..to Becka and Nick for organising the film show.
Attendance was a bit like a ‘Kamikaze Pilots reunion dinner’ but I for one greatly appreciated the chance to see ‘Angels one five’ in pin sharp black and white on the big screen.
Credits for the main participating aircraft always goes to the Portuguese Air Force for loaning five airworthy Hurricanes along with three from RAF stock. I had always suspected some Spitfires were used on set, apart from the period wartime footage, and sure enough at least two are clearly visible as back drop dressing. For this 1952 film, as high back aircraft, there is a good chance they were the exhibition flight aircraft K9942, X4590 or possibly P9444…..I feel some research coming on. 🙂
A very enjoyable evening.
Mark

Hi
Yes, thanks to Becka and Nick
I really enjoyed seeing the film on the big screen and I didn’t get his name but would someone pass my thanks onto the projectionist who gave us such a wonderful tour of the projection room.
Many thanks, for those that didn’t attend you missed a good little afternoon.
Cheers
Andy 🙂 🙂 🙂

601 Sqn.

Is this any help??

Walrus.

James
I agree.
Rather than people endlessly speculating about why this airframe or that airframe is/isn’t going to be al Duxford this year/next year why don’t they save up for a ticket and go to the country in question??
A bit of travel does after all broaden one’s horizons.

I think I shell stat saving for my 2006 ticket to NZ shortly–for WOW not the Walrus!!
Cheers
Andy

In what way Phillip? Most posters here would disagree with you over the Bomber Command Hall I think. The way the Fairey Battle has been shoved in a corner behind some temporary fencing for months & months is disgraceful.

Perhaps you’d care to elabourate?

I disagree about the music too.
I’m not saying you want endless Vera Lynn or George Formby but some contemporary music for the period can really add a bit of atmosphere.

War being generally a young mans business, the music in my opinion should reflect that too.
My dad who was 18 in 1941 liked Jazz, Black Jazz and I suspect the wilder the better.
He thought Vera Lynn was for old fuddy-duddy types.

So how about a bit of Louis Armstrong playing in these places. I bet that’s what a lot of teenage aircrew were listening to.

Cheers
Andy

Can we all play too? Why only £20m? Why not £200m? Or while we’re at it, £2bn?

Mike
you need to double this–make 4bn!!
We could call it the Republic of East Anglia Air Force. You get to pick what we buy first!
Cheers
Andy 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

Belt- or drum-fed? I almost dread to hear the answer…

Steve
if you’re refering to my post above. They were Lewis guns and therefore drum-fed. The RFC came up with a ninety seven round Lewis drum as opposed to the 47 round drum as used by the infantry.
As the Lewis gun had such a propensity for jamming I can’t imagine the whole 97 rounds were ever fired off without a hitch.
I think the 97 round drum was an invention by another NCO armourer, anyone got his name??
Cheers
Andy

Technology…

Whalebone
I think if some sort of measurement of technological progress could be arrived at, you would also find that technology advanced as quickly between 1914-1918 as it did between 1939-45.

As Melv always points out The Great war lasted only 51 Months and in that time aircraft went from looking like The Bristol Boxkite to the HP V/1500 and Martinsyde Buzzard.
Quite some progress.
Andy

Geoff
try here mate
http://www.firstworldwar.com/audio/rosesofpicardy.htm

It worked on my machine.
I just wanted to sat also that while I would never downplay the efforts made by my Father’s generation between 1939 and 45, I find the events of 1914 to 1918 moving beyond words and that song gets me too.

Cheers
Andy