Originally posted by Mark12
T.Mk.3 TJ118 ground scenes (cockpit Moss Mus.)

Wasn’t TJ118 a B.35 not a T.3:confused:

I’m not sure that it was a particularly “big effort”. All they’ve done is unscrew the fibreglass radome (the extreme end of the nose usually painted black on a normal Hunter) and replaced it with a long pointy bit.

Apart from that the only other modification is to paint over the rear end of the canopy.

Looks quite nice though 🙂

Originally posted by Snapper
I don’t suppose any of you lot know how accurate it is as a record of the squadron do you?

Yup, it’s absolutely spot on.

633 Squadron was formed in September 1943 and was commanded by an inevitable American who, three years earlier, had won the Battle of Britain with his hat at a jaunty angle. Specialist aircrew were recruited from the finest the RAF had to offer, including some with egg-whisks where their hands should be.

They flew funny little wooden aeroplanes which took to the air using enormous lengths of 10lb breaking strain fishing line. This allowed them to jink about in such a way as to defy all the laws of physics and aerodynamics. 633 were the first squadron to use this ingenious secret weapon but, despite the system’s undoubted and obvious advantages, were all shot down…er…or flew into cliffs. Except one, but that was a different kind of Cliff. Oh dear.

One of only two survivors from the squadron was a short Scottish Observer by the name of Shuey Hamilton MacFee. He was de-mobbed in December 1945 and, following a period of unemployment, entered the catering trade as a Junior Assistant Brillo Pad (2nd Class) in July 1947. In 1972 his career peaked when he was appointed Chief Cook and Bottle-Washer at the Birmingham-based Crossroads Motel. Sadly, he was to later perish in a huge conflagration which consumed the cardboard motel and severely damaged Benny’s hat.

The other survivor (the inevitable American) whiled away the time between sorties by driving Rommel out of North Africa, sinking the Bismarck and heroically capturing an intact Enigma machine from a stricken German submarine.

In late 1943 he retired from flying to single-handedly invade Normandy on 5th June 1944. Having established a beach-head he pushed on into Belgium, pausing only to liberate Paris and escape from Colditz, before entering Berlin and assassinating Hitler with a single punch to the chin.

No wait, 633 Squadron was entirely fictional and never really existed at all. DOH!

Fair enough.

One question though robhi, you say;

I do not fudge or use artistic licence

So how come the hood jettison stencilling on most of my Hunters says “all we need to do is keep on talking” instead of “hood jettison break window pull to release”? 😉

Originally posted by neilly
I thought I’d add this piccie, too. Another of Tony’s, taken from the cockpit of LR 507. He said it was taken as they went to mark one of the V-1 sites, but he couldn’t remember which one, without consulting his logbook.

Neilly

Wonderful picture neilly, thanks for posting.

How about re-jigging the Avro Manchester into the Lancaster? Who says you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear 😀

Agreed.

In my opinion, anyone who doesn’t feel an overwhelming urge to touch and run their hand over a beautiful aeroplane when they’re up close to one isn’t really that passionate about aeroplanes.

OK, how about,

llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

😉