The second shot has caught the light on the prop and leading edge just right. Great shot.
mmitch.

Originally posted by SteveYoung
I can’t remember exactly where I read this, but it was quite recently. Possibly in ‘First Light’? I’ve lent my copy to a friend so can’t check.

There was a Spitfire which managed to find it’s way back from the French coast to the Biggin Hill area with a dead pilot at the controls.

The aeroplane was seen to dive away from an engagement (presumably the action in which the pilot had been killed), level itself out gradually, and continue on it’s heading, which incredibly took it in a straight line back towards Biggin Hill. The account I read said that the Spitfire passed close to Biggin, but then disappeared.

It was then found some time (weeks?) later, lodged in amongst some tree tops, where amazingly it had landed itself when the fuel ran out. The pilot was still aboard, but had evidently been killed in the action over the French coast by a cannon shell to the head.

When found, the aeroplane was only a couple of miles from Biggin Hill.

I read it in Bob Stanford Tucks bio. I think the pilot was named Howard Hill and possably from 92 squadron.
mmitch.

Two things come to mind about a steam powered bomber.
1. At the altitude (20-30,000′) The air pressure is much lower than ground level and look at the thickness and weight of a ground level one.
2. Think of the temperature difference and the contrails!
Nice story tho.
There was the Rolls Royce Vulture which used steam (to cool?)
but this was a rare failure for Rolls.
mmitch.

Originally posted by YakRider
All the new stuff due at Kennet – Gannets, Seafire, Skyraider (already @ NW)…

YR

Any idea when the Gannet will move from Chatham? I had read somewhere else that it had already moved, but I didn’t believe it as I didn’t read it here!
mmitch.

That beats Hendon pre war displays coloured ribbons.
mmitch.:)

The Stirling suffered by being the first heavy bomber on which (perhaps) lessons were learned. The prototype crash landed at the end of its first flight because of the weak and very tall undercarriage. It still amazes me that the Stirling could take off and land at Rochester! A former workmate trained as a tail gunner and started on Stirlings but was always grateful that he was transferred to Lancs. He told me that 18,000′ was normal, loaded. They were useful as glider tugs though.
mmitch.