Our guest today has had an interesting path to becoming a historian of the RAF in the Second World War. Jane Gulliford Lowes, who many may know as "Just Curious Jane" and from her popular podcast Never Mind the Damn Busters, has been a solicitor for several years, but a few years ago decided to pursue her true calling - history! It all began with grandparents sharing their experiences growing up in post-Great War England and a grandfather and great-uncle serving in the Second World War. The latter provided the subject for her second book, Above Us the Stars: 10 Squadron Bomber Command - The Wireless Operator's Story (2020). To get her history chops in proper order, Jane took a master's degree in Second World War Studies at the University of Wolverhampton, having already published two books and practiced law for let's just say "a number of years." Her most recent book, The Invisible Campaign: Bomber Command Gardening Operations, 1940-1945, grew out of her master's thesis at Wolverhampton and is out now in the UK and will soon be available in the US. Now a successful writer and established historian, Jane also has a popular podcast with co-host James Jefferies of the University of Essex - Never Mind the Damn Busters (be sure to check it out!)! She's appeared on numerous podcasts and lectured around the UK. Not bad for a coal miner's daughter from Seaham, County Durham, on the coal coast of northeast England!

Join us for a really enjoyable chat with Jane Gulliford Lowes - we'll talk growing up in a coal mining family, a career (still ongoing) in law, discovering history through family stories and storytelling, the first visit to the UK National Archives at Kew, Incubus, "1101," getting a master's degree and writing while a full-time solicitor, Norwegian cinnamon buns, being a make-up artist, and more! You'll enjoy this one -

Rec.: 05/12/2026