John -nobody cares what the name is ! They go to see the aircraft . The fact that the organisation was formed in the area doesnt really explain why the CAF has wings all over the U.S.

It’s nothing to do with political correctness -simply the name didnt reflect what the organisation had evolved into. So by all means hold onto the image of cowboy farmers flying P-51’s but that has long changed into an organisation that has significant costs and needs to be able to operate and raise money in a very different world to the 1960’s

You said it. In the 1960s they didn’t have the PC Thought Police. It should be remembered that the true nature of PC is nothing less than cultural marxism and all that that implies.
Some of the comments that seem to have been aimed at those who had the brains and energy to originate the CAF are uncalled for. I have a brochure from Harlingen from the 80s. The main theme running through it, inter alia, is how the memory of those flyers who fought, and the many who died, for FREEDOM in WW2 must be kept alive. That freedom included freedom from the tinpot little Stalin’s behind PC.
The CAF should have told them to get stuffed and take their worthless ideology with them. Wave those flags.

B17s

There’s an excellent paperback called “Everything But The Flak” Tells the story of how the B17s were acquired, restored, then flown over to England for the film.
The title says it all. It’s a roller-coaster of a book.
Love the photo of SM tinkering with the bike. Another year or so and “Buzz Rickson” would give way to “Virgil Hilts”. Classics.
They knew how to make films in those days

Bomber Medal

I think, given that Bomber Command aircrews had to fly THIRTY ops to complete a tour of which their chances of survival were slim, to put it mildly. The sheer guts it must have taken to have kept going in such circumstances, truly warranted a unique BOMBER COMMAND medal, FOR Bomber Command aircrew.
To have denied these brave men such recognition is a stain upon the reputation of those responsible, including Winston Churchill.
Shame on them.

Astounding attention to detail. A fantastic achievement. Bloody well done. You
must be so proud of it.

Don’t suppose anyone has any video footage or photos of the legendary Cranwell Phantom flypast of 1987/8? It was a sight and sound to behold, apparently.

I took some photos in the BoBH with an ancient 120mm roll-fillm camera some years ago. The photos came out superb. On my last visit two years ago, took a load more with nearly 500 quids worth of digi-cam. Bag ‘o ——.
Hey ho, such is progress.

`What next? How about a Stirling that’s just been dragged out of a Russian bog “in remakably preserved condition…..?” Now, have I got an unmade Airfix Stirling insulating my loft?` That would be nice Stendec7……….what about a diorama of one in bits in the corner of a Russian Hangar ?………Lovely work by the way!!!!!!!!!

Many thanks. A lot has been learned about aircraft preservation since ’73. If the Hally had been pounced on the moment she came out of the lake and doused with WD-40 into every nook and cranny, the onset of serious corrosion could have been considerably slowed down. I understand that Hendon actually kicked-off a fundraising scheme that reputedly raised over £100,000 towards the cost of restoring ’48. What happened to that cash, as it evidently wasn’t lavished on the old warrior. That being so, wasn’t this a case of raising money under false pretences? Is that legal.
Like the idea of the Russian Stirling in the hanger…..propped up on empty vodka boxes perhaps. What would I give to see a (largely) intact Stirling?

Given the state of RIP Binbrook today, your photos are hauntingly bitter sweet. Thanks for sharing.
It would be interesting to see an exact match-up of the shepherd photo taken today.