Not an aviation story I’m afraid but my father went ashore on D-Day +3. He was in the RASC and involved with the PLUTO (pipe-line under the ocean) oil supply system. He said the worst part was going down the scramble nets from his destroyer in to the landing craft which were heaving up and down. If you slipped it was very easy to get crushed between the two ships.
Anyway he got his men ashore and they were all gathered under a rocky outcrop when somebody tapped him on the shoulder and said “Would your blokes like a cuppa”. Surprised, he turned round to be faced by a grinning Salvation Army chap with a big tea urn. He never did find out how he’d got there but it was a pound in the collection for “War Cry” in the pub every Friday when he got back after the war. (Which he did thankfully)

No. I did hear that they had problems with leaky tanks and other serviceability issues.

Really excellent shots and a nice tribute to the Tonka. It still looks like a decent bit of kit despite all the problems it apparently had.

Lovely shots and some nice composition there. You used to be able to buy half a lamb to put in the freezer but it pushed my weight over max auw. so I never did it.

Roberto, thank you for your excellent set of pictures of a very impressive museum. I have a couple of questions for you. I assume the Miles Hawk is painted in a different scheme on each side. What is the significance of these colour schemes? What is the type of engine in the Buchon that doesn’t have the Merlin? I assume it isn’t a Daimler-Benz. Thanks in advance.

Hi Ringo, I’ll get back to you when I’ve had chance to talk to my local councillor chum who was actively involved in chasing off a wind turbine in his back yard. It was a mile or so North East of Baldock and planning was refused.

I believe the planning laws around windfarms are changing and you need to find out who the final arbiter will be. As I understand it the local council is not the decision maker despite Dave and the “Big Society”. As others have said the argument against has to be considered and factual. Thinking of which, could there be an effect on Cambridge Radar? Certainly a local proposal was overthrown because of potential “shadowing” on Luton Radar

Seriously though, the FAA have called time on 100LL avgas and if they have their way it will be gone by the end of the decade. There are various proposals for an unleaded equivalent but whether it will have an octane rating high enough for the Merlin is debatable. I don’t see Shuttleworth fitting a diesel on the Hurricane somehow.