Chailey gets it right, Moggy gets it confused.

Good grief, I’m going nowhere near jets, seems they’ll take your hair off if you get too close!!!!!!

Certainly a good set of foreheads there 🙂

Moggy

Pity a nice shot is spoilt by the inclusion of those three balding individuals in the foreground 😀

However it was noted later, that in conversation over a pint at the Plough Inn after the show, he rated the Polish version of the fairer sex to be of a much higher quality that it’s English counterpart and claimed these two “ladies” as honorary Poles.

(1) IIRC EN830 was the one to express his gladness at having so many representatives of the Polish version of the fairer sex (‘Pvotfs’) in his current area of residence, and it was him who stressed the easily noticeable visual difference between said ‘Pvotfs’ and its English counterpart. (I believe all those present understood his comment to be of a general statistical nature, and not referring to any individuals in particular.)
(2) Said two ladies were not ‘honorary’ Poles. They are both direct descendants of a Polish airman (this being the reason for their presence there and then) which tells a lot in view of para (1) above.
(3) Said pint may serve as a plausible excuse for the inconsistence in the testimonies delivered here by those present during the conversation in question.
I rest my case.

, but to two members of the fairer sex, I kept my distance as I didn’t want to cramp their style.

Were you wearing the famous sandals?

Babe magnet?

Mark

It was noticed that at one point VoyTech and his entourage were not paying much attention to the airshow, but to two members of the fairer sex, I kept my distance as I didn’t want to cramp their style. However it was noted later, that in conversation over a pint at the Plough Inn after the show, he rated the Polish version of the fairer sex to be of a much higher quality that it’s English counterpart and claimed these two “ladies” as honorary Poles.

Hear, hear, Voytech. Sorry I didn’t get to see you there, were you there both days?

Yes, Sir! EN830 said he’d seen you, but wasn’t able to locate you then.

As for the modern Polish markings, a group of us from here are off to the photocall for the Su-22s at Coltishall on Thursday, so I’ll check it first hand! 😀

When you’re there, have a look at the history room. And say hello to Mick Jennings if you happen to run into him.

I plead guilty as charged on the subject of Gabszewicz’ various aircraft – perhaps you should do a book on the subject, similar to the one on Zumbach’s Donalds 😉

I’ll try to 🙂

Mark12, The Mustang photo you showed us was not at Coolham. This is a Mustang I of no. 309 (Polish) Squadron during their Tac Recce operations in 1942/43 and they never used Coolham at the time as it wasn’t an airfield then.

VoyTech

This is an original negative.

All I can say is that is what has been written on the neg. envelope by GS but I am sure you are correct.

Mark

all in all…..Chailey got it all right….even if I say so myself….you try running an airshow…I have to admit it was a big buzz…which is why I’ll do it agin and it will be better!!

Happy with the new thread title now? :p

Moggy

It’s had lots of positive feedback to me, as I wasn’t there; sounds great.

With a show under your belt, sponsorship should be a bit easier to get now!

VoyTech – as expected, a most comprehensive answer. 😉 Still, to go the whole pig (hog) we also need to reinstate the Third Reich, get an Anamatronic Hitler to Invade Poland, fall of France, etc, Polish Air Force in Britain again, lots of people die in a messy way… On second thoughts, no. You’ve got to draw the line somewhere!

Seriously though, thanks!

I’ll **try** (my damndest) to come next year…!!

(Cheque will be in the post for a copy of Spit and Polish ;))

all in all…..Chailey got it all right….even if I say so myself….you try running an airshow…I have to admit it was a big buzz…which is why I’ll do it agin and it will be better!!

chailey airshow

You most likely will Woitek! I ran the whole damn thing and most likely will repeat it all again! Need to sell more Spit & Polish now. I’ve had excellent feedback generally, all we need is far more of an attendance next year and I’m sure it will occur as we’ll get more enthusiasts present. It was more locals than enthusiast as one might expect due to last time. All of the display pilots seemed to enjoy it and the fly-in guys all seemed impressed. My intention is to produce more “old fashioned” type events such as this as I am sure that this type of event is what the public really like. It was reasonably priced for a show and does indeed show to other operators just what can be achieved. The show cost £80K to put on and this included a hefty slice to the landowner/farmer. £32K was the aircraft bill so it all adds up. What I now need are some early ideas on sponsorship which I shall be attending to for next year. Come on you guys…any potential sponsors lurking!

Btw. is “coolham” the opposite of gammon steak in English?

😀 😀 😀

Oi!

We’ll all start making ‘Polish, chit chat’ remarks if you persist in this 😮

Moggy 🙂

JDK, here I come.

EN830, no I haven’t made it in under 3 hours… (I still think I could have, but wasn’t given the chance!)

Mark12, yes I have been to Sikorski Institute, Kew, IWM, RAF Hendon, and all those places in less than 3 days I had in London.
The Mustang photo you showed us was not at Coolham. This is a Mustang I of no. 309 (Polish) Squadron during their Tac Recce operations in 1942/43 and they never used Coolham at the time as it wasn’t an airfield then. Coolham was an ALG established for the invasion (see the excellent “Spit & Polish” as well as “Coolham Airfield Remembered” for more details).
Btw. is “coolham” the opposite of gammon steak in English?

Re. the Polish marking: until 1993 there never was any strict ruling on the arrangement of red vs. white fields. If you look carefully at WWII pictures you will see both forms, although the red in TLH prevailed. In 1993 a new ruling in Poland said it has to be white in TLH corner. Which is just as well, because you can apply the other form on warbirds without any formal problems as technically it is not a military national marking (this is important because Polish law regarding markings of civil aircaft, including warbirds, is not as liberal as in some other countries).

Apart from ‘those roundels’, the rather strange, straight mask on the camouflage underneath the ‘G’ on the starboard side, the size of Gabszewicz’ bulldog emblem and the Polish marking on the cowling (too large), style of the ‘S’ of the squadron codes is wrong, missing command pennant under the windscreen, should say ‘City of Warsaw’ where the ‘Mylcraine’ lettering from MH434’s old scheme has remained, Gabszewicz’ aircraft had cannon stubs, underwing racks and fishtail exhaust stubs, and possibly wheel discs too…….

Haven’t done your homework mate!
In general, I take the markings on MH434 for the air show as ‘a representative Gabszewicz Spitfire’. At the time he was W/Cdr and then G/Cpt, Gabszewicz flew about eight SZ-G-coded Spitfires in sequence. “City of Warsaw” was only seen on one of these. The boxing dog motif varied in size on each. The style of SZ-G letters also wasn’t the same on all. At least one of those Spits (MH314) did not have outer stubs. At least two (MH314 and EN526) did not have underwing bomb racks.
If MH434 was to be very correct for the occasion, she should have worn D-Day bands and the full set of markings as seen on NH342 (look at the cover of ‘Spit and Polish’). So, the 316 Sqn badge should be under the windscreen, the dog much smaller and further aft, etc. Early style undercarriage should also have been retrofitted (no scissor links on oleo legs) and the headrest removed as this was not fitted to Mk IX Spitfires at all. Further, you should remove some aerials, to say nothing about refitting the guns and ammo. Ah, and there should have been the “WYCIERAC OBUWIE” (“WIPE YOUR SHOES”) stencil under the cockpit.
To sum up, I think this has been about the most accurate Polish warbird scheme done entirely by the Brits I have ever seen. 😉
Big THANK YOU to all those involved in having it!

All in all, I don’t recall when was the last time I enjoyed an air show as much as this one. Great thanks to all those involved in setting the thing up. I can’t wait to see it all happen again.

Voy Tech.

Where are you when we need you?

At that Sikorski Institute in London, I’ll be bound.

Mark

Still attempting to get from Yeovilton to Hastings in under 3 hours during the rush hour I guess 😀

Nice username, SP-OOK.
Thanks Moggy

Has the actual reg been allocated?
No idea, G-INFO does not go that far 🙂

Moggy

I will find out one day and report it immidiately to you sir 😀

Nice username, SP-OOK.

Has the actual reg been allocated?

Moggy

i try to help you my friends with those polish check boards.
as far as i can establish from another website the board has changed 3 times.

from 1918 -1921 red was in TLH but there was no boarder around, just four squares
between 1921 – 1993 the borders were added
from 1993 cause of gov ruling, red is now in BLH corner. and opposite color borders retained.

hope this helps someone out there.

Check mate.

Voy Tech.

Where are you when we need you?

At that Sikorski Institute in London, I’ll be bound.

Mark