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All--
We lost another of The Greatest Generation on August 28 with the passing of George Sobering at age 86. George flew Lancasters with 115 Sqn RAF, earning the DFC; postwar he became an engineer and worked with the National Research Council, but never lost his love for flying. For some twenty years George, along with his wife (of 62 years) Irene, championed the restoration and, later, the operation of CWH's Lancaster through the Lanc Support Club (slogan: "Let's Launch The Lanc!"). In the mid-80s I was on staff at CWH, and well remember the Soberings' charm and their passion for the Lanc project, which in those days was in the "but when will it fly?" stage. Many Bomber Command vets were involved with the restoration of FM213...their delight was palpable when she finally flew. But George made an emotional speech at the unveiling in '88, exhorting us all, while we celebrated, never to forget those other vets who could not be involved...because they had not come home. And we (especially those of us born long after World War II) needed to hear that, and still need to remember it...thank you, George, and Godspeed.
S.
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