In this episode, Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore the rich history of wartime songs, focusing on 'Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer.' They pay tribute to John Paddy Hemingway, discuss the impact of the musician strike during WWII, and delve into the cultural significance of these songs. The conversation highlights personal stories, the diversity within the RAF, and the legacy of wartime music, showcasing how these melodies provided hope and resilience during challenging times. To listen to all the songs mentioned in the episode please visit their Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN REFERENCES Paddy John Hemmingway Obituary https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/30/john-hemingway-obituary Winston Tastes Good Like a Cigarette Should (Aeroplane Advert) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9o5i9eNPhY The damaged port-side fuselage of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mark V, P5005 'DY-N', of No. 102 Squadron RAF, after returning from a bombing raid to the Ruhr on the night of 12/13 November 1940. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209994 CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Wartime Songs 01:46 Tribute to John Paddy Hemingway 02:43 Exploring 'Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer' 04:57 The Song Spinners and Their Impact 07:34 The Musician Strike of 1942-1944 10:16 Censorship and Reception of Wartime Songs 12:55 The Context of 1943 in WWII 15:33 Heroic Stories of RAF Bombers 18:20 The Inspiration Behind the Song 21:10 The Legacy of 'Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer' 23:14 Wartime Music and Cultural Reflections 25:35 Exploring the Song's Origins 26:18 The Impact of Bomber Command 28:11 Diversity in the RAF 29:12 Musical Interpretations of the Song 31:55 Versions of 'Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer' 38:45 Comparing Iconic Performances 40:44 Aviation Songs and Their Legacy SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS You can follow the podcast on social media: http://instagram.com/warsongspod https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod Find more information about Lili Redman here: https://liliredman.com/https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/ https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil Or Tom Carradine here: https://www.tomcarradine.com/https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine CONTACT THE PODCAST If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at
[email protected]Ā to be "Mentioned in Dispatches". LISTENING LINKS Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318 If youāve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if youād leave a review and make sure youāve subscribed and turned on notifications so youāll never miss an episode. Ā Ā Ā