My Dad

Well a week has now passed and he’s still talking about it. No matter who goes into his house, its the full story from start to finish!!

Shame that I couldn’t be there with him, but the main thing is that he got there. I would like to thank his pilot Richard Webber for flying him there and back (and for changing aeroplanes from the 6 to a 9 when my Dad couldnt get in the former) and to Nigel Skinner for all the necessary paperwork and organisation.

Thanks also go to Robin and Marie Reynolds for a wonderful barbeque in the evening. Much appreciated and a lovely ending to a wonderful and for my Dad unforgettable day.

Martin

Well, things may ‘not have gone according to plan’ but they seem to have worked out very well nonetheless. It would’ve been no good if he’d been unable to fit in any aircraft; or if you’d got through and he hadn’t; and so on. There’s the proof of the pudding above.

Well done.

Thanks to all for their kind words, much appreciated. JDK, I think you’ve said it all……in the end it did work out ok. He’s still a little upset that I wasnt there, but the main thing was that he got there. I for one am very pleased.

Here are a few photos from yesterday and one from 1952. I apologise for their quality, but I hope you find them of interest.

Best wishes to all,

Martin

Well done, Sir!

It’s funny isn’t it – people don’t seem to want to remember the past, as if there’s likely to be some sort of ghost lurking there ready to bring back something hurtful. It wasn’t all a walk in the park – there were bad bits, and we don’t care to go there in case they hurt us again.

My Dad was an ANZAC (3rd Bn, 5th Reinforcements), and was wounded on 8th August 1915 at Gallipoli – Lone Pine attack. I wanted so much to hear his account, but he wouldn’t utter a word about it. He was wounded twice more in France, Pozieres etc, for those who are familiar with the AIF in the ‘first lot’. “You don’t want to know nothing about that, boy, those days are gone and that’s that.”

What he did tell me was that he shot down a Rumpler Taube using a lewis gun mounted on a railway sleeper. He knew nothing about aircraft, but spoke about a ‘Dove’ or a ‘Taub’ and said it had Dove shaped wings and he drew them for me, quite perfectly. Not until some yers later did I learn about the Taube with its warping dove like wings.

He said ‘we were all firing at it, even with rifles’ so I can’t really claim a’kill’ for dear old Dad, just a part of one.

SoG

SoG

He hasnt stopped talking about it since.

Well, things may ‘not have gone according to plan’ but they seem to have worked out very well nonetheless. It would’ve been no good if he’d been unable to fit in any aircraft; or if you’d got through and he hadn’t; and so on. There’s the proof of the pudding above.

Well done.

Martin. That was unfortunate that you had to turn back and that your dad’s pilot continued to press on regardless. It does sound like he was really chuffed about the whole thing! Well done!
I almost didnt go on the lanc flight last year with my dad. I am glad I did now as the day will never be repeated and I would not have missed it for the world

I can really understand why you’d want to be there with him as he explored old haunts but at least you got him there – and in great style too! Bravo Sir! I’m sure he’s a very happy, and very proud Dad right now.

Roy.

Well done Martin. 🙂

Moggy

Martin,

It sounds like you guys had a real adventure.

I was up with the larks this morning and the black clouds & storms were indeed rolling in from Cornwall at 05.30. Although cleared by 8’ish, i guess you’d have to fight through at some point.

Do Austers fly in IMC eh ?

Look forward to some photo’s……… 😉

.

Well……….things didnt go to plan.

We had some terrible thunder storms last night and when I collected him from his house, it was still raining and not looking very good at all. It was then I decided to spill the beans and as a result, he seemed at first a little shocked and then quite upset over what was (might) happening. On the car journey up to Eggesford we just watched the weather going from bad to worse and back again and in a way I thought it was a wasted trip.

Upon arriving, it slowly started to clear and as a result, we started to get organised. One Auster 9 had left the following day and so 2 others, 2 AOP.6s and the Broussard were to join it at Netheravon. In the end one 9 pulled out and then we had terrible problems getting my Dad into a 6, as he’s not the young man he used to be and was therefore finding it difficult to swing his legs in. So, we swapped the 6 for a 9 and he easily popped into the P2 seat and I had his 6 seat.

We all took off and headed east, but upon reaching the Honiton area it started to look a little bad with low mist and the remains of a storm over Exeter heading our way. Five minutes later and the 6 I was in headed for home, whilst the others managed to fight their way through and reach their destination.

So……he arrived back with some 3 hours of Auster 9 flying under his belt and had a wonderful time at Netheravon, trying to remember the site and taking in the atmosphere. Its such a shame that I wasnt there to record the day, but the one thing you cant book is the weather. Perhaps we’ll try again in two years time.

He hasnt stopped talking about it since.

Will try and post what photos I did take over the next couple of days.

Best wishes,

Martin

Hope all goes well tomorrow. Please, pretty please, make sure you get some pics to show us.

Camera batteries are being charged as I’m typing this. All is going to plan (I hope). I pick him up at 7am and drive him to Eggesford (got to use a different route or he will twig) and he’s due to leave at 9.30 in Terrier VF561 (G-ARSL). I’m in Auster 6 VX113 (that of the Kings Cup Air Race 1959 and latter the Airfix kit) and following are three Auster 9s and the Broussard.

Still hasnt got a clue as to what is happening and at the moment its a bout of twenty questions!

Best wishes,

Martin

Hope all goes well tomorrow. Please, pretty please, make sure you get some pics to show us.

Something that good just HAS to be fine Martin!

I’m sure your father will be tickled pink – and so will you 🙂

Have a really great day.

Roy.

Look forward to pics and update!

Will try and remember to take a camera. I dont think I’m in the same aeroplane (5 Austers and a Broussard are going), so hopefully might organise an Air to Air on the way back.

Never been so worried about anything for years……

Martin

What a neat idea T6! Look forward to pics and update!

Thundery showers in the middle of an English ‘summer’ are fine.

Because they are isolated, you can see them a mile off and drive around them.

Have a great day!

Moggy

What a great idea. I’d love to be a fly on the wall … or is that “on the instrument panel”!! His face will be a picture.

Good luck with the weather and the whole day.

Brilliant! Grand idea and effort – good luck and can we have some pics? Lovethose olf airfields Netheravon and Upavon – did some gliding there many years ago with the Army Gliding and Soaring Association – lovely club, lovely people.

SoG