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Ross_McNeill

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June 29, 2008 at 5:30 pm in reply to: Spitfire & Hurricane to fly over Severn Valley Railway 30-6-08 13.30 hours #1216794

Ross_McNeill
Participant

HI MP,

Got to say that the Spit and Hurricane did exactly what I have seen them do before i.e. a flypast was listed and a flypast was what occurred.

The agenda for Spit and Hurricane today was Old Buckenham, Debden, Kidderminster Memorial, SVR and Liverpool. Only Liverpool and Old Buckenham were listed as display.

If the plan was for them to be over the SVR at about 13:30 hrs then they were running late so it may have been getting back on schedule that curtailed any extras.

In my experience the Dak always seems to go that bit further on flypasts. Yesterday it ran in north to south over Bewdley at about 100/150 ft turned to the west and repeated nice and slow. Tight turn again to leave over the WMSP. I then watched a series of climb/turn/dive manouvers in the distance over the Kiddy station. Reminded me of a A10 tankbuster routine. No wonder the guards were impressed.

I felt the Spit/Hurri pair did what I expected..the Dak surpassed my high expectations of it.

Ross

June 29, 2008 at 2:12 pm in reply to: Spitfire & Hurricane to fly over Severn Valley Railway 30-6-08 13.30 hours #1216979

Ross_McNeill
Participant

Watched a quick dive to low level over Wolverley, single pass over the Kidderminster memorial, climb out over Kidderminster station at 14;00 hrs.

Down to Stourport before 200 ft high speed pass south to north over Bewdley at 14:05 hrs. Blue spit in the lead with Hurricane following approx 300 yds astern.

Dak yesterday was lower and put in much more spirit.

Ross

June 28, 2008 at 3:18 pm in reply to: Spotted #1217692

Ross_McNeill
Participant

BBMF Dakota over Bewdley at 15:12 hrs. I’m about 60ft up the hill so she was only slightly above eyelevel when running in down the river.

Nice and low over the SVR station then tight turn for another pass before doing the same thing in the distance over Kidderminster station.

Looking forward to the Spit and Hurricane tomorrow.

Ross

June 18, 2008 at 2:24 pm in reply to: Newark Cockpit Fest #1229405

Ross_McNeill
Participant

My perception is that it would make no difference to me if no awards were on offer. I would still attend with what ever I had to display be it panels or cockpits.

The first year I had the Canberra I was intending to drag all 2.5 tonnes to Newark but got the call to display at Waddington instead which blew any excess in my display budget that year after local committment at Wings Day and Armistice Parade.

The next year I went to Newark, Wings Day, Armistice Parade and two British Legion functions. I feel that the Readers Award was proportional to how welcome you made the public feel about your display just as much as how memorable it was.

This year I took the Anson as an “as found” condition and had very little interest from the public but quite a bit from the enthusiast “rivit counter” type. The Anson will display at Wings Day with the Canberra doing 3 British Legion events and Armistice Parade.

The cost to me varies with each cockpit, time off work for travel is the major cost on the Canberra and trailer hire for the Anson.

I ask for no attendance fee at any event As for Newark they allow me to camp on site which is a major saving and provide one evening meal foc. Waddington contributed nothing in line with my request. The other functions donate beer money.

It is my choice what I pay to exhibit my cockpits at events. Prize money is not a consideration as to which event I exhibit at. The atmosphere and the level of public interest is.

Canberra for Cockpitfest 09 and Anson MkII (possible Mk.I and T.21 as well) at Cockpitfest 10

Regards
Ross

June 17, 2008 at 7:31 am in reply to: Newark Cockpit Fest #1231065

Ross_McNeill
Participant

Peter,

The aircraft was a composite Douglas DB 8A-3N made up from two aircraft (one shot down by own flak and one by a Me110) on 10th May 1940 over Holland.

The glove was found at the bottom of the fuselage on recovery.

A cracking display by Jan van Huuksloot. Everyone seemed to stop in their tracks when they got to it. May explain why no one has posted photos of my Anson yet…

To address the lack of record..

She is either 11524 or more likey 8249
Regards
Ross

June 6, 2008 at 7:37 pm in reply to: WW2 Aircraft Wrecks in the English channel(2008) #1239356

Ross_McNeill
Participant

Not silt but fine/coarse sand.

The bottom conditions are a barren area for all but starfish hence no bottom trawl fishing activity for crabs or shellfish.

Still air in the tyres.

Regards
Ross

June 6, 2008 at 7:09 pm in reply to: WW2 Aircraft Wrecks in the English channel(2008) #1239389

Ross_McNeill
Participant

I wouldn’t imagine there would be much left of a salt water located ww2 aircraft ,not after all this time?

Never say never Peter,

The report makes it clear that some sizeable and noteworthy wrecks remain

(There is the odd Ju88 gem in 20 metre depth within the Channel).

Enjoy
Ross

June 3, 2008 at 5:00 pm in reply to: WW2 Aircraft Wrecks in the English channel(2008) #1240751

Ross_McNeill
Participant

For chapter and verse on sea/wreck conditions and estimates of the number of losses down load and read the report.

http://blogs.wessexarch.co.uk/aircraftcrashsitesatsea/

Regards
Ross

May 29, 2008 at 8:06 am in reply to: RAF service history #1171539

Ross_McNeill
Participant

With very few exceptions the Gazette list all DFC award pre/wartime/post war.

It mirrors lists given in AIR documents at Kew.

I use the Gazette to check the details given in Carter and so far in umpteen years of research have yet to find an award not gazetted. The most common error between the sources is spelling of forenames.

Ross

May 28, 2008 at 10:40 am in reply to: RAF service history #1172634

Ross_McNeill
Participant

Hi Baz,

I checked the April 1918 list and he did not appear here so not a transfer from RFC or RNAS to the RAF.

The first Marler to appear is Eric Marler as a Pilot Officer commissioned 29 Dec 1921 (under instruction at No.5 FTS, Shotwick, Chester posted in 29 Dec 1921).

Regards
Ross

May 28, 2008 at 8:40 am in reply to: RAF service history #1172669

Ross_McNeill
Participant

Hi AA & Tom,

AA,
Glad to help. Prewar is the easiest as the lists contain most of the service information on an officer. The Times Online Archive also contain quite a bit on social events and accidents (fatal and non-fatal)

Wartime the Lists and Confidential List are a bit brief but squadron ORBs fill the gaps.

Post war is a different story with only the Lists giving sketchy information.

Tom,
I remember looking at this at the time. I could not find anything on a George Hathaway DFC and this seems to be confirmed by the other sources you have tried.

The closest Hathaway I could find was:

143605 Benjamin George Hathaway commissioned as 177166 P/O on 12/05/44.
He was promoted to F/O 12 Nov 1944 and to F/L on 12 May 1946.

After that the trail goes cold. He is not in the 1949 List so he has left the RAF by then.

No trace of wartime issue for this man of either a DFC or DFM.

Regards
Ross

May 27, 2008 at 12:27 pm in reply to: RAF service history #1173448

Ross_McNeill
Participant

Ok,

The Jan 1949 Air Force List gives

122177 Marler, G.C. as Pilot Officer 9 Jan 1943 in the RAFVR(Training Branch)

The was usually the branch where officers for the ATC or CCF were commissioned and this would hold true for him to still be a P/O in the List six years later.

No service listed as a commissioned or warrant officer prior to Oct 1940 but two other Marler D J (Engineering Branch) and Marler E (Ad) do have pre war service. They may have been relatives.

G C Marler does not feature in the 1975 Retired List.

So I think you are looking at a VR(T) officer on squadron/wing/group strength ATC or CCF.

Now we have his service number the search of the Gazette becomes much easier.

http://www.gazettes.co.uk/home.aspx?geotype=London

Using 122177 as the initial search term calls up his resignation from the VR(T) branch as a Pilot Officer wef 24 Oct 1951.

http://www.gazettes.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=39493&geotype=London&gpn=1541&type=ArchivedSupplementPage&all=122177&exact=&atleast=&similar=

Regards
Ross

May 26, 2008 at 8:30 pm in reply to: Westonzoyland News #1174125

Ross_McNeill
Participant

Matt

Kew will give the best return for your time. As said by Kev in previous posts you need to attend in person since there are so many appropriate records on your chosen subject.

Present yourself at the reception desk armed with the documents necessary for a readers card and the staff will guide you to the rooms and file retrevial methods.

Please do not expect them to do it for you, it is not their task, they are there to guide.

You are looking for the AIR27/AIR28/AIR29 series of ORBs for squadrons, station and miscellaneous units.

AIR27 series are mostly on microfilm where AIR28/AIR29 are in bound document form.

The National Archives web site is mostly a catalogue, it needs you to go there like any other traditional library to withdraw the documents and read them on the premises.

Regards
Ross

May 26, 2008 at 10:56 am in reply to: RAF service history #1174820

Ross_McNeill
Participant

Best offline source are the Air Force List and Confidential Air Force List.

These were periodically published “By Authority” and in the case of the Air Force List give the gradation (promotion) dates for each commissioned and warrant officer.

The Confidential List gives where serving and dates of posting in.

A near complete collection of Air Force List is open to public inspection in the Microfilm Reading Room at The National Records Office,Kew.

Most of this information is also available online at the Online London Gazette archive section but I find this most difficult to use.

A number of copies of the Confidential list survive at Kew but these are only available through the document reading room.

I’ll look up my war/post war files tomorrow and see what I have on your man.

Regards
Ross

May 26, 2008 at 10:36 am in reply to: RAF service history #1174932

Ross_McNeill
Participant

Hi,

Depends on date of service.

Who were you looking for details on and approx date.

Regards
Ross
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