It was really only tried on the one day, April 7, 1945. Too little too late. It was done out of the same desperation as the Kamakazi. The hope, and it was really just the dreaming of desperate leaders, was that they could somehow inflict such terrible losses that it might make a difference.

Didn’t happen. The escorts clobbered most, and I don’t know that there were very many actual successful collisions.

Good book on it is “The Last Flight of the Luftwaffe-The Suicide Attack on the Eighth Air Force, 7 April 1945” by Adrian Weir. The 109s were not F models but late model G and K lightened up for the job. Lots of personal accounts from both sides in the Weir book.

I remember going past Bassingbourne in 1980 and seeing what looked to be a “Grant” tank that appeared to be a gate guardian. Any idea if it’s still there?

“Serenade to the Big Bird” Bert Stiles. Written in the moment. He didn’t survive the war. He was a B17 Co-pilot with the 91st BG and died in a Mustang on a second tour with the 339th FG.

Who needs a canopy anyway?

SeaDog.

When you have teachers who come out with stupid remarks as such, what hope for the youth of today?.
I hope he/she got a right dressing down.

Jim.
Lincoln .7

Two things.

First. My oldest daughter is a teacher. She works her tail off teaching her kids. How bout we don’t generalize comments about teachers. Good ones don’t make news.

Second: In the end it’s the parents job to make sure their kids have a good understanding of their history and heritage. A teacher can only plant the seeds. If it’s not encouraged at home, why would the kid care?

Spitfire I, XII
Seafire LIII
Single seat Hunter
Comet
Mosquito
Hornet
Beaufighter VI
Lancaster
Late model Firefly

Good piece of detective work, Paul!

I had looked, but didn’t find it.

Certainly seems credible that the button could well be associated, then. Although other possibilities cannot be excluded.

Meanwhile, this link on the Italian website is worth a view:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OWPg5FLh8o

I know in the end it’s just a bunch of metal put together into a machine, but save the poor girl for heaven’s sake!

I’d say she’s earned some tender loving care out of the sun after all these years. If for no other reason then to remember the loss of the pilot who tried to save her.