Greetings all.
Hope you won’t mind a yank on your forum.
I’ve been a mavin of aircraft since I was a boy, especially fighter aircraft flown in Europe during the Second World War: My favorite, of course, being the Spitfire, more particularly the Mk1a, which, to my eye, is the most beautiful object ever made by man, period.
I’ve always felt that I was somewhat of an anachronism: I should have been a pilot in 610 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. Ask any American what was the most important battle of the Second World War, and they’ll answer “D-Day,” “Battle of the Bulge,” “Iwo Jima,” when, in fact, THE most important battle of the war was the Battle of Britain: Such an epic struggle, such a just cause, the likes of which we’ll probably never see again.
I have my pilot’s license and have about 200 hours total time on various aircraft (nothing approaching a WW2 fighter.) The one item on my bucket list is to fly a Spitfire Mk1 or Mk2 over Britain on 15 September.
I reverence names such as R.J. Mitchell, Sydney Camm, Hugh Dowding, Keith Park, Adolph Malan, Alan Deere, Robert Stanford-Tuck, Mr. Churchill, and, of course, Robert Watson Watt. My attention is drawn when I hear locations such as Biggin Hill, Hornchurch, Manston, Kenley, Tangmere, Middle Wallop.
I look forward to meeting many of you through this forum. Tally-Ho!
By: Andy in Beds - 24th October 2012 at 17:30
This one in fact.
By: Andy in Beds - 24th October 2012 at 08:02
Newforest.
You seem very keen to prove your educational and intellectual superiority over this new contributor.
Why don’t you give him a chance to contribute and then decide?
Watson Watt.
Welcome firstly.
Secondly, not everyone in Britain is a snob (intellectual or otherwise) so keep posting and don’t be put off.
Apart from John Boyle, who being married to a Brit and having served his country over here for some years, is almost naturalised British, we don’t have that many yanks here these days.
My area of interest is an earlier war and earlier aviation but I do have a favourite picture from the 1940 era. That being pilots of 32 Sqn. on the grass in front of their Hurricanes.
Andy
By: Newforest - 24th October 2012 at 07:47
[QUOTE=Watson Watt;1942919}
Also, it will be wonderful to chat with fellows who speak the King’s English. Proper grammar is practically non-existent in this colony. Every so often I must watch “My Fair Lady” just to hear Rex Harrison speak proper English and bring some sanity back into my life.[/QUOTE]
Welcome. Just to bring you up to date with foreign news, we have a Queen now, actually for quite a few years! ;):D
By: Watson Watt - 24th October 2012 at 05:00
Hello WW, and welcome to the Forum.
You will certainly attract many friends on here if you continue writing in those terms, many of us having a passion for one of Britain’s greatest fighting machines.
I am wondering why you would have chosen to be a pilot of 610 Squadron? It is a squadron very close to my heart and one which was formed and operated at Hooton Park, an airfield just down the road from me here on the Wirral.
Only yesterday I was doing a talk (as one of ten speakers at a 30th anniversary “do” for the Clwyd Aviation Group) on crashed 610 Spitfires which my group have excavated in the last decade or so. I may be able to help you if you need any further information about the squadron.
Looking forward to exchanging messages with you at some time.
Anon.
One of the most famous pictures of Spits during the BoB is Spitfire DW-K: It has always stuck in my mind, ever since boyhood. Here’s a link to 610’s website, but you probably know of it. http://www.610squadron.com/about.php?cmd=about_pilota
I also like the quotes from the movie “Battle of Britain.” I can see we’ll get along quite well.
Referring back to my use of the word “mavin,” although my spelling is the lesser-used form, I retract the use of that word as it implies one having expertise; allow me to substitute “mavin” with the word “devotee.”
Also, it will be wonderful to chat with fellows who speak the King’s English. Proper grammar is practically non-existent in this colony. Every so often I must watch “My Fair Lady” just to hear Rex Harrison speak proper English and bring some sanity back into my life.
By: waghorn41 - 23rd October 2012 at 19:00
Welcome to the forum WW
By: xtangomike - 23rd October 2012 at 15:19
” We don’t need big wigs, or small wigs, we need members on our forum”.
Welcome here Sir, its enough to make you weep. We can teach monkeys to write better than us.
Truly…welcome Watson Watt…look , learn and perhaps …laugh.
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd October 2012 at 13:16
Hello and welcome
Hello WW, and welcome to the Forum.
You will certainly attract many friends on here if you continue writing in those terms, many of us having a passion for one of Britain’s greatest fighting machines.
I am wondering why you would have chosen to be a pilot of 610 Squadron? It is a squadron very close to my heart and one which was formed and operated at Hooton Park, an airfield just down the road from me here on the Wirral.
Only yesterday I was doing a talk (as one of ten speakers at a 30th anniversary “do” for the Clwyd Aviation Group) on crashed 610 Spitfires which my group have excavated in the last decade or so. I may be able to help you if you need any further information about the squadron.
Looking forward to exchanging messages with you at some time.
Anon.
By: Bob - 23rd October 2012 at 13:00
Even in “our English” the word has escaped my attention – I must move in the circles of the illiterate…
By: Newforest - 23rd October 2012 at 09:38
In ‘our’ English the word is maven! 😉
By: Bob - 23rd October 2012 at 09:11
“mavin” – there’s a new word for my lexicon!
Take a ticket and join the queue for the Spitfire flight 😉
By: Bager1968 - 23rd October 2012 at 08:04
PS: Do use the search function. When it’s working you’ll find tons and tons of posts with answers to your questions.
However, recently I’ve had better luck using Google to find threads on specific targets on this board than when using the search (mis)function on the board.
By: Seafuryfan - 23rd October 2012 at 07:29
Hello Watson (as you’re keen on things Bristish, should we call you ‘Doctor?’ 🙂 )Welcome to the forum.
Be ready for some dry humour, the odd bit of acerbic wit, and bags of enthusiasm for old aeroplanes. I hope you enjoy your time here.
Regards,
SFF
PS: Do use the search function. When it’s working you’ll find tons and tons of posts with answers to your questions.
By: STORMBIRD262 - 23rd October 2012 at 04:48
G’ day mate, welcome to the forum I think it you will fit like a glove:D
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October 23, 2012 at 3:51 am