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Charley

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Viewing 8 posts - 196 through 203 (of 203 total)
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  • December 9, 2004 at 7:16 pm in reply to: Whirlwinds #1393887
    Charley
    Participant

    A Whirlwind is long overdue…

    A replica Whirlwind F-B would be very welcome. There are at least two cockpit sections under construction and the possibility of a full-size rebuild in progress. The Defiant replica in the Boulton-Paul museum shows a good example of how an unfashionable aircraft can be an attractive exhibit in replica form. I’m happy to offer support to anyone pursuing a Whirlwind rebuild project.

    November 19, 2004 at 10:12 pm in reply to: Interesting Defiant variant (and new model) #1419166
    Charley
    Participant

    Defiant Replica in 1/1

    In response to a query earlier in this thread: there is a replica Defiant at the Boulton Paul Museum north of Wolverhampton. They only open on occasional Sundays but the place is a real Aladdins cave run by hard-working enthusiasts. They have a website if anyone wants to find when the next Open Sunday is. The replica Defiant is not perfect but provides an example of how to treat aircraft of which there are few or no examples around. Perhaps one day we might see a Whirlwind replica…

    November 17, 2004 at 10:16 pm in reply to: Aircraft Dumped & buried at Kenley? (2004 Zombie) #1423016
    Charley
    Participant

    Buried Whirlwind?

    In this age of radar, it may not be impossible to find if the Whirlwind remains are buried and what condition they are in. But who would be willing to sponsor such a project? And is it not time to bury the fool who scrapped this last Whirlwind?

    November 15, 2004 at 11:11 pm in reply to: Chemical Weapons stored by RAF during WWII #1426592
    Charley
    Participant

    Mustard Gas

    My late father was a fitter-armourer with 100 MU st South Witham. He told me at the end of the war they drove mustard gas munitions to Immingham and just dumped them in the sea. Poor Immingham!

    November 15, 2004 at 10:59 pm in reply to: Armourer – Whirlies, Tiffies, Hurris, Wimpys #1426596
    Charley
    Participant

    609

    Thanks, Snapper. I’ll check out your site. I think Bee was dad’s favourite British pilot, he always spoke of him with awe. Overall, however, dad’s interest in ground-attack warfare led him to admire Hans Ulrich Rudel as his favourite pilot of all!

    November 13, 2004 at 5:03 pm in reply to: Spitting Fire @ Duxford – an IDEA! #1430167
    Charley
    Participant

    Gas ?

    I seem to recall seeing on TV a Nanching or Yak that had been fiitted with a fake MG that appeared to fire by way of exploding bursts of gas. None of the dangers of blanks, no recoil damage to aged wings and no need to put together a working Browning 303. It looked very effective on TV. How about that as an alternative?

    November 13, 2004 at 4:49 pm in reply to: Armourer – Whirlies, Tiffies, Hurris, Wimpys #1430176
    Charley
    Participant

    609

    137 and 609 had a very close relationship at Manston. He remembered working on Bee Beamont’s Tiffie and I remember him describing the unusual gunsight that Bee had. I have recently read Tempest Over Europe which confirms that Bee had a specialist gunsight. At some point, dad also worked on Johnnie Johnson’s spit and he told me that JJ also had a specialist sight. Amongst my father’s possessions when he died I found an aircraft gunsight in it’s wooden case. I even got it powered up and projecting! But being a young fool, I sold it on to a militaria dealer. I deeply regret that now – I’d rather have donated it to a museum.

    November 13, 2004 at 4:41 pm in reply to: Chridens's Book featuring Lightnings #1430194
    Charley
    Participant

    Thunder and Lightnings

    A great book – glad so many others remember it so fondly. Very uncliched description of friendship. Jan Mark has written many other good books about children. I have never read an interview with her though where she discusses the writing of T and L. A very unusual subject for her to choose for a children’s book. Does anyone know how she can be contacted?

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