Andy, are you serious? You have a coffee table made from the wheel of a 109? 😮

Lynn

While Guy Gibson is to be played by that excelent young movie actor Samuel L. Jackson …

So this is the eagerly anticipated sequel to “Snakes On A Plane”, is it?

“I’m gettin’ tired of these mother*******in’ bombs on these mother*******in’ Lancs!”

:D:D:D:D:D

Lynn

Piling on here…

I posted this on Hyperscale, it’s worth mentioning here as well- everyone seems to be focusing on whether Stukas or Heinkels could sink a capital ship with the bombs on hand in 1940. Putting aside the fact that Sea Lion was never more than a half-ass idea anyways, if the Germans had decided they REALLY wanted to get ashore in England, you can be guaranteed that their U-boats would have been the “guardians at the gates”- there is no reason to doubt that Doenitz would have blockaded the British ports and set up defensive lines on both sides of the invasion fleet path, well away from the barges and other craft coming across the Channel. And one needs only to look at the Royal Oak or Barham to see that the U-boats would have been a massive threat to any capital unit.

Beyond that, there would be heavy mining of the ports and sea lanes away from the invasion zone, to catch any ships that didn’t get hit by the U-boats, and there’s also the matter of local air superiority… the Luftwaffe would certainly mount an “all hands” effort across the invasion path. Look at Narvik and Crete for lessons about how ships fared against determined air attacks. If the RN managed to get in amongst the barges then yes, it would be a slaughter, no doubt… but getting there in this instance would have been 90% of the battle. (The REAL challenge for the Germans would have been breaking out past the bridgehead, and maintaining a supply line across the Channel.)

What’s truly galling about this is the inference that by simply sitting on their nautical arses, the Royal Navy somehow trumps the sacrifice of The Few, a sacrifice commended by none other than the former First Sea Lord (if I recall correctly) and lifelong Navy man Winston Churchill himself. If HE credits the RAF with the salvation of England in her most dire hour of need, it seems awfully small of us to second-guess that evaluation some sixty-odd years after event.

No offense to the RN chaps on the board, but all honor rightfully belongs to Fighter Command for “winning” the Battle of Britain.

Lynn

Ok, I did not know Art Vance, couldn’t pick him out of a crowd of two, although I’ve read the eulogies and heard about what a great stick he was. I’m also a complete neophyte when it comes to aircraft operation… I can get’em off the ground and move them about in a reasonably effective manner, but that’s about it.

All that said, I have to say this sounds like one of the stupidest things I have ever heard of in my life… even I know better than to do something like that. How difficult would it be to do some basic navigation? Figure out a compass heading from point A to point B before taking off, bring your maps, turn your radio on, and go? Honestly, following the damn interstate to another city? He wasn’t on a damn Greyhound bus, he was operating a high-performance aircraft, and doing so in a manner which endangered himself, his aircraft, and the people around him. Thankfully no one else on the ground suffered for his indiscretions.

Sorry if this comes across as out of line to some, but hearing this sort of thing really pisses me off- it’s accidents like this which really give the entire Warbird community a black eye, as it reinforces the false idea that everyone who flies these gorgeous aircraft is a hotshot cowboy, and that the aircraft cannot be operated safely.

Way to go, Art. Thanks for that.

Lynn

Ooh, excellent find, Paul… I hadn’t seen one with a green fuselage and yellow cowling like that before! 🙂

Lynn

Absolutely fantastic, and a superb day to boot…

Excellent work, Brian!

Lynn

Sweet Jaysus, that is simply magnificent. Put it in a formation flight with the FR.47 and the Sea Hurricane… and stand clear, for massive swooning will ensue!

What a splendid looking aircraft when airborne… always thought the four-blader looked odd on a Griffon-engined Spit variant, but when flying, the whole affair is quite stunning.

Thanks for the pics, Damien and Al (you lucky sods)!

Lynn