Dambusters pilot Les Munro

Dave Homewood · **Posted:** Wed Jul 02, 2014 3:48 am

I am extremely excited to present the next Wings Over New Zealand Show - Episode 70: Les Munro Part One. Listen or download for free now.

http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WON ... #LesMunro1

In this episode, part one of two, we hear an extremely interesting interview with Squadron Leader Les Munro DSO, DFC, RNZAF. He was one of the original members of the Royal Air Force's most famous unit, No. 617 Squadron - The Dambusters.

In this first instalment we hear about his younger life, and his entry into the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He covers his training in New Zealand and in Canada, and then his posting to England where he completed further training with an Operational Training Unit on Wellingtons followed by a short stint on the Avro Manchester. Then Les was posted to No. 97 Squadron RAF flying Avro Lancasters on operations over Europe.

Following 21 ops he and most of his crew volunteered to join a newly forming 'special squadron' at RAF Scampton, which would later be renamed No. 617 Squadron. Les details the training on this squadron leading right up to his take off for the famous Dams raid (which will be covered in the next episode).

The interviewers are Dave Homewood and Richard Carstens, and this interview was recorded in April 2010.

Enthusiast 72 · **Joined:** Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:20 pm **Posts:** 1

Enjoy your podcast immensely Dave.

:drink3:

Dave Homewood · **Posted:** Thu Jul 10, 2014 4:13 am

Many thanks!!

JohnB · **Posted:** Thu Jul 10, 2014 8:30 am

Could I suggest giving us more info in the title?
Just seeing someone's name led me to think that perhaps something bad had happened.

Dave Homewood · **Posted:** Sun Jul 13, 2014 11:21 pm

The Wings Over New Zealand Show Episode 71 - Les Munro Part Two - is now online.

In this episode, part two of two, we continue with the very interesting interview with Squadron Leader Les Munro DSO, DFC, RNZAF.

Les was one of the original members of the Royal Air Force's most famous unit, No. 617 Squadron - The Dambusters. We pick up the story just as he and his crew are taking off on the famous Dams Raid on the 16th of May 1943.

We also hear what happened in No. 617 Squadron after the raid and in subsequent months and years when Les was later made one of the three Flight Commanders alongside Dave Shannon and Joe 'Mac' McCarthy, under the leadership of Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire VC.

http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WON ... es_Munro_2

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Dambusters pilot Les Munro

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