We use cookies to help us understand how you use our site, and make your experience better. To find out more read our privacy policy.
Play

00:00

/

00:00

Full screen
Video quality

Low 0 MB

High 0 MB

HD 0 MB

Captions
Volume
Volume
Hero image for Memories of Service 3 - Douglas Smith

Memories of Service 3 - Douglas Smith

Web (Full Length) – 2016

With the phrase “we were lucky to get away with it” and a ready laugh, 97-year-old Douglas Smith describes some of the close calls he had as a trainee and later bomber pilot during World War ll. Luck yes, but skill too, as he survived a 30 mission tour of duty. Douglas first tasted action flying a small, twin engine Dakota Boston over France and the Netherlands. Graduating to four engine Lancasters, he took part in huge raids over some of Germany’s biggest cities. Never afraid himself, he laments the vast loss of life among friends and enemies.

Nuremburg, I was on that raid, we lost a hundred aeroplanes that night. A hundred four engine bombers out of eight or nine hundred. Berlin one night, we lost 85. We were losing far too many aeroplanes. That’s why you realise you were bloody lucky to get away with it.
– Douglas Smith

Key Cast & Crew

Profile image for David Blyth

David Blyth

Producer, Director, Interviewer

Generic Profile image for Patricia Stroud

Patricia Stroud

Producer, Research

Generic Profile image for Jed Town

Jed Town

Composer

Profile image for Edward Larsen

Edward Larsen

Editor

Generic Profile image for Simon Schueller

Simon Schueller

Camera, Sound

See all 9 credits

Produced by

Logo for ILA Film Productions

ILA Film Productions

Source

David Blyth