May 16th – 1940

92 Squadron escorted a Flamingo to Paris that Churchill flew in.Robert Stanford-Tuck flew one of them. Too early for you I think but worth a mention?

Thanks BSG-75 I have the book on order, just waiting for it to arrive, hoping it’ll give me some details of specific encounters that I can then try to illustrate using the model.

I think you’ll enjoy it – really opened my eyes and took me away from the “two missions and out of service” mindset. Good luck, hope to see some snaps when you are done.

At risk of seeming very rude, and starting a bit of a flame war,

Adrian

No worries from my side – its a discussion/debate after all, and you and Tangmere both make good points. There is I believe, a very different view of death and the dead in Russia as you say.

Interesting approach to working with old munitions as well !

Police have already impounded 42 vehicles in just six days from Victorian drivers.

Source: The Herald Sun

Crikey – how old are these blokes? Victorian? was there a bloke walking in front with a red flag? – I’ll get me coat….:(

1st Oct 1947

XP-86 Sabre may have done it in a dive, the Smithsonian has ammended the X-1 caption to say “first supersonic in level flight”.

Something about instruments not being calibrated properly and the fact that the pilot, George Welch was civilian by then and the X-1 was an Air Force project. The Sabre was certanly transonic later in service IIRC.

George Welch is a true giant in aviation, not only in the fact that he may have been the first to Mach 1, consider as well his WW 2 record.

Got off the ground in a P-40 at Pearl Harbour, got a few of the bad guys, was shot at when he came back to land by his own side. He was then charged (later they were dropped) with an unauthorised Sunday take off. Later flew combat and was killed in a crash of an early F-100.

Your mention of the Roc makes me wonder if any Defiant crews ever became “aces.”

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If you have an interest – I can recommend

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turret-Fighters-Defiant-Crowood-Aviation/dp/1861264976/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231147089&sr=8-1

In terms of losses & kills, a major learning experience for me. There is a “titles you would like to see” tab on the osprey homepage, not sure how much luck you would have !

I’m rather shocked at the lack of response to this thread though. I figured most folks either read these books or have heard of them. Are we in the minority perhaps?

I hope not – each to their own tastes maybe ! – I picked up the JU-87/Russian front one at the w/e which I’m looking forward to, Soviet lend lease I read before Christmas and enjoyed. I would personally recommend any of the Israeli Phantom, F-15 or Mirage ones, not the usual Israeli heavy handed security IMHO, Royal navy aces is also interesting, I never knew that a Roc achieved a kill (another gem I learned from these) I have a few more in my wish list, RA-5 units among them.