kev35RE: WWII aviator/aviatrix interests you most?
Go on….give us a clue….please
There are a few names running round in my head but I know they’re not right and therefore I am not prepared to make a bigger pratt of myself than normal.
I’m definitely going to have to read up on Basil Embry, he sounds like a character and a half!
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Pic Of The Day-04/04/02!!
Stringbag,
was the Buccaneer capable of using a buddy type refuelling system?
To anyone else out there, with the possibility of the Vulcan acheiving airworthiness, what would be the chances for a Victor? I don’t know about the technicality or legality of this idea, but would a Victor, still equipped for air to air refuelling be of any benefit to fast jet operators? I was thinking of Buccaneers and Lightnings to South Africa or any long distance transit which otherwise necessitates numerous refuelling stops and the regular problems with customs and weather difficulties.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: What is your all time favourite airliner?
De Havilland Comet 4b, preferably in Dan-Air colours. Of the modern crop of airliners I’d choose the A340.
For sheer elegance and style, especially in the colour schemes would be a Gulf Air VC10 or the Tristar in Royal Jordanian colours.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: What is the greatest WWII fighter?
I think aesthetically speaking I’d have to say the Spitfire Mk IX or maybe even the Vb, but the later marks seem to me to sacrifice grace for grunt. (Mind you, when in combat with the later German fighters, grunt was a serious advantage to have.)
For sheer ability to do the job I’d have to choose the P-51 Mustang. It must have been an enormous psychological boost to bomber crews to have their ‘little friends’ escort them all the way to their targets and then back again.
“And the award for innovation goes to….” The Me 262, the first jet fighter to see combat. Imagine the chaos they would have wreaked on bomber formations had Herr Hitler agreed to the building of large numbers of the fighter version.
If there was an award for sheer bloody-mindedness and desperation, that should go to the pilots of the Gloster Gladiators who saw action in Norway and Malta.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: More questions
Squasher,
the undercarriage will generally bear the weight ok. A dab of superglue under each wheel helps as well. If the model requires weight in the nose for balance, just leave it out. Another idea for heavyweight stuff is to drill a single hole beneath each wheel and a corresponding hole in the wheel. A trimmed down rivet can then be pushed through the base and superglued into the wheel. The main problem with hanging aircraft is dust. Keeping them clean can be a pain but one seconds rough handling sees your a/c minus all the little fiddly bits which you went to such lenghts to in the name of accuracy and detail.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: MTO bombers (&bridges)
Apologies, Moggy (to both of you).
It seems I need to read the book again.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: History of air warfare – a 4 year olds view
Steve,
That’s a great story. You’re sowing the seeds of an interest which may stay with Haydn for the rest of his life. Not only is it great that he is learning about aviation, as time goes by and knowledge increases it also becomes about Rememberance and honouring the sacrifices of those who have shaped our world. That’s how it started for me (nearly 40 years ago now), an interest in books then the film Battle of Britain, 633 Squadron et al. Aircraft modelling came along and later airshows. Throughout this progression an interest grew in the people and personalities and that stays with me now and is of ever increasing importance. I am proud and honoured to say I have been able to speak to a number of veterans.
I hope his interest continues and grows.
Regards
kev
kev35RE: MTO bombers
Moggy,
Come on, not JUST a humble MT Corporal. Remember, “They also served…”
BTW, don’t go flying under any bridges. (Or not doing it and saying you had.)
Neilly,
regarding the Mosquito, were any used in the Mediterranean? If not, was heat a limiting factor in their deployment as it was in the Far East. Manoueverability and versatility are all well and good as long as the glue holds…
PII,
the book I mentioned is the War Diaries of Neville Duke (edited by Norman Franks). He flew Tomahawk IIB’s and Kittyhawk I’s with 112 Squadron from 12 nov 41 to 20 Apr 42.
With the Tomahawk he made the following claims, 2 Me 109F’s, 1 CR42, 1 Fiat G50 and 1 Macchi 200 destroyed, and 2 Ju87’s and a Ju52 probably destroyed as well as a 109F damaged. In the Kittyhawk he destroyed 2 Macchi 200’s. His final total was 26 and 3 shared destroyed, 3 probables and 6 damaged. All but those in the Tomahawk and Kittyhawk were made flying various marks of Spitfire.
Not a bad record either.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: MTO bombers
Neilly,
you’re right, I can’t imagine what it would have been like operating in circumstances where the losses were so grievous, especially as they had also operated under 2 group command from Norfolk on shipping strikes in the North Sea and off the Dutch coast.
I presume you have read Battle Axe Blenheims and Mosquito Thunder. Two absolutely excellent books.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Eggbeater finale
Moggy,
Brilliant, just brilliant!!
I’m sure John Gillespie Magee would have approved.
One small point in favour of the helicopter. A friend of mine once had a horrendous accident in a transit van where she had to be cut from the wreckage. There was some concern that she may have suffered a serious back injury. To transport her to the nearest hospital (where I was working at the time), at a speed of 5-10 MPH to avoid any further trauma would have taken an hour at least. The air ambulance did the journey in 4 minutes. Having said that she hated every moment she was in the air. Fortunately she was ok but it just goes to show even ‘whirlybird cr*p’ has its place.
Regards
kev35
kev35MTO bombers
The RAF also used bombers both from Malta and in North Africa. I believe the Wellington was the mainstay of the force with units also operating the Baltimore, the Maryland, the Fairey Battle and the Bristol Blenheim. I think the Wellesley may have been used as well. Beauforts also operated from Malta on anti shipping strikes, as did Beaufighters. At one point I think Fleet Air Arm Albacores were also used in airfield bombing raids along the North African coast.
Can anyone tell me anything more about the siege at an airfield in Iraq (Habbaniya?) I have read a novel based on the actual event but would be interested in finding out more.
Regards
kev
kev35RE: F1 Grand Prix
Mike,
for me, F1 has lost much of its appeal. I found over the years I got much more satisfaction from watching touring cars, that’s probably why I like the idea of a rolling start. The first one I saw was my first race at Donington (superb circuit with an airport approach right over your head). I think it was 1985 or so and was a superb race between Tom Walkinshaw in a 3.5 litre Rover and Gerhard Berger in a Schneider BMW 635 csi. Door handle to door handle on every lap. What an introduction to motorsport.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Warhawks in North Africa
PII,
Just when you thought it was all over…
First of all, thanks for the extra info on Pearl Harbor. Just to show the flip side of the coin, I’ve found some info on the MTO in The JG26 War Diary, volume one, by Donald Caldwell.
In early 1941, 7 Staffel of JG26 was seconded to the Mditerranean with 12 aircraft and began operations against Malta from Sicily. They enjoyed considerable success mainly against Hurricanes. They also spent a short time in Yugoslavia before moving on to North Africa. They were there from mid June until September. It was here they came up against Tomahawks, engaging in combat and I quote:
“29th July. Ten Ju 87s attacked a Tobruk convoy, and were in turn hit by eight Tomahawks of No. 2 Sqd. SAAF. The South Africans shot down four Ju 87’s before 7th Staffel Bf 109s could reach them. Two Tomahawks were then shot down; one pilot was killed, and the other survived as a POW. Three more Tomahawks returned to base with severe damage. Staffel pilots reported five victories.”
Two further claims were made against Tomahawks but on both occasions the aircraft lost were in fact Hurricanes.
The aircraft used by 7 Staffel, twelve Bf 109E’s were suffering badly in the conditions and the pilots and ground crews returned to Salonika in Northern Greece on the 24th of September. I quote again:
“On this date a Ju 52 carrying Staffel personnel was attacked over the Mediterranean by three Bristol Beaufighters. Two men were injured by cannon fire. The transport returned safely to Africa, but both men died there of their wounds. The 7th Staffels first casualties in the Mediterranean theater were thus suffered at the very end of their detached service. Ironically, the Staffels only fatalities were these two groundcrewmen. The pilots had come through the six months operations without loss.
The 7th Staffels record while in the Mediterranean theater was unique in the air war. Munchberg’s dozen fighters altered the course of an air campaign, and forced their enemies to to modify their strategy for an entire theater of operations. The unit shot down at least fifty-two enemy aircraft without losing a single pilot.”
It should be noted that most of the victories were against Hurricanes. I think you will agree that this is one hell of a record. Against such opposition it shows that the air war in the MTO was vicious and drawn out with both sides having little opportunity to reinforce due to combat commitments in other theatres. Pilots of both sides must have displayed incredible tenacity in this long drawn out battle of offensive and counter offensive fought in appalling conditions where the desert proved to be their enemy as well.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: F1 Grand Prix
Mike,
I have to agree, I think his status at present does allow him to exploit any inconsistencies in the application of the rules. True, you don’t have to like him and I agree he probably doesn’t come across as one of F1’s really nice guys like Herbert or Berger.
I think there is an element in his driving which you call cheating (reminiscent of Senna?), I put it down to his innate confidence and the belief that he is invincible. The greatest tragedy when a driver is prone to having that attitude, is that one day, someone else will play him at his own game with disastrous consequences. The safety measures now in place will allow cars and drivers to increase speed. This has happened before with the result there was an increase in accidents. This may be happening already with the number of first corner incidents. Do you think there may be a case for using a rolling start?
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: More questions
Hi,
Avoiding brush strokes? A good question. I find that just using extreme care goes a long way toward reducing the problem. The ultimate way is to use sprays but I imagine you’d have difficulty getting those as well.
As for mounting models on a wall I first select a suitable size picture frame, something just large enough for the undercarraige to sit comfortably on. After discarding the glass I then make a baseboard to fit the frame, painting or decorating the base to the finish I reguire, e.g. tarmac, concrete, grass, sand etc. When this is ready I mark on the base where each of the wheels will touch the board. I drill two tiny holes where each wheel will touch the base. Using the finest fuse wire I can find, I wrap a strand over each wheel mounting and thread each end through one of the holes tying the two ends together at the back of the board. Once tied insert a cocktail stick under the knot and twist gently until the correct tension is maintained. This is surprisingly strong and can even hold the weight of something as substantial as a 1/24 scale Hurricane. (Only problem was I dropped the frame when hanging it and, despite Hawker’s claims to the contrary, my Hurricane was a write off after a fall of just eight feet!. Three months work destroued in 1 and a half seconds.) If you wish to see the underside of the model, to view a bomb load for instance, try mounting the model over a mirror or fix a mirror to the base you have made to show off the underside.
Hope this is useful.
Regards,
kev35
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