

 

Rob, you know I was in the Navy from 1963 to 1969 and like you served on a guided missile destroyer. After I finished six years in the Navy the Vietnam War was still going, so I joined the Army as a Radio Sergeant. One of my jobs was training radio operators. The Army said their life expectancy in a Vietnam combat situation was three-minutes. The enemy knew that every radio operator has an antenna and is near the person in charge. So, they deliberately went after the man with a radio.

Update: After I said 3-minutes I decided to do a fact check and this is what I found.

https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/radiomen-life-expectancy-vietnam-war/

Harold

Harold, I don't really know what to say to that. I'm guessing that a number of blokes you trained were destined to become casualties.

Dodgy

Harold, I don't really know what to say to that. I'm guessing that a number of blokes you trained were destined to become casualties.

 

Training soldiers to use badly designed equipment in jungle warfare was the worst job I had in the military. The article talked about most of the hazards, except one. Climbing in and out of rice paddies and streams with 50 pounds on your back and snakes everywhere. Vietnam has almost as many deadly snakes as Australia.

Harold

I made a little progress on the camouflage painting using masking tape and hand-painting, but it is very slow and time consuming.

Harold

I think it's worth the effort. It's lookin' mighty good, Harold. 

I'm with John Harold. It's looking terrific!