kev35RE: Jack Currie Books
Lancman,
I’ve read all of his books and have to agree they are all an excellent read.
Another excellent book you might have come across is ‘Rear Gunner Pathfinders’ by Ron Smith, DFM, PFF. At the end of the book is one of Ron’s poems titled simply ‘Rear Gunner’. Ron, with the help of his family, produced a cassette of Ron’s poetry titled ‘I Will Remember’, the poems being read by himself and Hamish Mahaddie. Well worth getting hold of if you can find it!
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: What WW2 story ?
Neilly,
I’m with you on the Banff strike wing, that would be superb! Another variation could be a piece about 2 group in 1940/41. The night fighter idea sounds good. Perhaps there’s an opportunity there for Moggy’s idea about the parallel lives of a british and German pilot/crew who eventually meet in the skies. Come on Moggy, get your pen out.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Are warbirds in need of protection
Roger,
As soon as I posted my last reply I thought ‘I bet Roger knows the guy with the Avenger’.
In light of what you say I stand corrected and in this case I have to agree with you. It’s a pity some kind of deal couldn’t have been done to save the radar Avenger while still finding a stock Avenger for this guy.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Are warbirds in need of protection
Roger,
“Over the years several rare and unique warbirds have been historicly “kiled” by their owners.”
First of all, I think that’s a bit strong. I can understand your outrage to an extent but we as enthusiasts have to remember that these aircraft have owners who have to pay for the purchase of the aircraft, pay again for it’s restoration (or destruction) depending on your point of view, and then pay for the maintenance and operation of the aircraft.
“A rare photorecce P-38 Lightming is now just another P-38L, the same goes for the last 2 seat nightfighter variant of the P-38, which now also is “just” a p-38L,”
How many P-38’s are there , of whatever mark? Perhaps we should just be grateful that it’s still airworthy.
” The owner trew all stock WW2 equipment of the 3W2
away, and is now flying his Avenger bast.rd!”
That’s one hell of an insult to place at the door of someone I presume you don’t know.
“Why should all the non fighting variants or biplanes being rebuilded
(destroyed) into the more glameroud armed/fighter versions.”
Maybe this is because to help recoup some of their costs the owners of these aircraft participate in airshows. It seems that to satisfy the majority of airshow visitors, organisers do prefer to book the more glamorous aircraft.
I have no doubt that you are far from alone in holding these views, you may even be right, but other than registering your disapproval of this practice I fear there is little that could be done to prevent it.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: What WW2 story ?
How do you guys feel about CGI? I seem to remember there being a lot of negative comments about CGI aircraft in Band of Brothers. Technically it looks as though you can pull it off with just one aircraft (Night Flight),so imagine if you could get someone like Spielberg and Dreamworks behind an idea. Personally, I don’t think I’d like to see remakes of classics like Dambusters or the Battle of Britain.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Airshow prices…
As someone who has not been able to visit airshows since the late eighties due to work commitments and then health concerns, I was surprised to see the price of £30 admission for RIAT. At first I thought that was really expensive but if you consider it’s quite competitively priced compared to concerts or live theatre shows.
At concerts, theatres etc., you are lucky to get two and a half hours entertainment and are still charged exorbitant amounts for merchandise and refreshments. At least with something like RIAT you get a full days entertainment for your money. And you can video it to watch again, try doing that in a concert!!!!
Regards,
kev35
kev35I, too, am upset.
Firstly, I can understand everyone’s sentiments on the relative merits of preserving ‘this’ airframe as opposed to ‘that’ one. I enjoy seeing Spitfires, am still awestruck by my memories of seeing a Lightning recede to a dot high above me seemingly moments after leaving the runway and I would dearly love to see a Hampden or a Stirling. However, here comes the blasphemy, as beautiful, as awe inspiring or as romantic as the image they convey, they are only airframes….
Without the people who designed, built, flew, fought and maintained these wonderful aircraft, they would not have achieved the ‘fame’, (sorry I couldn’t find a better word), that they have. As we approach the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two, I think it behoves us to record as much oral history as possible before it is too late. The very people who inspired our interest in aviation, are, sadly, reaching the end of their lives. I believe it is time to honour the men and women who breathed life into the aircraft we cherish today.
Reading the short pieces in Flypast regarding those who have recently died becomes more frequent and ever more heart breaking. I unashamedly shed a tear at the passing of those whose very existence helped to shape the life I lead now and the society we live in.
Years ago, when I was too young, too stupid or too naive to appreciate the significance of the event, I stood against the ropes at an airshow gazing with wonder at Sally B, as an American in his sixties stood next to me weeping. He turned away from the aircraft and stumbled. I helped him up and asked if he was o.k. He told me he hadn’t been that close to a B-17 since 1944. He was crying with joy at the memory of an aircraft which brought him safely through his tour and with sadness at the memory of the remains of his closest friend literally being hosed out of the tail of his B-17. I love seeing a B-17 flying in the U.K and sincerely hope Sally B can continue as the tribute the men of the 8th AF so richly deserve., but I would swap all of my memories of Sally B to be able to spend just one hour talking to that unknown American waist gunner……
Whew! I bet you’re glad that’s over.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Fighter Command V.C. in World War Two.
I take the point about the deed being witnessed, but there were other occasions during the Battle of Britain, as has been noted. Two incidents which spring to mind are where Mackenzie chewed off a 109’s tail with his prop, becoming known as Mackenzies knock, and the incident where I believe a Hurricane pilot chased a German aircraft across London after Buckingham Palace was bombed.
The second point about the V.C. being awarded for a particular act of courage for a particular action doen’t really stand up. Leonard Cheshire was awarded his V.C. for outstanding bravery and leadership of 617 sqdn over a period of time. If that is so might not the likes of Johnnie Johnson have been awarded the same honour for their leadership and bravery over an extended period of time.
One further point is that when the V.C. was instituted, the original wording on the cross was to be ‘for bravery’, to which Queen Victoria replied it should read ‘for valour’, because all of her soldiers were brave. A sentiment which I believe holds just as true today as it did then.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: LHR raided
Firstly, I don’t see how you can equate a robbery without violence with a deliberate, sustained and military attack by an organisation which could be described as a terrorist or liberation movement depending on your point of view.
Saab 2000 has a point. If people can gain access to restricted areas there is no telling what they might do. Security has been breached several times in the UK since September 11. Fortunately, most of these occurrances , are due to the press deliberately trying to prove the effectiveness or otherwise of current security arrangements.
Sadly, I think there will always be an element of risk regarding security on flights. I would think that a person with the single minded goal of creating mayhem on an aircraft could do so without a weapon. Imagine if half a dozen managed to board the same flight?
Finally, I would imagine that the airlines have a “duty of care” towards their passengers. If this is so, should passengers be encouraged, or even expected, to take matters of security into their own hands as they were encouraged to do in the US following Sept 11?
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Another legend has passed on
Just followed your link, it’s good to know the amount of effort which goes into honouring a fallen comrade. It’s even nicer to know how honoured the crews feel to be able to take part in events like this.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Vanishing Ratings
Hi,
I believe the webmaster was altering some people’s ratings following the recent unpleasantness. Could it be anything to do with that?
Regards
kev35
kev35RE: Mosquito manufacture
Neilly,
Thanks for that. I’ve been led to understand that ash is a wood which can be bent into shape using heat and moisture. I would have thought it might be useful for things like leading and trailing edges. I suppose i’m clutching at straws really, to try and make sense of where it came from.
Thanks for your help, if you come up with anything else let me know.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Servicing WA
Ja,
With luck, in a few years time we on the forum will be able to say “we knew that Ja Worsley before he was rich and famous.”
Good luck with it mate, I hope it all goes well for you.
Regards
kev
kev35RE: It’s time I came clean about being here!
Regarding customer service, I believe you saw a programme about Easyjet?
……..Way to go!!!!!!!!! Apparently offering the kind of service you commented on guarantees a great future. Just look at their new orders.
Regards
kev35
P.S. Do you need any people in England?
kev35RE: ‘Night Flight’-The Verdict
I enjoyed the programme a lot. I think the BBC handled a difficult plot well, all praise to the cast, however,I can never think of Edward Woodward without thinking of Callan, must be my age. The CGI worked well and it seems to me the BBC tried hard to make the film accurately. For someone like me who has a reasonable but not expert knowledge of Bomber Command, their aircraft and aircrew equipment, it worked.
The BBC have a considerable history of producing excellent drama and night flight proved to be a fine example of this. I agree with the comments about Edward Woodwards scene in the pub, very moving.
Altogether, I think Night Flight deserves a thumbs up!
Regards,
kev35
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