In the most recent edition of “Aeroplane” it is mentioned that the BBC is making a film of Geoffrey Wellum’s book “First Light” to be screened in “the Summer of 2010” and that the BOBMF’s Spitifire IIa is to be used in the filming. Does anyone know when and where the filming will start? I reckon they will use a few real aircraft,some replicas and a lot of CGI.

Colin

That would work out about right. . . . .
1930 – Hells Angels
1949 – 12 O’clock High
1969 – The Battle of Britain
1990 – The Memphis Belle
2010 – ?????

A Classic aviation war film every 19-20yrs, (yes others have been made but there is a pattern here) I was wondering what the next one would be for 2009/2010

Look at it another way. You’re flying a R/C aircraft when for some reason the transmitter falis and your plane comes down in someon elses garden. Do they now ‘own ‘ the aircraft?

A childs ball come over your fence into your garden, do you now own the ball?

A car, driving past your house, swerves to avoid an oncoming vehicle on the wrong side of the road, crashes through your front garden wall and comes to rest on your front lawn. Can you assume ownership of the vehicle?

I think not.

P.S. Later in the afternoon (4pm) 2 Spherical Hot Air Balloons came over Ipswich from the South East. They must have come across the Channel/North Sea. One was yellow and had a German flag, the other one was white and had a French flag (or possible Dutch?). Don’t know much about cross channel Balloons, does this sort of thing happen much? (apologies if this is not Flypast territory!)

Saw them both myself sometime later, flying East to West quite low (my 2 1/2yr old Grandaughter called out hello and got a hello back from the pilot of the yellow balloon) over Bedford.

Strangely, neither were ‘Hot Air’ Balloons as they didn’t have burners. They seemed to be filled with gas which I assume would be Helium.

also nobody has noted a “legless pilot” Douglas Bader , but there are many fine pilots.

Take another look at post 8. Not Bader but ‘legless’ none the less.

Not This chap by any chance?

http://www.cricket-online.com/player.php?player_id=19167

http://www.rammycricket.co.uk/Archive/Players/13/13181/all_teams.html

Played for the RAF during the war too it would seem (second link)

That clip comes from a video entitled ‘The Doc Furniss War’. It runs for about an hour or so.

A compilation of clips taken by Capt Furniss on his 16mm cine camera.

An Abbey Collection Video, I don’t think it was a general release, there is a phone number on the casette label, I can’t remember where I got my copy, it was about 10 years ago.

Captain Willam E. Furniss, MD
Flt Surgeon. USAAF
He served with the 327th Sqd. of the 92nd BG at Podington, Bedfordshire 1943 to 1945

I don’t know if it’s available on DVD

Cranfield Lightnings

Thanks for the info guys and an especially big ‘thank you’ to 320psi for posting the pics, they’re fantastic.

As mentioned in my earlier post, when I first saw them they were standing side by side on the Southern end of the airfield. I remember thinking at the time that it would probably be the last time that anyone would have the opportunity to stand amongst six Lightnings in a row. It seemed special somehow, will never forget it.

I just regret that I didn’t have a camera with me at the time. 20-20 hindsight is such a wonderful thing!:o

Does anyone else have any more pics of them?

Nice to know that one of them still has a good home there. must get down to see it.

cheers guys, mucho appreciation.