Yeah, that hook was always doing that. I remember it coming loose when Hoof was bringing it back to Duxford. He said it was almost impossible to retract in flight so he opted to land on the grass where it would do less damage to the hook. Unfortunately, the hook bounced along the bumpy grass and damaged the fairing under the tail. Was only minor damage though and fixed next day. I was tempted to run out with a length of fence wire and a couple of ping pong bats when he was on final though 😀

BWB, I disappeared shortly before P.O.C. was filmed 🙁

Aww…now thats just cruel Mike!! 😉 I too have a copy of that photo somewhere so I guess you must have given it to me. If I remember right, just after that shot was taken, I had to refuel the Spit and had to fill that silly transit tank behind the cockpit. I got distracted talking to Hoof and fuel came spurting out of the tank, ran down the fuselage and under my feet which sent me crashing onto the ground….still holding the fuel nozzle!! Jeez, how its all coming back to me.

SFF, yeah you’re right about lots of hours for nothing!! But back then I was just a wide eyed 17 year old kid living out a dream. They were great times. Made a lot of friends, lost a few too, but thats life I guess. I went to Duxford last year and took my 6 year old son with me. He loved it but the place has lost its magic for me. Back in the mid 80’s, everything was much smaller. As Mike will tell you, when I was there the fighter collection consisted of 1 engineer and maybe 3 helpers, and to start with, only four planes!! They/we had a corner of a hanger and we had a metal box to store all our gear in. Anything we wanted we had to beg, borrow or steal. No big hi-tech workshops with large stores in those days!!

Now, it seems to be very sanitised. I was talking to one of the old Blenheim guys I used to know and he said “even the managers have managers these days, and everyone has a department!!” Seemed to be much more relaxed in my day and everything now seems geared towards making money rather that just enjoying the planes. Maybe i’m wrong? Am I right Mike? :confused:

WOW! Thanks for posting those pics Seafuryfan, they really brought back some memories!! You see, I am the rather bored looking person leaning on the back of the Spitfire in the last lot of pics you posted. It was a real shock finding photo’s of myself taken 20 years ago posted on the internet!!

That was a great weekend. I was lucky enough to fly down there in the P40M (GA*S) with Hoof Proudfoot on the Friday night. We flew down in formation with the Bearcat, P51 and SpitfireIX. After the other three planes landed, Hoof deceided to do an unplanned full airshow routine…..with me rattling around in the back trying to hang onto flight bags, spare headsets etc…. and that is one flight that will live with me forever.

I flew home on the Sunday in the P51 (Moose) and before departing, our formation of four planes ran across the airfield on the final run. Halfway down the flightline, the Bearcat pulled up and peeled away to leave a gap…..the missing man formation, as a tribute to Stefan Kawowski who was killed earlier that year. Watching that from the Mustang and thinking of Stef was a very moving & emotional experience.
Thx again for posting them….is there any more?