Page 11 – Key Publishing

DCK

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 15 posts - 151 through 165 (of 1,043 total)

← 1 2 3 … 10 11 12 … 68 69 70 →

Author

Posts
October 12, 2013 at 8:20 pm in reply to: Biggin A26 – And spectators who watch but don't contribute #1004689

DCK
Participant

At Duxford for example as far as I am aware there isn’t a designated emergency area. There is the runway and then anywhere you can set down in an emergency.

Fowlmere?

October 12, 2013 at 8:13 am in reply to: Any of you chaps know what this means? #1005481

DCK
Participant

My first reaction on reading your story was “what a wonderful book or film it would make”. It certainly deserves a wider audience. This forum is frequented by people who are bringing “extinct” aircraft back to life from small fragments. Perhaps it’s
not too late to do the same for Leif Lundsten’s life story.

I agree, but the first hand witnesses are just not there any longer.

October 11, 2013 at 7:50 pm in reply to: Any of you chaps know what this means? #1005819

DCK
Participant

Thanks for telling the story. How tragic! Often the personal lives of the airmen, soldiers, sailors, etc are ignored or forgotten by history but hearing stories like this makes their passing all the more poignant.

Very true.

I talked to his friend from middle school a few days ago. Perhaps the only person left around here now that actually knew him. He felt not disappointed, but rather sad that “all was too late” meaning this whole thing about Lundsten started too late. Should have done this in the 60’s or 70’s, but I realise research was harder then and the War still fresh in peoples memories. But to not have “saved” this young mans life story in some way or the other is bitterly disappointing. What is left are small fragments. Photos, a log book, combat reports and a couple of short stories.

October 11, 2013 at 7:08 pm in reply to: Any of you chaps know what this means? #1005882

DCK
Participant

Didn’t dare to try the number. Scared it might take me back in time or something!

Pilots name was Leif Lundsten. He was engaged to Sheila Lee. Norwegian nationality. 331 squadron. Test pilot at RAF Worthy Down in 1943. Flew the last Mk XII for example.
Went back to 331 spring of 1944 and was supposed to lead the squadron during the invasion of Europe. Perished after being hit by friendly fire from the Royal Navy of all things.

Grew up just a short drive from me actually, therefore the special interest.

Sheila, according to the phone books, stayed in 292 Earls Court Road at least until 1962, remaining “miss” the entire time. If the books are to believed. Some time in the 50s her name
suddenly changed to Shelia, but I expect it to be a typo.

Sheila Lee was to be notified if something happened to Leif. His official records has her phone number written down with a pencil.

A long shot is that Sheila is actually of Canadian origin and someone Leif met while in training in Canada, but I consider the chance for slim to none. I don’t know when the two met. I expect it was 331 sqd pilot Martin Gran who later wrote her/called her/talked to her about Leifs passing, but Martin Gran passed away quite some time ago – so that connection is lost forever.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]221877[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]221878[/ATTACH]

October 10, 2013 at 8:06 pm in reply to: Any of you chaps know what this means? #1006856

DCK
Participant

I’d be more than happy to find out, but the flight is long and the taxi fares in London quite horrible!

October 10, 2013 at 7:34 pm in reply to: Any of you chaps know what this means? #1006876

DCK
Participant

I’m reviving this old thread.

I found her.

Miss Sheila Lee.

292 Earls Court Rd SW5

Celebrating the wonders of the internet tonight.

October 8, 2013 at 5:54 pm in reply to: Duxford Diary 2013 #1009478

DCK
Participant

Isn’t there a 3rd under restoration at Kemble?

http://www.423.no/

The Norwegian one?

October 3, 2013 at 3:40 pm in reply to: Masters Of The Air – A Bit Of Forum Fun #932359

DCK
Participant

I’d rather watch it before making fun of it.

September 30, 2013 at 6:27 pm in reply to: Seafire Mk.46 LA564 – A man with a hobby #934938

DCK
Participant

Like collecting stamps, surely

September 20, 2013 at 8:25 pm in reply to: Interesting Photo collection #944333

DCK
Participant

Highly interesting but the watermark and the small size just turns me off.

September 20, 2013 at 7:06 pm in reply to: RAF station "HP" #944508

DCK
Participant

HIGH POST AERODROME by NORMAN PARKER
Monograph No.18 – High Post Aerodrome- an illustrated account by Norman Parker, traces the development of the site of this grass aerodrome from its opening in 1930, through its WW2 career and on to present day use.

High Post was first home to a civilian flying club, then used by the Royal Artillery Flying Club alongside the civilian one. Next came the RCAF and the RAF before it became a production and test flight centre for military aircraft for most of WW2. After the war it returned to civilian flying, but closed in 1947 after a short life of 17 years. A small part is now used for industry, but most of the land has now returned to agriculture.

The monograph is illustrated with many old maps and archive pictures of buildings and aircraft, the latter including the Robinson Redwing; Simmonds Spartan; Gypsy Moth; the prototype Spiteful and the Cagnet undergoing trials.
To buy extra copies, please see information on the SWIAS Publications page.

I think that makes more sense indeed. MB882 came off the production line at High Post perhaps?

September 20, 2013 at 6:52 pm in reply to: RAF station "HP" #944541

DCK
Participant

Could it be Hooton Park? Leif Lundsten flew MB882 several times, the first on the 24th of September 1943. Coincidentally, that is also the first record of the fighter according to Spitfire Production list. Could it be that he picked it up for the flight down to Worthy Down? He writes in his log book (and quite right) that it’s the last XII produced.

September 20, 2013 at 9:20 am in reply to: SPITFIRE F MK X11.MB882. photo & enquiry. #945205

DCK
Participant

Zombie thread it sure but going thru Leif Lundstens logbook I noticed this one.

On the 21st of October 1943, Leif Lundsten took this brand new machine from Worthy Down (most likely?) to Hornchurch. Then he flew to North Weald to say hello to his former collegues. I would take a guess that anyone being there that day would be impressed by this new and slightly different looking Spitfire compared to the Norwegians IX and Vb versions. From North Weald he took it to Wolly Down.

September 8, 2013 at 5:25 pm in reply to: P-47 & P-61 in Beijing #958603

DCK
Participant

Wonder if any are for sale. I hear things are cheap in China. Perhaps within my budget!

August 31, 2013 at 4:15 pm in reply to: Duxford Diary 2013 #965791

DCK
Participant

No way any of those Irish colors are cute
Author

Posts

Viewing 15 posts - 151 through 165 (of 1,043 total)

← 1 2 3 … 10 11 12 … 68 69 70 →