Dame Vera Lynn.

[gamekeeper]

The forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn has died at 103, I don't know how well known she was in the States but during WW2 she gave a lot of concerts for the troops and helped to keep up the fighting spirit. Rest in Peace Dame Vera.

[Old No7]

Thanks for posting that John, as I was not aware...

RIP Dame Vera Lynn.

She was my Dad's favorite singer from WWII, and not just because she was a "looker" back then.

His favorite was her recording of "Bless 'Em All" as well as "A Nightangale Sang in Berkeley Square" (and we always suspected there was a dame near London involved in his fond memory of that one). I may be one of very few sons of Yanks from the greatest generation who has a WWII music mix loaded on my iPod and iPhone and there are those songs on there, plus "We'll Meet Again" and of course "The White Cliffs of Dover (They'll be bluebirds over...)".

For those who don't know of her, here is a youtube video of her singing "Bless Em All" and other "Hits of the Blitz" (click for link) for others to enjoy.

Here's an image showing how she looked during the war:

Dame Vera Lynn 01.jpg

And I can't end this without including a Spitfire over the White Cliffs -- as it only seems fitting.

Spitfire 10.jpg

She was a very pretty and classy dame for sure, with a velvet voice; and I know my Dad would shed a tear or two if he was still with us...

Old No7

[Bill in Oregon]

Sorry to hear this. Our living connection to the last of the Greatest Generation dwindles each day. I was listening to her sing just a fortnight ago.

[stretch]

Wow! 103...

She was a HUGE morale booster during WWII for those across the pond.

My favorite Vera Lynn video......
I just love those snarling Merlins as accompaniment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUx3MU9iM6c

-Stretch

[piller]

Anyone who has anything bad to say about her can go to Beachy Head and jump.

[Larkbill]

One of the reasons I come here every day.

I always learn new things. My Dad was in the Pacific so my focus tends to be more towards that theater.

What a great lady.

[piller]

One Uncle was with Patton, and one flew B24J Liberators off of Fiji. They didn't tell a lot about the war.

That was sure a time when life changed a bunch. Young people were exposed to singers from halfway around the world. Now it is common.

[jeepnik]

One Uncle was with Patton, and one flew B24J Liberators off of Fiji. They didn't tell a lot about the war.

That was sure a time when life changed a bunch. Young people were exposed to singers from halfway around the world. Now it is common.

Which division? Dad was 6th (Super Sixth) Armored Division.

[piller]

Uncle Homer was in the Armored Infantry. I need to look up which one.

[piller]

41st armored Infantry Regiment.

[Old No7]

My favorite Vera Lynn video......
I just love those snarling Merlins as accompaniment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUx3MU9iM6c
-Stretch

Cool video -- thanks for sharing that one!

There's nothing like a Merlin/Spitfire fly-by to get your blood boiling and adrenaline flowing! (Except maybe a P51 or a pretty gal...)

My dad used to be able to quote how many gallons of white paint they used -- and what it added to each aircraft in weight -- when the invasion stripes were painted late in the night of June 5th 1944 (but then, he painted P51 Mustangs; but he did service Spitfires on his RAF base {Eagle Squadrons] before the P47 Thunderbolts and Yanks took over).

Old No7

[jeepnik]

41st armored Infantry Regiment.

So 2nd Armored Division, Hell on Wheels. They covered a lot of the same ground.

[octagon]

Dang GK that lady can belt one out! Lovely girl, thanks for posting.

[mark]

Dame Vera Lynn, RIP.

Mark