1 25 1 https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/18/1560/MDarbyC1897788-150717-01.2.jpg 2e57698d502400816d32f45eaeab07ec Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Darby, Charlie C Darby Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available IBCC Digital Archive Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2015-06-30 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal. Description An account of the resource Five items. The collection consists of an oral history interview with Charlie Darby (b. 1924, 1897788 Royal Air Force), his logbook, a poem and two photographs. Sergeant Charlie Darby flew 30 night time and daylight operations in Halifaxes with 466 and 462 Squadrons from RAF Driffield as a rear gunner. The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Charlie Darby and catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Darby, C Transcribed document A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Transcription Text transcribed from audio recording or document [underlined]Ode to an air gunner[/underlined] If I must be straight rear gunner then please God grant me grace, that I may leave this station with a smile upon my face. I may have wished to be a pilot and Joe along with me, but if we were all pilots where would the Air force be. A pilot is only a chauffeur and he’s there to fly the plane, its the Gunner who does the fighting though he may not get the fame. It takes a man to be a Gunner to sit out in the tail, when the Messerschmitts come at you and the slugs fly like hail. But we’re in here to win the war and ‘till the job is done, let’s forget our personal feelings and get to work behind the gun. [underlined]You’ll Get Your Reward[/underlined] An A.G. stood at thee Pearly Gates, His face was worn and old, He meekly asked thee Man of Fate “May I come into thee Fold?” “What have you done?” St. Peter asked “To gain admission here”. “I was a Tailend Charlie on a Halifax, Sir For thee best part of a year.” Thee Pearly Gates swung open wide As St. Peter rang the bell. “Come in,” he said “and welcome lad, You’ve served your time in Hell.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Ode to an air gunner Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Text. Poetry Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MDarbyC1897788-150717-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Royal Air Force Royal Air Force. Bomber Command Description An account of the resource Describes the role played by the air gunner and his attitude toward danger. In the afterlife, the air gunner goes straight through the Heavens's gate as his wartime suffering is considered equivalent to expiation. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Charlie Darby Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Sue Smith Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource One printout Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available IBCC Digital Archive Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal. 462 Squadron 466 Squadron air gunner aircrew military ethos