Page 33 – Key Publishing

LesB

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April 29, 2005 at 12:36 am in reply to: MAM Vixen update #1428133

LesB
Participant

Coming on nicely Rob, it does look good. Well done. I know you’ve put a lot of “hard” into that airframe . . . and there’s stacks more to come, but it’s worth it, innit! :rolleyes:

April 20, 2005 at 4:30 pm in reply to: Barkston Heath Canberra #1345035

LesB
Participant

It’s all that’s left of a B(I)8 WT339 late of 88 Sqn. A potted history is here

April 17, 2005 at 7:36 pm in reply to: Typhoon pilot – Wing Commander JM Bryan #1350293

LesB
Participant

I occasionally e-mail with Vaughan Fittall, now in NZ, and he says :

On October 7th I shot down my first enemy aircraft, a Focke Wulfe 190, one of two we enticed to intercept us by pretending to be slower Hurricanes, crossing the sea throttled back and with a bit of flap down. We chased them back inland and mine crashed near Thielt. Another 190 followed on Nov 30th at Deelen and a Dornier 217 on 4th Dec. at Eindhoven as we hunted well inside Belgium and the Netherlands fitted up with exterior long range tanks, which it paid to jettison smartly before engaging the enemy. At the end of November, Mike Bryan (later as a Wing Commander to lose his life after the D Day invasion) was posted away for a rest and replaced by Johnny Baldwin, another fine man, who as a Group Captain in 1945 went missing in the Far East.

Pic of Vaughn

April 12, 2005 at 11:38 pm in reply to: Holbeach Hunter #1358318

LesB
Participant

Enlarged bit of above pic shows the “pole” support I mentioned. Saw no sign of damage around the rear fus so don’t think an accident happened.

April 12, 2005 at 3:00 pm in reply to: Latest Mod Aircraft Sale #1359157

LesB
Participant

Binbrook 01

That might be WH739 with, as far as I know, 2475 (ATC) Sqn, at Ammanford in Carmarthenshire. See here.

Also, the T.17 at East Midlands (WH740) was one of the 15 Canberras loaned to NZ. Was converted to T.17 on return of course.

April 11, 2005 at 12:57 am in reply to: Latest Mod Aircraft Sale #1360625

LesB
Participant

Little over a year ago I wrote this . . .

. . . but I reckon their cockpits will turn up eventually, especially 734’s. 😉

Well, just had an e-mail to say that the cockpit section of Canberra WH734 has been exported to New Zealand. It is still in the port there (clearing Customs). It is going to the Ashburton Aviation Museum as an example of and tribute to the RNZAF’s Canberra squadrons. Maybe an NZ forum member can get photos. :rolleyes:

.

April 8, 2005 at 11:54 pm in reply to: They're grey now. . . #1363304

LesB
Participant

JASE
“hi Les hope you had a good day…I was the Cpl doing the see off on 31 ,also glad the damn thing started first time!|”

Yes, cracking day, always have a good recption when we visit you lot. Bit cold and windy though.

Couldn’t see ranks on the start crew due to your hi-vis jackets, but you must be one of those in the pic below.

Didn’t expect the thing not to start did you? After all there was enough old CanMen there to tell you and the jockey why it hadn’t worked and how we used to fix it “in the old days”. :rolleyes: In fact, a couple or three of the blokes had handled 131 not only when it was at Wyton with 39 in the 70s but also when it was on 13 Sqn in Malta forty years or so back.

But we had a fine time watching you work – can do that all day! My thanks to you and all the ground crew for the hospitality and good humour.

(By the way, that’s Malcolm of 922 fame chatting to the start crew)

😉

April 8, 2005 at 1:32 pm in reply to: They're grey now. . . #1364237

LesB
Participant

danohagan
Was the blue T4 around? Didn’t see it when I was there on Tuesday.

In the hangar with the riggers working in the back of the bomb bay.

Go there often then?

March 29, 2005 at 9:06 pm in reply to: How Low Can You Go?? #1378911

LesB
Participant

Must have another Canberra 😀 . . .

March 24, 2005 at 11:27 pm in reply to: Canberra Restoration #1384643

LesB
Participant

I didn’t see you there taking photos, which is strange as you must be very tall

Not so strange really, Most of the time I was kneeling. 😀

. . . a portable trampoline.

Right. Now, if only I can lick the camera shake problem . . . . :rolleyes:

March 24, 2005 at 8:42 pm in reply to: Canberra Restoration #1385001

LesB
Participant

As it happens I too was at MAM today. Bit windy but very sunny. Here’s a few pix from my visit.

Canberras look good from this angle . . .

Different view of Gannet . . .

Looks almost pregnant. . .

The Meteor in the sun. . .

Sidesaddle cockpit

. . . powered Canberra cockpit, notice three greens on the u/c indicator.

March 20, 2005 at 11:46 pm in reply to: Canberra Restoration #1391504

LesB
Participant

Not decided yet robmac, got to get better photos of the Green Satin unit and the cockpit, etc for the web site. It’ll be a Thursday though, usually is, (unless there’s a special event like the SHAR arrival). Been thinking about next Thursday (24th) but have yet to fix it up with Malc. Why’s that then? Are you on site as well?

March 20, 2005 at 9:27 pm in reply to: Canberra Restoration #1391535

LesB
Participant

. . . toy box thanks to LesB.. Damien didnt know you were teasing

Damien didn’t know I was teasing. 😉 I never tease DB! Well, not without noting where he’s got his long lens. He can catch you a right crack on the head with that long lens of his. 😀

Anyway Peter, thanks for the comback. 🙂

March 20, 2005 at 1:44 pm in reply to: Canberra Restoration #1392175

LesB
Participant

I always thought the ‘early ’60s solid dayglo paint scheme applied to the RAF’s trainers was replaced by dayglo paper strips, because dayglo paint faded too quickly and had to be constantly repainted.

Not really Albert. The dayglo paint didn’t “stick” too well and flaked easily, especially around rivet heads. Granted it faded some after a while, but it was also very prone to pitting and peeling after flying though, say, a rain storm. Ended up looking awful, like someone had sneezed on the airframe. I guess it was the “looking awful” bit that eventually led to its demise and replacemnt with Fablon self-adhesive dayglo. As for that stuff . . .

Guess they can handle it in small strips like on the Canberra.

The T.4’s, some OCU’s and some Signals aircraft used it a lot. Wastage, when applying it, was horrendous though, must have caused the MoD bean counters to have a fit because it dropped out of fashion. Funnily enough, it didn’t come off so easily when we used it for making zaps! :rolleyes:

March 20, 2005 at 12:48 pm in reply to: Canberra Restoration #1392204

LesB
Participant

OK I have to wade in here and start tossing teddies. Damien why are you being picky about the color?

Settle down Peter, DB was indulging in banter that’s all. If you spend any time with him you’ll find out that’s what he does. :rolleyes: Nobody’s impugning Malc, if they were be sure I’d be after ’em.

Albert. . .
The dayglo colouring on 922’s wings is orange paint – as applied by A&AEE – not that self-adhesive stuff. That rubbish was pretty much only used by the RAF who had the wherewithall to keep fixing it. It used to come off readily in flight and was a pain in the a$$ to apply. In fact, the only places it was used successfully was as zaps and on the troops’ cars and crew-room signs.

Damien
Yeah . . . . 😉
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