BlueNoser352 – yes, I was fortunate to spend a good part of the day with the four heroes from E Company 101st Airborne. In my opinion, too little is mentioned in these threads about the veterans who attend Legends every year, and this year we had an exceptional number to go and chat to in the various trade outlets. Important though the aircraft are of course, without the brave guys (and ladies!) who flew and maintained them, they are nothing.[/QUOTE]

With the sounds of Flying Legends still ringing in my ears from yesterday, at mid-day today, Buck Compton, Donald Malarkey, Ed Tipper and Bradford Freeman of Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, unveiled a plaque in the Terminal Building at Stansted Airport, which commemorated Stansted’s role in World War Two.

I felt moved to tears to listen to these wonderful men.

Steve Cripps

….and I thought that ‘Twilight’ was being flown across the pond…. ahh well.

…..I remember my Dad, coming home from work all excited, having seen Spitfires, Messerschmitts & Hienkles flying overhead all day, the ‘Battle of Britain’ film was in progress over Romney Marsh, where my Dad (& I) grew up. He was a lad in the real Battle, and that night, he shared with me his experiences of the Battle, pulling crew members out if a Dornier, helping a pilot fom a Spitfire, and (later a Tempest), watching various aircraft crash – I was hooked! My dad gave me ‘Nine Lives’ by Alan C Deer for my 10th Birthday, swiftly followed by Pierre Clostermann’s ‘Big Show’. We watched the making of the BoB film at Hawkinge, watched burning scale models being dropped from Helecopters over Dungerness, Ray Hanna planted me in the cockpit of MH434 when I was 11 I think, at Lydd Airport (where many years later I obtained my PPL) and satified my urges with ‘Air Ace’ books, my Dads books and ofcourse, Airfix Kits!! To see a Spitfire or the like at an Airshow was just …..damn, I cant think of a word to describe it….frustrating that the aeroplane could’nt speak I guess, so could learn its innermost thoughts. The point of all this rambling is that we have never had it so good and should bloody well appreciate what we do have. My poor old Dad has Alzhiemers now, I cant take him flying, I cant take him to Airshows, he can no longer read, but worst of all, we can no longer ‘talk aeroplanes’ TJ Johansen is so right that we will not have airshows like this for ever, films like the Battle of Britain will never be made again, the numbers veterans who took part in the conflict (which Flying Legends is famous for bringing to us)
is dwindeling – enjoy it while we have it – and thank you to all who make airshows like Legends happen.

Steve

You know, If this years line up is only half of what we saw last year, I would still be there, lets face it, its the only show where you will see the whole TFC fleet fly, thats got to be worth the entrance fee alone! Christ, I remember when Mr. Grey ‘only’ had a P51 and a Bearcat! Just think what TFC & Duxford (not forgeting my all time hero’s Ray & Mark Hanna) have done for the UK warbird movement, they have thrown unbelievable amounts of money at aircraft that otherwise would still be on the ground at best, if assembled at all! Plus they have provided a venue for other owners to show us their lovely aeroplanes.
I appreciate that the cost to get there and get in is out of some peoples reach right now, but if you can, be there, support the cause and enjoy, trust me, you will!!!

Best regards,

Steve