JDK and any others who might know …

Just yesterday, Googling for reviews of Heinz Thingy’s biography “I flew for the Furher” (which I found in a second hand bookstore for NZD20, which I think is steep …but I digress) I came across a website about ME109s and it said that the ME109 (it meant Buchon, hence this being on topic) was manufactured and served in Spain into the 1960’s.

But the interesting thing, and my question, is that it said explicitly this was the 109 K series (which had a number of improvements over the G including removal of the bulges, more powerful engine and Galland Hood). Is that right, the Buchon was a licence manufactured K series 109? And if so, why not the Galland Hood?

Authentic or not – it’s a good lookin’ plane. Perhaps’s it’s “authentic” to Von Ryan’s Express? 😉

Quite right – and thanks also Scott for your wise remarks elsewhere on this forum.

Dan – many thanks for posting that pic – it’s quite a sight!

And Moggy, whilst I take your point, the issue is of course something along the lines of “it’s dangerous enough out there without us deliberately stacking the odds against ourselves”.

On that point … I’m struggling to remember quite what it was I read/saw etc. (so with a nod to Steve Patterson, I’ll say “I think that I remember”) but I have this recollection that it took a month after D-Day before US losses exceeded the losses incurred during the build-up … training, accidents, SNAFUs etc. I wonder if that’s true or just journalistic licence?

I do know for sure that the second most costly (fatalities) RAF Bomber Command “target” was Training (the top 6 in order being Berlin, Training, Minelaying, Essen, Hamburg, Cologne)

Great programme, just one thing I picked up from the narrator, was the Halifax really as unreliable as he seemed to portray ?

Here I am spouting my mouth off without having seen the programme – so I don’t know what may or may not have been said – but my 2c worth.

I understand the Mks 1 and 2 Halifaxes were not really up to form – but I don’t think it was an issue of reliability so much as performance (speed, climb rate, and especially altitude). However the Mk 3 was a great aircraft, the Hercules engines in particular (and to a lesser degree the streamlined, lighter nose and revised tailplanes) transformed the aircraft and it became every bit a match for the Lancaster. In fact I’ve heard that of the few bods who flew both operationally, many preferred the (later) Halifax. Reflect also that you never hear anything negative about the MkII Hercules engined Lanc.

I wonder if this programme will make it down under?

Gone for a Burton

Rob Davis on his excellent website on RAF Bomber Conmmand (see below) mentions Burton Ale in the context of being killed in action (“Gone for a Burton”).

[quote Rob Davis] The popular expression “Gone for a Burton” meaning “dead” referred to Burton on Trent. This was (and still is) home to a very substantial brewing industry. “Burton Ale” was advertised at the time on a billboard in two parts – two men carrying a ladder – one at each end and then in the second panel one man carrying but the other had disappeared with the slogan “Gone for a Burton” under it. Hence went for a beer, became RAF slang for “buying the farm” “getting the chop”. [unquote]

So I’m left wondering if you can still get a Burton Ale in the UK … questions:
1. I’ve looked up Burton Ale on the web (Google) and it seems to be a style or type of ale (variously Christmas or Winter Ale) rather than being associated with any particular brewery or pub – T/F?
2. In fact I see references to the “British beer capital Burton-on-Trent”. So can you in fact buy a pint or bottle of “Burton Ale” or is it more that you buy ale that was brewed somewhere in Burton?
3. Are there any aviation oriented pubs serving such deadly brews?

Rob’s website …
http://www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/raf_bc/

Sounds great Matt – there’s some good/interesting aircraft in the museum and if many of them are flyers, that’d be pretty darn good.

The website alleges it’s easy enough to fly in to Wagga Wagga from both Sydney and Melbourne (then hire a car). That might work for the various people coming from different places and hire one or two MPV type vehicles.

My bugbear as mentioned above is that we do love the GP and will therefore very likely make the trek to MEL a month later – but that’s not yet 100%.

For my 2c worth, I say press on and see how many people respond positively to this idea/venue.