Graham AdlamThe bombing of German cities was terrifying and tragic for the Germans, but war is total British cities were also terribly bombed. I think its dangerous to make any kind of judgement about decisions taken 60 years ago by a War hardened Government and population. Sir Author was badly treated and used as a scape goat by the British government. He did his duty as did all the aircrew involved.
There is bound to be bitterness from the occupants of a bombed city but in reality the German faired allot better after the war than the rest of us would have if they had won the war. Their country was rebuilt and they were a power house of industry in Europe within a few years, if fact they have a much better standard of living than us Brits. What we must ask ourselves is what would have been the fate of the rest of the world if Hitler had had his way. Its not only the Jews who would have gone to the Death camps, Hitler had plans to send all British males between the ages of 16 and 60 to Siberian labour camps presumably they would have been worked to death .I don’t know if the Bombing of Dresden shortened the war. The fact is like it or not it was policy made by a Government that was and had been in a bitter struggle for many years. There is little point in analysing the rights and wrongs from a modern day perspective; we just aren’t qualified to make a judgement.
I am just glad we won and respect to those who suffered to make it happen.
Luckily we all seem to get on these days long may it last.
As far as history lessons go the facts should be taught and no opinions offered on the rights and wrongs of specific operations. Facts cannot change, perception is constantly changing.
I watched an interesting program the other day about why the Allies didn’t bomb the railway lines leading to Auschwitz, but that’s another story.
Graham AdlamObviously have no idea why it got deleted, but back on track my two questions related to the crew of this aircraft and their identities. There seems a bit of a puzzle over this crash. I see from letters from the late Al Brown and Peter Foote that the site was first dug some 20 years ago when two parachutes were found. So, obviously the crew died. Hence your memorial idea I suppose. However, Peter and Al seemed to think another aircraft was involved nearby where the crew survived. Could there be some confusion between aeroplanes here and would this explain the bomb that shouldnt have been there?
Its possible i suppose but there was only one engine and one U/C leg which seems to match what they recovered ie one engine and one leg and so would tally up for one aircraft. Do you know what they recovered and why they left so much behind. Fighter Ace is more qualified to answer I only take the pictures.
Graham AdlamBest advert i have ever seen amazing, I also like Smirnoff;)
Graham AdlamDon’t see why not. If you are seriously considering it, send me a PM with the approximate cost, and I’ll have a word with the manager to see what he wants to do….
PM’d
Graham AdlamJust a little north of you… Sunderland (North East Aircraft Museum)….:D
Will you pay for the fuel to tow it up?
Graham AdlamIts better than our mosquito, and will quite happily give it a home, dodgy canopy or not! (Loan or free though…..)
“What mosquito?” I hear you cry!
We have an exhaust section…………….
If you don’t ask you don’t get, You know I might let you have it on loan until the summer, it might help us both I need the space to fit the spitty wings and paint where are you located?
Graham AdlamAs the construction of the Mosquito’s canopy is mostly of tubular construction, piping of suitable diameter can be welded with the front frame built op to the Mosquito profile using wooden construction.
This should not be seen as a Mosquito fuselage, as this would not do justice to the whole project but should be seen as a worthwhile project in itself. To build something that would represent the thousands of Mosquitoes that were crewed by young men from all corners of the world.
And if somebody thinks that somewhere in the text above is any slagging off hidden, think again.
Cheers
Cees
Perhaps I should call it a Spitquito LOL All replica’s are representations of the real thing, you have to call them something and I am calling this a Mosquito replica. The English dictionary explains the word replica as (copy; representation; reproduction; duplicate)
So I think I can call it that without upsetting anyone?
Graham AdlamWe have a Mossie canopy on display which you are more than welcome to photograph or measure Graham…
TT
Thanks for the offer I would very much like to visit when time allows, I don’t suppose you could be persuaded into swapping it? I have some pretty rare stuff i could trade.:) Is there anything you really need?
Graham AdlamThis Mossie fuselage is an excellent project with a few flaws; “the man who never made a mistake, never made anything” no the canopy isn’t right , and no the first time I saw it, I didn’t notice either!
Not that my advice is actually needed (but when did that stop me) a large improvement could be made by (a) bringing the side glazing bars down a touch, and (b) raising the fuselage sides (in the same location) up slightly, neither jobs would be time consuming.
When building replicas, these problems are out there for all of us (as my scrap bin will bear testiment to) even manufacturers drawings don’t tell the whole story, and there is nothing like having a part to copy, but not that many Mossie canopies out there.
Stuart
Hopefully will be able to visit soon really want to look at the internals of the cockpit as well, do you have a complete bomb aimers position fitted? I think the MK VII fitted should be replaced by a MK XIV Bombsight and that means a bomb aimers panel similar to the lanc set up I would guess. The canopy will be a real mission for us, the idea of replacing/cutting the glass and altering the frame would be a real mission. With so much else to do its a low priority.
Graham Adlam🙂
Quite right.
Like Cees, I spend a lot of my time, at work and play on getting the details right. I am by no means an armchair expert.
Constructive criticism (for that is what this is) has a place in ensuring we strive to always improve. Graham has happily taken this on board.
Looking at it, I think it incorporates a number of Dove panels (the windows), which has probably served to dictate some of the shape. I think that with a bit of imagination, it can be rebuilt to more accurately represent the Mosquito shape.
Graham, I have enough of an original canopy frame that you could use to copy, but we need to have a measure up to ensure it will fit your opening. I also have an original top escape hatch spare. We can work something out.
Bruce
Bruce your advise and help with the parts is much appreciated. Here is a better pic of the canopy side on. Its 1.705m long by .480m high (in centre) and 1.0m wide at its widest point. Looks allot better at this angle.
I don’t think its as bad as the Spit canopy Mark posted I didnt think it was possible to make a Spitfire look ugly, or maybe I am just used to looking at Spitfires. LOL
Have uploaded some more pictures taken this morning including the tail unit.
http://www.spitfirespares.com/
Graham AdlamI’ll make it easy, here are a Real Mossie and my Replica together, bearing in mind the picture of mine is not exactly side on.
Graham AdlamBruce is right,
If a Mosquito canopy can be found the whole thing is transformed. The current canopy looks like a cartoon.
That doesn’t mean this isn’t a great achievement. It deserves to be completed, only to do justice to the man who started it.Tried to find pics of Lincoln Nietszche’s (spelling?) mossie fuselage reconstruction but came up nought. But he had the opportunity to find any Mosquito bits apart from the wood (which had rotted away). In Oz and New Zealand there must be more Mosquito bits lurking.
Cheers
Cees
Cees
You may think it looks like a cartoon, but you would’nt say that if you saw it for real, the canopy is a heck of a thing to make some windows are hinged and all the glass has been hand molded to fit, the entire frame was fabricated, it may not be right but its no cartoon, there arent many people around that can make a thing like this from scratch. It may be that he reached His limitations in reproducing it exactly. To be honest its only die hard Mosquito fans that would notice. I certainly didnt have a clue it wasnt right when i saw it, to be honest it took my breath away. How often do any of us see a Mosquito?? a complete replacement canopy practically impossible to find. If someone like Hawker restoration had to make one you would be looking at tens of thousands of £s to make.
If its within my capabilities i hope to improve it but the Spit still has to finished and thats the main priority.
To described it as a cartoon is rubbish:confused:
Graham AdlamCanopy and more pics
Have had a discussion with Bruce about the canopy and he thinks it can be put right:) . Have added some more pics of the whole thing follow the link.
http://www.spitfirespares.com/
Graham AdlamWell, when the Luftwaffe secretly allowed Bader to come back to Britain for more surgery to his legs they lent him an Me 109. Out of fuel and lost somewhere near the Wirral (he had long range tanks because the standard 109 F didnt have the legs) he baled out. Later, he was given the 109 canopy he had dumped before he jumped and he realised this would make a handy bed cradle to keep the sheets from irritating his stumps when he was staying at the Stork Hotel. During the day it doubled as a bediside table and, later, a feature coffee table in the guest lounge. I thought everyone knew that story? :diablo:
Andy
That story is word perfect, I know this as my Grandad managed to purchase one of Baders legs at the same time during his stay, apparently he needed another Beer and had run out of cash. Is anyone interested in purchasing the leg???:diablo:
Graham AdlamBetter give Mr. Jackson a ring :diablo: :diablo:
Roger Smith.
Those replica Lancs will have to end up somewhere after the film!!!!!!!! It won’t be in my unit its full, need a lottery win and big new shiny hangar, maybe one day:)
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