The Dambuster Raids, or more correctly Operation Chastise is without doubt the most famous bombing mission of the Second World War (at least here in Britain). Over 75 years on everybody has heard about the ‘bouncing bomb’ and the hero pilot Guy Gibson. Most people, if they only know of one RAF Squadron, it will … More What happened to the Lancasters used on the Dambuster Raid?
The relationship between Manchester the city, and Lancaster the bomber is well documented. Many of us will also know that the Lancaster bomber originally started out as the Manchester bomber and that Avro, the aviation manufacturing company responsible for the Manchester and Lancaster bombers started in, and fortuitously remained Manchester based for the entire life … More From Manchester to Lincoln via Lancaster – An aviation aristocracy family tree
The famous aeroplane manufacturing company Avro is synonymous with the city of Manchester. The connection between the two lasted over one hundred years, longer if we consider that the founder of Avro was born in Manchester. Sadly, the last link was broken when the Avro successor, British Aerospace (BAe), closed its main facilities in 2012. … More Manchester’s Avro Aviation Heritage reminders
New Publication courtesy of New Mills Local History Society: The bombing of New Mills and Hayfield 3 July 1942 Now available – contact me for details. Talk Calendar My talks:
As a consultant I usually get to work on several diverse projects every year. It’s daunting, but always interesting to see the different locations and I always ensure I do a site visit. It’s fascinating to see the way different organisations work. Recently I had a tour around a speciality chemical plant. It was amazing … More Rolls-Royce Derby birthplace of the Merlin
On 1 September 1939 Germany invaded the western half of Poland. Just over two weeks later the Soviet Union invaded the eastern half and immediately began incorporating it in to the Soviet Union. Below is an extract of my book ‘Two Years in a Gulag’ describing the event using a Pleszak family first-hand, hand-written account … More First-hand account of when eastern Poland became western Belarus. October 1939
The Masurian Lakeland (Pojezierze Mazurskie) is Poland’s equivalent to the English Lake District. Situated in the northeast of Poland it has over 200 lakes surrounded by farmland, forest, and meadows. It is spectacularly beautiful and not surprisingly a popular tourist destination. Historically though, it was part of the German Empire as East Prussia when it … More Architectural marvel or hideous eyesore: Sluice Leśniewo Górne?
