A number of years ago at my Grandfather’s funeral I met one of his long-time friends, John Thomas. I discovered that he had been a flight instructor in WWII, and later flew Sabres in the 1950s. Fortunately he knew how to use a camera. Shortly after I met him I borrowed some of his slides and had some copy negatives made. Unfortunately time has not been good to the negatives, so the scans I presented here are as good as it is going to get. I think you will enjoy them anyway.
Here are John’s photos…
http://community.webshots.com/album/515364135pszihD
Mike
By: pdryan - 26th December 2005 at 18:01
Sorry, of course it’s a Victor. My fingers were misguided by an associated idea running through my head at that time!
Dunno – the wartime Dinger would have had to be very young to be the same person.
Peter
By: Eric Mc - 26th December 2005 at 08:49
Looks more like a Victor to me 🙂
Is the Dinger Bell you mention the same Dinger Bell who flew Lysanders during the war on clandestine missions to France?
Nice photos.
By: Consul - 25th December 2005 at 22:06
Mike
Thanks for posting. Some excellent and unusual shots – I especially like the Sabre being refuelled and the Farnborough shot of the Comet in early BEA scheme (which was overtaken by a later scheme before the type went into service with them). Fascinating stuff – your grandfather was already using colour when most of us were still using b&w in box brownies – we’re lucky you scanned them for posterity!
By: pdryan - 25th December 2005 at 21:11
The Farnborough shots are very interesting for me – I was a Student Apprentice at RAE 53-58 – and the Valiant photo particularly since I think I have ridden in the car next to the plane. It was a Riley belonging to ‘Dinger’ Bell, an RAE Test Pilot, and I presume he must be in the surrounding throng. My apologies for somewhat late reply, but I am a newcomer to the group.
Peter
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December 2, 2005 at 1:27 pm