" Bomber " ; Len Deighton / Radio 4 / BBC CD

Were You there? The day they put this out on Radio 4?

Forgive me but, I've run a search on the terms " Bomber Len Deighton " for this board and turned up 0. So I've obviously just missed it by quirk. I mean; How could ye Not have had a damn good chin wag about this truly Momentous event in broadcasting history?! The Radio 4 adaptation was simply bloody Amazing! So forgive me if I raise it again.

At the time it was aired, about a decade or so ago now? I was a Sorter at the Royal Mail (sat in front of a frame full of pigeon holes, chucking mail into them or wandering around 'doing things') and Always had my 'Walkman' on and tuned to Radio 4.

I missed the first part - it being aired in 'Real Time' and me working Late Shift. But I remember being mesmerised once it kicked off again in the early afternoon. I most distinctly remember staggering home that night, tears streaming down my face, as I listened to a Lancaster going down in flames, in quality stereo. Right inside my head. Fantastic!

I've since bought the double CD. I listened to it once. Lights out. Feet up. Dog's told to shut the f*** up. But I could no where near recapture that initial experience. It Needs headphones. Ye have to be aware Only of the voices. The droning of the engines. Eyes closed. Fags rolled and to hand. A quite ridiculously Large Jameson beside ye. Dogs fast asleep. Then hit Play and ENJOY!

I'll go for it again, one of these long nights. When everything's just so. I view that CD as a bottle of the very best; Awaiting That occasion. Then I'll bring it out .....

Anyone ....?

 

Got it on tape and then replaced it on cd. It is fantastic, Tom Baker's voice just brings it alive, great play.

 

Von Poop; Just Seeing your Link title sent a shiver through me! I've heard some of that stuff before ~ was it used as part of the "Bomber" presentation?

They reckon don't they, that sometimes, through a quirk of wireless signals, the guys in one plane would pick up the communications going on in another plane. And that, if that Other plane was hit and in flames, the Gunners might find themselves tucked away in their turrets, unable to see their mates and perfectly believing they were about to fall out of the sky to the accompaniment of horrible screaming.

Must have been almost as bad as the real thing

 

I bought this on tape 2 years ago, £2 in a discount dvd shop, unfortunately it was eaten up by my over sensitive art studio tape player!

I thought it was fantastic, did'nt realise that it was on CD better google it now!

Soren

 

I have just listened to those bomber crew recordings, really humbling, like you said 'Shivers up the spine'

I suffer quite badly from vertigo could'nt possibly imagine the guts to put yourself at such risk night after night, brave lads.

It's funny how you get attached to the lads voices, does anyone know whether they pulled through the war?

 

Just re-reading this after I first read over ten years ago.
What a fantastic piece of research and writing - it's far better than I remember. Fantastic.

Bomber (novel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

For anyone interested in Bomber Command should get a copy of this book or play.


In 1984 writer Kingsley Amis named Len Deighton's Bomber as one of his 99 books of the twentieth century.

 

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Bomber - Len Deighton - Episode guide

BBC - Radio 4 and 4 Extra Blog: Len Deighton's Bomber on Radio 4 Extra: Drama in real time

 

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I read Bomber when I was about 15. It made a tremendous impression on me. I guess Deighton isn't a great writer, but he really got hold of a great subject when he wrote about Bomber Command. His Blood, Tears and Folly is an odd but interesting book too.

 

I read it at 15, and a few times after that, it still resides on my shelf with others from Deighton

Thank you Craig.

 

Cracking good read, superb book my copy is battered and dogeared from the times i have reread or just dipped in

 

A dog eared copy is sitting on the shelf above me as I type. It was one of the first books that entered the "I couldn't put it down 'til I finished it" category.

I still re read it from time to time. A clear well researched novel which is just so utterly believable. All of the character on both sides and the unfolding events within the storyline appear completely real . . .

Must look out for the CD adaptation of this ASAP. All reccomendations I've seen suggest this is a good investment . . .

Tony H

 

A dog eared copy is sitting on the shelf above me as I type. It was one of the first books that entered the "I couldn't put it down 'til I finished it" category.

I still re read it from time to time. A clear well researched novel which is just so utterly believable. All of the character on both sides and the unfolding events within the storyline appear completely real . . .

Must look out for the CD adaptation of this ASAP. All reccomendations I've seen suggest this is a good investment . . .

Tony H

Tony, the Radio play on CD.
Bomber (BBC Radio Collection): Amazon.co.uk: Tom Baker, Frank Windsor, Samuel West, Emma Chambers, Jack Shepherd: Books