Page 12 - William Johnston

The crew, pictured with the ground crew personnel. These specialists would look after up to
3 Lancasters at a time working outside in all weathers, the only time the aircraft came into a
hangar was for a major service. Their only warmth being a brazier in a make shift hut
alongside one of the dispersals.

The ground crew were the unsung heroes of Bomber Command, without their
professionalism and determination, no matter what weather the conditions were to bring the
aircraft in their charge to a serviceable condition ready for the next operation within a
24 hour period.

The Lancaster this ground crew serviced was in the ground crew’s eyes only ‘borrowed’ for
a short period of time by the aircrew, hopefully to be returned intact and undamaged.