Here’s another question. Is it conceivable fighter pilots on either side ever smoked a cigarette whilst in the cockpit?
Chuck Yeager mentioned Col. Henry Spicer of the 357th FG would smoke his pipe on the return whilst still over enemy territory.
And Bader would have a smoke, once clear of trouble though.
I read recently about a Squadron Leader during the Battle of Britain who incinerated himself lighting up in the cockpit after landing – but he wasn’t named… anyone know who that might have been?.
In Brian Kingcomes excellent ‘A Willingness to Die’ Brian mentions 92 squadrons new CO, Squadron Leader ‘Judy’ Sanders, who accidently set himself alight after using petrol from a nearby bowser to clean some oil stains off of his uniform, he absent mindedly lit up a cigarette…….and up he went, sustaining burns to his arm.
Ensure that there’s access to all parts of the Museum, that would be a good start.
That sums up my view accurately.
‘Spitfire Women’ by Giles Whittell.
And looking forward immensely to reading ‘Bluenoser Tales’, 352nd Fighter Group War Stories!
Chox and Mercurius are quite correct in their observations, but the problem is down to bad parenting.
The bad behaviour isnt just in museums, but in all public places and where you live.
Too many parents are either too lazy to discipline children, or are avid readers of leftie modern parenting guides…….”I want Toby to express himself…..thats why he was leading a charge through your front garden during a snowball fight and is still shouting in the garden late on a school night”
The museums have to cater for children to foster an interest in history and to educate children in aviation, thats where your future designers, pilots and engineers come from.
There are parents around with good intentions with well behaved children, but they appear to be in the minority now.
The problem with the Science museum is one of having hordes of very bored teenagers on school trips clogging up the displays, the primary school age ones aren’t as much of a problem if properly chaperoned.
The RAF museums problem seems to be having that cafe area spilling out near the exhibits, or at least it was when I last visited.
RIP Bob.
Nice to see the Ultimate Fighters return from Biggin Hill where they were my personal highlight. I’m assuming ‘Nellie B’ returned to Sywell ?
The parking permit i’ve received this year is different to the usual IWM large format A4 print outs. It’s printed exactly the same as the entry ticket bordered in blue ?
I’m surprised he isn’t bowing out at the last OW show.
The only Spit and Mustang listed are from ARC and Anglia Restorations though.
PT used to update his Facebook page from time to time with really lengthy enjoyable posts but they have tailed off the last year or two.
Well said Brian.
The notion of moving the RAFM out of Hendon to Scampton is without doubt the dumbest thing i’ve read in ages.
If Scampton has to go i’d rather it went the way of Greenham Common back to common land.
The biggest tragedy would be a housing estate.
It’s been one a week the last 3 weeks, Tom, Geoff and now Mary.
R.I.P. Mary one of a very special generation.
R.I.P. Geoff
This is very sad news.
I was only thinking about Tom on Tuesday during the televised RAF 100 celebrations and looking for him amongst the guests .
I was very lucky to meet Tom several times over the years and thoroughly recommend his books .
Rest in Peace
Good to see plenty of ‘Nellie’ lately, she was moved into Airspace for an event to celebrate Lakenheaths 492nd FS winning the Raytheon Trophy.