A modern day Norman Jackson VC. But instead of the fire extinguisher insert duster…

🙂

For those of you who don’t know the story…

The wing fire prompted Jackson’s course of action. He climbed onto the Navigation table and deliberately opened his parachute inside the aircraft, while Higgins and Toft sorted out the rigging lines and chute to prepare themselves as ‘anchor-men’. Releasing the upper escape hatch, Jackson squeezed himself out into the freezing 200mph slipstream. Firmly grasping the edge of the open hatch he edged his body out, laid flat along the top of the fuselage and lowered himself until his feet met the wing root below. He flung himself forward and managed to grasp the leading edge air intake and directed the contents of the extinguisher into an engine cowling opening. The flames died down momentarily. The Lancaster banked to port, taking evasive action against the returning German fighter which raked the aircraft with cannon fire again and wounded Jackson for the second time. After the impact of the shellfire, the extinguisher was blown away. The flames once again erupted, blowing over Jackson’s body. He lost his grip and was swept off the wing, to be held in the slipstream by the smouldering rigging lines and canopy furiously being played out by Toft and Higgins before they released the parachute. Breaking free from the stricken Lancaster he descended rapidly. Attempting to extinguish the smouldering cords, he became conscious of the pain of his back and leg wounds, but his hands, shrivelled and contracted by the flames, were mercifully numb. Jackson remembered later that the canopy of the parachute was not only slashed and torn, but, more ominously, had burning holes in it which were getting larger as he fell to earth. Miraculously his fall was cushioned by a mass of bushes. Barely conscious, Jackson lay where he landed until day-break. Then, with a broken ankle to add to his earlier injuries, he crawled to a cottage on the edge of the forest. Banging on the door with an elbow he was confronted by an irate middle-aged German who verbally abused him, before two young girls took Jackson into the cottage and nursed him. Alerted by the cottage owner, some local Police officials appeared and Jackson, supported by one of them, was made to walk to the nearest town where he was briefly treated at the local hospital. He was then paraded through the town where some people jeered and insulted him. Jackson said later that he understood their anger, “after all, how would we have felt after being bombed night after night?”

As they say – “They don’t make ’em like that anymore….”

MarkV

Oh God I would never suggest letting genuine dirt or grit build up, I’m talking about a weathered paint job not lack of care and attention

Like I said playing the old devils for a bit of sport, but there is a point..

Originally posted by Mark V
I can see the point too but am not converted. There is a balance that needs to be struck between authenticity, practicality and presentation. As far as invasion stripes are concerned that means flat (or satin) paint and straight lines. A yard brush may have been used in 1944 but on a £1m warbird today that just looks like someone did not care.

As a one off, just for one show, I would not be averse to a display of ‘original’ invasion stripes – I’ll get the mop.

Then why not paint it like a £1m Citation? Nice gloss white with a stripe, and that sandy leather and wood combination always looks splendid on the inside..

A £1m warbird is what it has become, not what it was. It was a machine of war and would look tatty from hard use and fighting..

Yes I bet the aircraft went into the spray shop, the wing was cleaned well and then measured exactly. Sanded lightly to give the paint a key, maybe an undercoat or two then masked. White went on first no doubt then re masked for the black. Cooked, then maybe a clear coat. All just like it was done in the field. I’ve always thought a matallic black might look nice. Don’t anyone dare suggest that that wouldn’t be “original”…

🙂

Having some fun now, but you make a very valid point. People have such strong views on original v. replica yet are, for the most part, unwilling to consider the thought of slapping on some white and black with a 3″ brush..