Last few days with Dambusters2012 Teddies

Dambusters2012 Teddies will be auctioned for Help for Heroes at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball on 3rd November. These unique teddies were 'posted' out to join 617 Sqdn, the Dambusters, at Kandahar Airbase where they were welcomed into 617 squadron by Tia and Allana:

They were flow on combat sorties by Wg Cdr Taylor, 617 sqdn boss, and Stew Campbell before returning to the UK for some well earned R&R at home before their final appearance at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball and the 'Auction of Things Money Cannot Buy'.

Be a shame to see them go to their new homes but the 'payback' is they should raise a shedload of cash for Help for Heroes. That will then mark the end of Dambusters2012 and the start of Dambusters2013. www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012

Teddy 2 and Flt Lt Stew' Campbell to meet again!



Dambusters2012's Teddy No. 2 was flown on his combat sortie over Afghanistan by Flt Lt Stew' campbell during 617 sqdn's recent tour at Kandahar Airbase, Operation Herrick 16. The sortie was flown at night using night vision goggles and included 3 in-flight refuelings and lasted about 5 hours!

The Dambusters2012 Teddies will be auctioned on November 3rd at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball - details at http://www.helpforheroesballbirmingham.org.uk/
I have found out today that it will be Flt Lt Stew Campbell that will be representing 617 sqdn and RAF Lossiemouth at the ball on 3rd November as one of the Guests of Honour! How brilliant is that! We can ask Stew Campbell, who flew Teddy No. 2 over Afghanistan to present the teddy to the winning bidder ...... and I can shake the hand of the man who did so much to help Dambusters2012 and our efforts to raise money for Help for Heroes.

Simple logo for Dambusters2013

Dambusters2012 will close with the auction of our Teddy Bears flown by 617 sqdn on combat op's over Afghanistan at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball on 3rd November (@bh4hb on twitter)!

We will then switch our thoughts and efforts to Dambusters2013 - 70th Anniversary Charity Motorcycle Ride. Fancy riding with us to the Mohne and Sorpe Dams on the 16th/17th May 2013? Prepared to raise a sum of cash for Help for Heroes as well?

Watch this space for more details!

 

Three new images for you ....

This evening I bring three new images sent to me by 617 Sqdn during their tour of duty in Afghanistan earlier this year during Operation Herrick 16. All were taken in the early morning light.

If you like these, and the other images that I have been privileged to bring you from 617 sqdn, please remember that dambusters2012 is all about raising money for Help for Heroes.

Please visit www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012 and donate on-line today - demonstrate your support for our troops and the fantastic work done by Help for Heroes to support our troops when they return from theatre injured and traumatised. Thank you. It doesn't have to be a lot - just something!

A reminder of the original Dambusters2012 Motorcycle Ride ....

This video, taken by forces broadcaster BFBS for their news show is a reminder of the original 2012 Charity Motorcycle Ride.

Since then we have enjoyed the support of 617 sqdn, the Dambusters, during their deployment to Afghanistan during Operation Herrick 16, our combat sortie H4H Teddies and so on ..... but the original basis for Dambusters2012 was the ride, and the commemoration of all those who lost their life as a result on 16th and 17th May 1943.

Above all it is about raising money for Help for Heroes. Don't forget you can do this on-line at www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012 . Thank you.

Two new posters!! Enjoy!!

www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012

Some reflections on Dambusters2012 for Help for Heroes.

As I write this I feel a mixture of sadness and also of excitement. The two Help for Heroes Teddy Bears which were flown on combat operations for Dambusters2012 by the wonderful people at 617 sqdn during their recent tour of operations in Afghanistan sit quietly on top of the bookcase in my study.

The two bears are both to be sold in the auction at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball on 3rd November which is a good thing. Every penny they sell for will go to Help for Heroes which is the sole reason Dambusters2012 exists at all. That's where the excitement comes from. How much will they sell for? Will it meet expectations? They are unique, irreplaceable .... please, please let them sell for shedloads. It is such a worthy cause. www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012

Then there is the sadness. I have grown strangely attached to having the bears looking down at me, knowing where they have been and what a privilege it has been for me to even in some small way to have had the support of the most famous bomber squadron of them all, 617 Sqdn, the Dambusters!

Amongst 617 Sqdn I have had the honour to work closely with two men in particular:
Flt Sgt Paul Peden, soon to be promoted to Warrant Officer for his last posting before a richly deserved retirement.

... and also Sqdn Ldr Tom Hill who was kind enough to give up his time to meet us and original Dambuster George 'Johnny' Johnson DFM for a photoshoot at the Rolls Royce Heritage Centre at Filton.

I don't really want to part with the Bears at all ... but know I have to let them go or bid for them fair and square in the auction ... and I know I do not have pockets deep enough for that. I exchanged emails with the auctioneer today. I know the end of my time with the bears is coming and a small chapter of my life is ending at the same time.  The help for Heroes ball on 3rd November will mark the end of Dambusters2012.

People who know me will recognise that I do not stay 'down' for long. My glass has always been slightly more than half full - and in truth so it is today.

Dambusters2013 was approved as an event support Help for Heroes in 2013! Here we go again, only bigger, better and more exciting. 617 sqdn are on board again, as is my good friend and rider Victor Chevens! Both the events I have done for Help for Heroes have been done with Victor - he is a top bloke and a great man to have on this kind of a project!

There are new partners too. Craig Carey-Clinch of Rowan Public Affairs and Al Hunter of Network XP Consultancy   .... and our ambitions are high. You ready for what's coming?? I hope so .... I know I am raring to get started again!
www.dambusters2013.org.uk is coming so get ready for the ride, the "70th Anniversary Dambusters Ride for Help for Heroes".

Dambusters2012's friend, Sqn Ldr George 'Johnny' Johnson DFM

One of the highlights for me over the last few months working on the Dambusters2012 'project' has been meeting and getting to know Sqn Ldr George 'Johnny' Johnson DFM. He was bomb aimer on Joe McCarthy's Lancaster attacking the Sorpe Dam only dropping his 'upkeep' on their 10th run across the Sorpe Dam as he was so determined to get it right. A true hero and a lovely old gentleman.

We were privileged to meet Johnny on two occasions. The first for a photoshoot with current 617 Sqdn pilot Tom Hill who was shortly to deploy to Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick 16.

The second was a lovely social occasion when my wife Jo and I had the pleasure of taking Johnny out to lunch. It was a delightful meal and easy conversation.

What prompts this particular blog post? Well tonight I found a picture of the actual Avro Lancaster that this hero of a man flew in on the dams raid, 16th/17th May 1943.

Johnny was bomb aimer for Sqn Ldr Joe McCarthy. However, on the night of the raid their normal aircraft went u/s and so they had to switch to the spare aircraft, ED825, AJ-E. And here she is:

The actual aircraft in which Johnny made 10 attacks on the Sorpe Dam before he released his weapon as he was so determined to drop the bomb in the correct place!

New and 'cute' photos for you!!

 My goodness it's hot in this sun - where are the crew for heavens sake???

Right then - where are we going? Come on!!

Right - now we're all set for the off .... get this lid closed!

...... and now I am looking for a new home. Come and claim me at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball on 3rd November. You know you want to!!

Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball - Teddies will be there!

Dambuster meets Dambuster!

May 2012. Current day Dambuster Sqn Ldr Tom Hill, 617 Sqdn, RAF meets Sqn Ldr George 'Johnny' Johnson DFM at Rolls Royce, Bristol Heritage Centre. Johnny was bomb aimer on Joe McCarthy's Lancaster on the Dambusters Raid of May 1943 - successfully dropping his bouncing bomb on their 10th run across the Sorpe Dam.

Tom deployed to Afghanistan immediately after this photoshoot to play his part in the squadron's succesful deployemt as part of Herrick 16. Here is Tom, on the right, shortly after completing a 5 hour sortie a couple of weeks later:

WW2 hero and modern day hero. Either way - they both support Dambusters2012 and Help for Heroes. So should you. www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012

Dambusters2012 on BFBS in May of 2012!!

This news item was run by BFBS to coincide with the Dambusters2012 Motorcycle Ride which took place on 16th/17th May 2012 when Victor Chevens and Simon Dufton rode to the Mohner Dam and back following the route of Lancaster AJ_J from the raid in 1943.

Keep watching this blog for details of the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball in November and for details of the dambusters2013 event which will be bigger and better than this years!!

www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012

Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball - 3rd November 2012.