The RAF bomber pilot who recovered the body of the co-pilot he lost on Berlin raid 60 years ago.

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 10th October 2008 | Andrew Levy

[PotatoHeadMick]

Crammed together in their unwieldy aircraft and utterly dependent on one another, the bomber crews of the Second World War forged friendships that often only death could break.

Which is why Pilot Officer Reg Wilson never forgot the night more than 60 years ago when he lost two friends in the night skies over Germany.

As he entered his old age - the memories of his youth perhaps more powerful than ever - Mr Wilson began a quest to find their remains.

Yesterday he told how at last he had succeeded in finding one of those friends, flight engineer Sergeant John Bremner, and finally laying him to rest.

Sergeant Bremner will be buried with full honours at the Heerstrasse War Cemetery in Berlin next Thursday.

[PotatoHeadMick]

A great story.

[Charlespg]

We are witnessing the passing of a generation

[DoughtyOne]

Sadly, with what is happening in Britain, we are witnessing the passing of more than that. The home of Christopher Robin, Dickens, and these war hereos, will not be the same home they lived in.

[JRandomFreeper]

God bless the men that fly and fight.

/johnny

[cripplecreek]

When my grandfather died a few years ago, his Honor Guard were Korean war vets because there weren’t any local WWII vets in good enough health to perform the ceremony.

[CASchack]

Old Blighty will revert to the people of Stonehenge, only worse.

[al baby]

We are witnessing the passing of a generation

And the death of a once great nation

[DoughtyOne]

Yes, just think Beirut¹⁰


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[Skooz]

bump

[PDMiller]

My father flew B-17s out of Italy for 34 missions during WWII. He passed away and was laid to rest 14 months ago, amidst lots of tears and sorrow. During the showing, a 50-something year old man I'd never seen before walked into the funeral home unannounced, proceeded directly to the casket where my father lay, squared his shoulders and snapped off the smartest salute I'd ever seen. I burst into tears knowing immediately that this was a showing of respect from a fellow vet. I followed this man out the door of the funeral home and asked him his name. He complied and said simply: “Your father was a great man” and walked away. I'm typing this in tears as I pray we collectively find the strength to keep Obama from ascending to the White House.

[pfflier]

Crewdogs for life. A bond, one who has not served, would not understand.

[bricklayer]

“...I followed this man out the door of the funeral home and asked him his name. He complied and said simply: “Your father was a great man” and walked away”

Thank you for your story.

[ReluctantDragon]

Thanks for posting this story. Very thought provoking.

[NellieMae]

Wow, What a good example of honor and commitment. This man was a great American. We can’t let Obama win this election. It would be an abomination (or obamanation).

[river rat]

"We are witnessing the passing of THE GREATEST generation"

Fixed.

[Emperor Palpatine]

The sad thing is that the men of RAF Bomber Command were treated like shit after the war. A lot of this was because of the Atlee government’s attitudes about bombing cities.

The “guilt” over Dresden and Hamburg was played upon.

Every service got a campaign medal and their chiefs were feted and honored after the war. All except for Bomber Command and their chief, Arthur Harris.

Harris was made into something of a postwar pariah and he eventually retired into obscurity in South Africa......emerging briefly to be interviewed shortly before his death for the late 70’s “World At War” documentary series narrated by Laurence Olivier.

Harris was still unapologetic about what Bomber Command’s tactics had done......and rightly so in my opinion.

[DoughtyOne]

I just saw a report on one of the cable channels the other day regarding our bombing of Japan. The report revealed that we bombed something like over 50 cities to the point of at least 50% or more destruction before we used ‘the bomb’. Still Japan did not capitulate.

Those who say Japan would have surrendered without using nukes must be crazy.

Wars suck. You do what you have to do to bring them to an end. I wouldn’t be willing to give up one more service member’s life than I had to.

I agree with your comments. The guy should have been given the respect he was due.

[southland]

My Dad was the last WW1 combat veteran from Alabama to die . He died Dec . I share your pride. I later was a pilot in the Strategic Air Command in the mid 50’s flying the B 36.

[PDMiller]

The Convair Peacemaker, how cool. Thanks for your service.

[TomasUSMC]

Semper Fi