There are so many things I could say here. But probably the most important thing for me would be to learn to cope better with adversity, to more fully accept the deterioration in my health and to come to terms with the things I am no longer able to do and the things I will not be able to do in the future.

Regards,

kev35

Here’s me talking to a couple of veterans at the dedication of a Memorial to Sgt Johnny Wiseman and Flt Sgt Alan Haddon, Typhoon pilots with 609 Squadron who were killed in action on St. Valentine’s Day, 1943.

I’m the one on the crutches.

Regards,

kev35

It is indeed good news that the sons of Saddam Hussein are accounted for. I can’t help thinking though that the US have missed an opportunity here. A six hour gun battle involving two hundred American troops against four Iraqis. The employment of at least ten TOW missiles as admitted by the US commander resulting in the deaths of Saddam’s sons. With such overwhelming fire superiority would it not have served the Americans purpose better to capture them? The Iraqi people would then have had to accept that the regime was at an end, rather than being faced with bodies which are hardly identifiable to the majority of us.

So, they’re dead, and I shed no tears over this, it’s no more than they deserved. I just feel it would have been better to have tried them in a court of law and then executed them rather than creating possible martyrs.

Regards,

kev35

Ashley.

Count me in as well. I’ll be there.

Regards,

kev35

Snapper’s touched on an interesting point ‘They remind me of people who faced something I won’t have to.’ And for me that’s probably the most important point. If it wasn’t for the people who fought in Fairey Battles, Blenheims, Hampdens, Lancs, Typhoons Spitfires et al the world would be a very different place and we wouldn’t have seen a range of magnificent post war aircraft that are now just a memory. I have fond memories of Viscounts and Heralds passing overhead into Birmingham. But, to some we owe a debt, and perhaps my continued interest in the military side of historical aviation might just go some way towards paying that debt.

No disrespect intended towards anyone interested in civil aviation, just that it doesn’t hold the same importance for me.

Regards,

kev35

Does anyone remember that lovely IZAL stuff we had at school?Rough on one side and shiny on the other, if you used the wrong side you didn’t half get in a mess.

Regards,

kev35

Moggy,

Many, many happy returns of the day. Saw Cherie Blair on the news singing ‘when I’m 64…’

Now I know who to….. 😀

Regards,

kev35