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Internet Insights into Bomber
Teresa Van Rees
October 20, 2001
On a Sunday afternoon in June, my son and I were out in the backyard enjoying the fresh air when we heard a strange sound: The deep-throated growl of four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines approaching.
Suddenly, the only Lancaster in flying condition on this continent roared overhead. It was on its way home from the London Airshow.
Awesome! A piece of Second World War history had just flown by!
The Avro Lancaster was the most successful bomber of the Second World War. It delivered 64 percent of the tonnage to the enemy. Along with the Halifax, it formed the backbone of the Allied air fleet. One of my uncles served as a member of a Lancaster crew during the war and he talks about his service sometimes.
After watching this piece of flying history zoom by, I just had to learn more about these planes and decided to find out what information the Internet had to offer on the Avro Lancaster.
I found an interesting web site at www.lexicom.ab.ca, the site from the Nanton Lancaster Society and Air Museum in Nanton, Alberta. It contains articles about raids and losses, the whereabouts of surviving Lancaster Bombers-known as "Lancs"-and links to other pages.
The Web site also serves up an interesting tidbit about Trans-Canada Air Lines whose first services was during the War using a modified Lancaster to carry mail, cargo and priority passengers. The "Lancs" were later replaced with North Stars.
The Web site also offers the background of some of the more famous Lancaster pilots.
Here you can read the heroic, yet tragic story of squadron leader Ian Bazalgette, in whose memory the Nanton Lancaster Bomber is dedicated.
Bazalgette was the only Albertan in the Second World War to be awarded the Victoria Cross for Bravery. Written in an engaging storytelling style, the story reminds us that the brave pilots of these bombers were human beings by outlining Bazalgette's family life and interests before the war.
Another interesting site is Bob Baxter's Bomber Command at homepages.texco.net. Baxter has included maps, losses, photos, squadrons and many links. There are even book lists which include some titles available in the Oxford County Library collection.
It is worth a trip through Cyberspace just to learn more about these old bombers and the men who flew in them.
Teresa Van Rees is the branch supervisor of the Beachville Public Library, a branch of the Oxford County Library.
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