This is the thread for the forum Battle of Britain ‘At home’.
To ‘appear’ at the ‘At home’ all you have to do is post on this thread the type, unit, serial number, & a photo, of the aircraft that you would like to bring. It could be a survivor of the battle, from a squadron that took part in the battle, or just an aircraft that would have been at an ‘At home’ on the date below. If you wish, you may ‘bring’ an aircraft from a museum, or storage.
Please do not just say ‘Spitfire IX’, you need to specify a particular aircraft, ie MH434.
The ‘date’ of the ‘At home’ is the weekend of 17th/18th September 1955. All aircraft posted MUST have been extant on that date.
You can ‘arrive’ today, or over the weekend.
RAF Forum awaits you.
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th September 2003 at 12:43
Just to be different, I’ll pitch up in an aeroplane which, while it didn’t play any significant part in the Battle, did in fact enter service with 25 Sqn at that time. The Beaufighter 1F.
The particular aircraft that I’ll arrive in is X7688, built in late 1941, and flew operationally during 1942 with 153Sqn, and in the early part of 1943 with 29Sqn. She was then issued to 1SoTT at RAF Halton, where she became the Cockpit Classroom (shown below). She was finally dismantled and stored in 1970, was acquired by Skysport Engineering in 1987, and is still extant today.
Unfortunately I can’t remember where I found the image, so can’t accurately credit anyone.
By: von Perthes - 15th September 2003 at 11:50
Today and every day.
By: Mark12 - 15th September 2003 at 07:53
Well Geoff,
Just enough Spitfires for the ‘Missing man formation’
Today we will remember them.
Mark
By: Mark12 - 14th September 2003 at 08:35
Geoff,
We worked through the night.
‘Clive Dunn’ at Vinfabs did the paint job.
Here is a shot of my good lady departing Cranfield at 08.00 this morning. 😉
Mark
Credit photo:- Rev (the late) John Rawlings. Biggin Hill, Sept. 1950
By: Ant.H - 13th September 2003 at 22:22
Think my mount would just have to be Spitfire 1A R6915 from IWM Lambeth,a genuine BofB veteran woth 609Sqn and the highest scoring survivor with atleast 6 kills,most of those in the hands of Noel ‘Aggy’ Agazarian,the French/Armenian who made quite a name for himself wherever he went.Sadly he was killed in a tank-busting Hurri in the Western Desert a year or so later.
Would be grand to see old ‘915 brought down from the rafters and flown if only for one last time.
Good luck getting that collinder of a Mk.22 flying again Mark12,didn’t know you could put so many holes in one Spit and still have it more or less in one piece!
By: mmitch - 13th September 2003 at 19:32
I would also bring a Spitfire 1A, AR213 ( G-AIST) It was the first Spit I saw up close, at Silverstone in the late 70s. It was owned by the Hon. Patrick Lindsay then and Tony Bianchi who looked after it gave a breathtaking display during the lunch break. I was a motor racing nut then but that day steered me back towards aviation.
mmitch.
By: Mark12 - 13th September 2003 at 17:38
Geoff,
Not many visitors yet. They must be held up with that front that is going through.
We have problems with the wings on PK665 so my wife is bringing the reserve 22 – PK519. It is in a bit of state having been out on the Larkhill Ranges for a good few years. It was those bl..dy ‘parafin burners’ that did the damage. However I have the appropriate Battle Damage Repair Schemes AP and am confident I will have her fixed and in the paintshop by later this evening. She will be coming as V6-A of 615 Sqd.
Mark
Photo credit. Peter Foote via Chris Michell Collection. 10 June 1966
By: von Perthes - 13th September 2003 at 08:43
It might not be Battle of Britain, but my choice is Dornier Do217M-1 Werk Nr 56158/AIR MIN 107. This aircraft was scrapped in late 1955/early 1956, having in storage for eventual museum display since late 1946.
By: EN830 - 13th September 2003 at 08:07
Sorry Guy’s missed the point really, I was a bit worse for wear when I first read this posting.
By: Dan Johnson - 13th September 2003 at 07:08
I think I’ll fly in at the controls of Spitfire Mk 1a P9306. It was the first Spit I ever saw for real back in about 1968 at the impresionable age of 8. It lead to a load of Spitfire models built and a lifelong passion.
While it’s not a clipped wing Spit XII, my favorite Spit, I don’t know that I could get away with bringing EN224 as I don’t know that there was really enough left to bring in 55.
I’d bring a clipped wing XVIe like Mark12 as they come in a close second to the XII, but in keeping with the spirit of the B of B, P9306 makes a good choice.
Of course she’d be nicely restored to her B of B markings of 74 Squadron
Dan
By: EN830 - 12th September 2003 at 22:39
Sqn Leader Robert S Woodward, in Whirlwind 1 P6991 HE-R of 263 Sqn.
Robert served with 600 Sqn during the BOB and survived being shot down by a 604 Sqn Beaufighter in 1941 as well as bailing out after loosing his instruments in a Beaufighter 11f in September 41.
He lost his life off of Jersey 7 December 1942 in a Whirlwind.
By: Mark12 - 12th September 2003 at 16:37
Geoff,
I am going to fly in this beat up old Mk XVI Spitfire TB885.
She was still just about in one piece when I photographed her in 1958 on the RAF Kenley dump.
Don’t worry she will look resplendent in her 322 Sqd markings and Code 3W-V that she wore in April 1945.
Provided we can sort out the wings in time, my good lady will be in the Mk 22 behind it, PK665, in silver livery and the codes DW-E of 610 Sqd. Failing that she will bring her reserve Mk 22 – PK519.
We will be setting off this Friday evening for the fun.
Mark 😉 🙂
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September 12, 2003 at 3:12 pm