”Vincent Losada was born on May 2, 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in a Spanish community with his family. When he turned 18, Vince decided to join the United States Army Air Force and was stationed as a cadet in different states including Texas and Florida. When he completed his training, he joined the 487th Bomb Group and was assigned as a bombardier to a B-17 called “The Big Drip Jr. ”

When he first met his new crew, they were all complete strangers, but they soon became like a family. The men of the “Big Drip Jr.” arrived in England in early December 1944 and were stationed at Lavenham Airfield in Suffolk, England. They flew 24 missions bombing different targets in Germany, but the 25th would change the life of Vince forever. As he was releasing the bombs an Anti- Aircraft hit him and almost completely tore his right arm off. His crew put a tourniquet on him and went back to England as fast as they could. Unfortunately, Vince’s arm could not be saved, and since that day, he has adapted and overcome.

In 1948, Vince joined the “Possibilities Unlimited Club”, an exclusive group for amputees, created to encourage and support each other. They had their own baseball and football teams and proved that their handicaps could not stop them from living normal lives.” facebook

Thank you for your service.

”The pilot reported that he was experienced in operating historic military aircraft and had completed P-51 training one year before the accident. He explained that N51BS was heavier than other P-51s he had flown because it had been restored to its original configuration, which included heavier materials and inert weaponry.

The accident occurred during takeoff from Woodchurch Airfield. The runway was 750 m long and the pilot reported that its grass surface had become soft due to rain. He commented that he did not apply full power immediately to avoid causing the aircraft to roll in the opposite direction to propeller rotation. As the aircraft moved, its wheels sank into the ground and it did not reach the desired speed for takeoff. At the end of the runway the pilot turned the aircraft to avoid a ditch.

It struck a fence and came to rest approximately 180 m beyond the end of the runway. The pilot stated that because he had successfully operated a different P-51 from another grass strip of similar dimensions to Woodchurch he did not perform a performance calculation. He reflected that he had not experienced the ground becoming as soft as it was on this occasion, and he had not considered the higher weight of N51BS.”

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/749120/Bulletin_11-2018_Lo_Res.pdf

They did, unfortunately. And he’s not going to take it sitting down.

Is that a Grahame Knott imposter ? The real one said he was never coming back here.

The Reading Flying Group have had Tiger Moth G-ANFM for over 50 years, though not all the individual have remained for the whole time.

G-KEST of this forum may well have one, if such a thing was printed. He wrote the following on PPRuNe in 2003

”I flew with the RAT’s for the 1971 season in Stampe SV4C’s flying G-AYGR or G-AYCK in the No. 2 slot. A fabulous experience especially since I had no formation aerobatic time or training prior to joining the team. Not only that, but my first airshow with the team was the afternoon of the day I joined………!!! One day I will write it all up for one of the aviation magazines but I can confirm that on the odd occasion adrenalin was brown. Great blokes and fantastic pilots. Had to pack it in at the end of the 1971 season as, O thee of little faith, I lacked confidence in Rothmans continuation as sponsors ”

https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/111405-rothmans-aerobatic-team-others-11.html