OPERATION SPANHOE – THIS WEEKEND

Couldnt have put it better – and all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Research –

Well done to all concerned!

TT

We had a fantastic weekend. Thought you might like to see the email sent to those who took part in the flying side of the event.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
__________________________

Hello there,

What a weekend. Thanks a million for the great displays you all flew in trying conditions on Saturday and today. At times the dramatic cloud buildups and blue skies between created a magnificent backdrop.

Spanhoe has altered enormously since 1945 but enough remains to give an impression of that wartime architecture which characterises all those airfields built so quickly to make the springboard from which victory emerged 60 years ago. As many of the displays were flown in aircraft that dated back to that time it gave our largely local audience a taste of what it must have been like in those days. In particular the large numbers of children and young folk had a real history lesson on an unforgettable period of our 20th century past.

Those American veterans from the 315th TCG of the 9th USAAF who flew the C47 Skytrains out of Spanhoe in 1944/5 enjoyed themselves enormously despite a hectic transit to and from the USA in a USAF 315th TCG C17 Globemaster III. All well over 80 years young but the glint in their eyes was that of a 20 year old.

The weather could have been kinder but you have all given us a memory to cherish. Thanks again.

It was indeed a pleasure to have been your display director for the event.

Sincerely,

Barry Tempest FRAeS
(Trapper 69)

Some Pics from Saturday

For anybody wondering about where to go today I can recommend Spanhoe. Myself and Fergy1 plus Uncle and Aunt spent a great day there yesterday in spite of the weather – I don’t think so many people have been crammed in to the museum hangar in one go before during one bad spell! :p
The flying was very well done and sprinkled in with some vehicles and reenactors on the ground. The first item was an aerial attack between an ‘Auster’ and a Focke-Wulf. Although not quite period they both put on a good show with pyrotechnics added.
The Belgian Gemini also put on a good show in challenging conditions as the wind was gusting a lot as the tail end of a storm went through.
The T33 put on a good display during one of the frequent blue sky spells making good use of the gap in the clouds to put on a full aerobatic routine. This was then followed by a C17 from the 315th troop carrying regiment paying tribute to their predecessors who flew from Spanhoe.
There were also displays from P51D Janie and a full aerobatic display from a locally based trainer. However the camera batteries had packed up! 🙁

Bugger me- a horde of oags – or oagers? 🙂 look forward to it mate

All the best

Ben

Hi Ben
could also be there with Mrs OAG and three monsters!!!!!
Will try to find you and say “hello!!”
rgds
colin
oxfordshire aviation group

www.communigate.co.uk/oxford/oag

See ya there then!

I might drop in on the Sunday with my two monsters as I return them to their mum… Sounds like it’ll be a good event

I can cope with a £2 price hike in 24 hours – Is it because of the CAA enforced costs?
(Sorry bad joke)

Will probably be there on the Saturday myself.

I’ll be on the (small) museum stand matey on the sat – do introduce yourself – i think there may be a few dodge ambulances and a LOT of people in uniform!

Alex – we havent had the event yet – gizza chance!

Not sure a C-47 will fit in the hangars at Spanhoe – an Auster is a Squeeze! Had a recce last night – should be a fab weekend!

i know buddy, i know 🙂

Alex

I’ll be on the (small) museum stand matey on the sat – do introduce yourself – i think there may be a few dodge ambulances and a LOT of people in uniform!

Alex – we havent had the event yet – gizza chance!

Not sure a C-47 will fit in the hangars at Spanhoe – an Auster is a Squeeze! Had a recce last night – should be a fab weekend!

Hi just a quick one to say that me and Fergy1 will be there on the sat with our Dodge ambulance. Should be a good show, according to another forum there will be around 200 re-enactors from all sides especially US 82nd airborne (the 505th PIR left from Spanhoe for D-day). Aircraft in attendance will apparently include a C-47 in the Hangar.

Hope to see some of you there, look for the green vehicle with ‘discrete’ red crosses, shouldn’t be too many there!! :p :p

No Sally B though

shall i rant again about insurance……..no cus i might explode.

decided, Not gonna insure the beech when it flies, they can sue me cus i don’t give a Flying fig

pics mate, we want the pics! 😀

Alex

Erm sorry – tickets are a £5

Janie will be there – assorted chipmunks tigers and austers- flypast by C-17 which has flown veterans in from Charleston AFB, Eurofighter and Spit on the Sunday – am afraid thats all i know!

Thinking of going.

Any idea what aircraft will be taking part ?