As I mentioned on the Southend thread, the weather here is absolutely appalling, I can’t think of any time in my long life that I’ve seen a Bank Holiday like it, it’s been so terrible over the last couple of days.
About 20 mins ago madam and I were standing in at the kitchen door contemplating the torrential, horizontal rain, when we heard the roar of approaching aircraft engines. Suddenly a B-25, flying extremely fast, dodging and weaving and at very low altitude to get below the cloud base, came roaring across the woods behind us, obviously bravely heading for DX as fast and low as possible and looking for all the world as if he was lining up for a low level raid on Wethersfield. Boy, was that impressive, whoever was flying it deserves a medal, it really was the business, it was something I’ll not forget for a long long time, we get a lot of stuff over here, but nothing like that.
A small, shaky voice in the background said, ‘Do B-25’s have windscreen wipers’. Nice one, I hope he got home safely.
By: dezz - 26th May 2008 at 22:28
Southend airshow’
My self and Mrs dezz took a trip over there today, despite the weather. And I have to say a big thank you to the pilots and aeroplanes that did and did not display. The weather was, to say the least, fowl. As someone once said “even the birds were walking”. I have never been so glad not to see the BBMF. Wise decisions made by all. A shame the weather was not with us, and the organisers, but it looked as bumpy as $h1t up there and visibility was in the range of yards, as was the cloud base.
dezz
By: Pete Truman - 26th May 2008 at 16:33
It’s my lucky day, the Cat has just come by in similar circumstances, what next, I have the camera poised this time Nash, I’ll get back to treating my Pergola posts in the dry of the shed.
By: 24 Threshold - 26th May 2008 at 16:09
‘Mitchell 320’ visited Duxford today.
By: trumper - 26th May 2008 at 14:38
:)My neighbour braved the weather and popped along to Madingley this morning,there were 4 x F15’s [they flew right over my house at a few hundred feet as the cloud base was quite low ] and a B25 and the Tanker.:)
Now ,my neighbour isn’t a plane spotter but he says the B25 was the Duke of Brabants one,NOT “Grumpy”.
By: Pete Truman - 26th May 2008 at 14:18
Pete
The Madingley ceremony is on the Bank Holiday Monday and this morning we had the KC-135 (see below) and 3x F-15s flying circles around St Ives, Cambs, waiting for the fly past but from other Forums there is no mention of the B-25. Mind you it was chucking it down with rain at the time when the jets were flying around.
Brian
It must have been acting as a stand in for Sally-B then.
Anyway, lets hope it went off OK, and let us spare a thought for our US collegues, that flyby certainly made you think of the realities of the past.
By: Propstrike - 26th May 2008 at 14:17
Jeff Hawke would have approved !
I saw something similar a few years ago, as the B25 positioned from DX to Fairford on a very thick afternoons , a grey thundering apparition whipping through the lowest tendrils of cloud at about 700 feet heading for the Chiltern ridge somewhere near Princes Risborough-must have had balls like Space-Hoppers!
By: Denis - 26th May 2008 at 14:11
I have it on good authority that the B-25 was at the Madingley Memorial this morning.
Well spotted Peter, I can imagine what a sight that was!
By: Pen Pusher - 26th May 2008 at 13:25
Pete
The Madingley ceremony is on the Bank Holiday Monday and this morning we had the KC-135 (see below) and 3x F-15s flying circles around St Ives, Cambs, waiting for the fly past but from other Forums there is no mention of the B-25. Mind you it was chucking it down with rain at the time when the jets were flying around.
Brian
By: Pete Truman - 26th May 2008 at 13:02
Why heading for Duxford Pete?. If it’s the Duke of Brabants, surely it would head back home to the continent. I haven’t heard of ‘Grumpy’ arriving back at DX yet.
Any way I’m off to Duxford tomorrow so I’ll have a look see.:D
Brian
He was heading north, then from what I could see through the murk swung left towards DX, it’s the usual route from here. I know, I told madam it may have been that particular B-25, perhaps he was following weather systems and took a devious route, or maybe he’s gone off for a deserved party and a few beers.
I thought Madingley was yesterday by the way.
Sorry Nashio, I always keep the cameras lurking, but this was one of those jaw on chest moments where you tend to freeze up.
By: Pen Pusher - 26th May 2008 at 12:55
obviously bravely heading for DX
Why heading for Duxford Pete?. If it’s the Duke of Brabants, surely it would head back home to the continent. I haven’t heard of ‘Grumpy’ arriving back at DX yet.
Any way I’m off to Duxford tomorrow so I’ll have a look see.:D
Brian
Edit: I’ll answer for you Pete: B-25 taking part in Maddingley ceremony so heading for DX.
Brian
By: Nashio966 - 26th May 2008 at 12:43
lucky so and so that sounds awesome did you manage any pictures 🙂
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May 26, 2008 at 12:41 pm