We will be joined in our commemoration by a very special team. Trevor Brook G3WBQ and his Dad Dr Maurice Brook will operate a station from Dorking UK.
Now for the very special part!
Dr Maurice Brook was a Navigator on Lancaster’s with 625 squadron and flew the operation Manna missions. Dr Brook is 100 years old, it is a massive honour to have him take part in this event for us at the International Bomber Command Centre and for all of the teams around the world. We cant thank him and Trevor G3WBQ his son enough.
Dr Brooks story in the IBCC digital archive
- Dr Brook still remembers well.
- “Children in the streets and our aircrew chocolate with handkerchief parachutes to be thrown from the rear turret.”
- “The German Command had refused a request, through the Red Cross, to allow army lorries to cross the border with food supplies. When asked to allow safe passage to an air drop they had also refused. Nevertheless, we were told that we were not to fire unless fired upon.”
- “We were below church spires and just above chimney pots.”
- “As we swept over the houses and streets we could see adults and children waving excitedly, Some were weeping, soon so was I as I still do when reminded. You could have recognised anyone, we were so low.”
- “We saw German machine gunners swing their weapons towards us and Wally did likewise to them, but no one fired.”