Biggin Hill 75

Excellent article! Thanks!

It’s not the engine, the lower cowl contains a bigger oil tank which, in conjunction with additional fuel tanks in the wings (in place of guns and ammunition), allowed the unarmed PR Spitfires to fly longer-range missions compared with the fighter variants.

Thanks. Didn’t know that.

Let’s not forget the poor chaps who had to fly them!

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Excellent photo. Any chance of identifying who who ?

Thanks for the plug. :eagerness:

I hope the article is of interest. Dan Griffith (flight leader), Brian Smith, Paul Bonhomme, Dave Puleston, Stephen Stead and Chris Fairfax (owner of EE602) all contributed, meaning that at least one pilot in each of the three sections offered their recollections of the flights. A fantastic day, and a real pleasure to have worked with those guys to put the article together.

Brilliant coverage article just published on line today which includes great air to airs
http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/2015/09/08/battle-of-britain-75-pt-13-biggin-hills-hardest-day-commemoration-180815/

It’s not the engine, the lower cowl contains a bigger oil tank which, in conjunction with additional fuel tanks in the wings (in place of guns and ammunition), allowed the unarmed PR Spitfires to fly longer-range missions compared with the fighter variants.

Why does PL965 have such a deep nose. Why is that particular engine so different from all the others?

Elliott Marsh has produced an excellent report on the event for Global Aviation Resource, with input from a number of participating pilots

http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/2015/09/08/battle-of-britain-75-pt-13-biggin-hills-hardest-day-commemoration-180815/

It was a great day on the airfield, I think the best moments being the mass take off when there seemed to be aircraft wherever you looked in the sky and a similar thing when all three flights returned. Managed 16 in shot at about the same time as Mark, having positioned myself down the dead end side of the central arena to get a clear view of the sky.

Was there a problem with ML407? It landed first and went over to the Heritage Hangar rather than the main area and then did a short flight after all the other aircraft landed.

As above, great to see Dan Griffith back in the cockpit after the forced landing.

Regards,

Dan

Many thanks

Would anyone happen to know who was flying MJ627?

Don Sigournay

Would anyone happen to know who was flying MJ627?

Fantastic photos.

As for the Battle of Britain theme, we all know it’s not the march that they used….!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuI0gFUq3HY

Mark

…………………………………………..

I counted them all out and then I coun……..

Ace High March – Singular, not plural.

You say tomato I say potato….

Ron Goodwin’s score opens with the “Luftwaffe March”, later retitled “Aces High”, in the style of a traditional German military march in 6/8 time.

“Luftwaffe March [Aces High]” part of the “Battle of Britain Suite” from “Film Music of Ron Goodwin” performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Thoroughly enjoyed the day. Made a change to see Spitfires and Hurricanes behaving like a squadron.
A little piece of history relived and to reflect.
More importantly it allowed my mum to see the aircraft she had heard over head (as a child) and understand what it all meant.
She remembers V1’s and the drone of German Bombers.
For me it was a re-enactment of history. For her it was reality.

Let’s not forget the poor chaps who had to fly them!

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The title of this thread is misleading and should now be changed, possibly to Biggin Hill 75 event report or some such.

The resident L4 put in an appearance while we were waiting for the event to begin.

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