…..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
Steve many thanx for sharing your experiences with us, it was very moving to me and my girlfriend. We wish you both all the best. This is by far the best posting I have read on this thread and many others.
Tony
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