Dave HomewoodA fantastic idea Andy, I have thought about the lack of a Master before and what a shame it is. Most RAF fighter pilots during the war flew the type. I’m sure you’d enjoy this rare coloured footage of one flying:
http://www.aero51.worldonline.co.uk/museumofberkshireaviation/master_video/Miles_Master_ADSL.html
Dave HomewoodThe simple reason is economics I’m afraid. The P40F wreck was a cheaper option for recreating an RNZAF P40E than acquiring a genuine RNZAF P40E, because everyone wants to rebuild P40’s to flying these days so they’re not cheap. The museum is only allocated a mere NZ$10,000 (about 3,000 quid) per year for restoration, and considring they are currently rebuilding a Vildebeest and an Oxford alongside the P40, money is somewhat stretched I guess. Most of their engineers are volunteers, ex-RNZAF men.
Dave Homewood😀 😀 😀 😀
And I thought it was just Alan.
Dave HomewoodSincerest apologies to the photographers – I’ll remove this if you’re unhappy – but I was inspired and did a bit of playing in Paint Shop Pro with a few B17’s from this thread and a replica Bf109.
Dave HomewoodI can think of two best R/C models.
The first I saw at an annual scale model do that Waharoa airport, near Matamata puts on. It was a very large scale Harvard, at least 1/4 scale. It had a real metal fuselage (I suspect very thin aluminium sheeting over something else, but it looked extremely realistic with all the rivets, etc). The cockpit was right, the exterior right, and the scheme (in a 1960’s RNZAF Red Checkers scheme as NZ1091 – which was also a Warbird flying in that scheme) It was just spot on. Best of all, the engine (I think from a chainsaw) was set up with an exhaust system that made it sound right too! It actually sounded like a radial, and not an screaming annoying r/c engine. I only wish I’d had a camera. It’s flying display was perfect too, and from memory it also had a smoke generator.
The other is a Hercules, very large scale. I have mentioned it on here before, and I was going to look out the photos. I will try to find them and post soon. It is so big you won’t believe it. And very realistic.
The worst model? One chap here in Cambridge was brillaint entertainment. Alan was his name. A Randy Quaid kind of character, heart of gold, but… Every Sunday he used to come out full of enthuiasm to the flying field that the club used (my Dad was president and even though I have little interest in r/c models I used to go along sometimes to watch the planes). He had this little Piper Cub that seemed to be more patches than plane. I used to enthuse when I saw him arrive because it was great fun. He’d spend at least an hour every Sunday trying to get the engine to start, sometimes never succeeding. But when it finally happened he’d then heave it into the air, and it would seldom do more than a full circuit of the field before it would dive into the deck and break something. It would then be picked up and put back into the car, and he’d spend the rest of the afternoon planning the next rebuild over a cup of tea. And it would always be rebuilt by the next Sunday. He never once lost his temper and thoroughly enjoyed this hobby of his. The human spirit can be great, but that Piper Cub was such a dog. It put me right off the type all together. He’s probably still perservering with it 20 years later I’d imagine.
Dave HomewoodI’d think even William Wyler himself could be excused for thinking that many of these shots are the real thing (ie 1943!).
Fantastic. The Buchon looks very convincing in that last shot.
Dave HomewoodDamn, can only find this Piece of Cake thread with any pics on it.
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=23066&page=2&pp=30&highlight=piece+cake
There are a few photos on these threads of interest to aviation film buffs:
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=34314&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30969&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=20682&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=22640&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=22627&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=20097&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18502&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=19741&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18683&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17981&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17454&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=15387&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=13081&highlight=battle+britain+film
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=20174&highlight=baddies
Dave HomewoodGreat to see John. This P40F will certainly be a unique aircraft once it’s flying. I seem to recall seeing photos of it when it and another P40F were dug out of a swamp looking decidedly tired.
The other one is also well on the way to pristine condition here in New Zealand, with the RNZAF Museum. However the Merlin is to be replaced with an Allison because it is being backdated to a P40E model.
The one in Christchurch looks stunning. Most of the wing structure is brand new, and although it’s intended just for static, it is rebuilt to airworthy quality (like all the Museum’s aircraft, it is their policy).
Does this Australian-based P40F still belong to Judy Pay? And, I’ve often wondered, is Judy Pay any relation to Col Pay? It would seem a huge co-incidence if Australia’s two leading Warbirds personalities have the same name and are no relation.
Here’s a snap I took in February of ‘our’ P40F.
Dave HomewoodThank you James, and I shall buy the first round I might add.
I have been finding all sorts of interesing features on the site you recommended, thank you.
The reason I asked about RAF day tactics – which was merely an afterthought to the main question – is a friend has a photo of 630 Sqn Lancasters on their way to a target (Milan) at low level, and in very tight formation. The photo was taken by one of the crew out the window of a Lancaster, and her husband was flying one of the other bombers seen. You can see about 20 Lancs in the photo, the formation is that tight, and it resembles the close formation of USAAF bombers as far as sticking in a very close, tight box. As I haven’t seen too many day formation photos from actual riads, as opposed to posing for the camera, it made me wonder after Gnome said at night they would “stream, basically a long loose gaggle of aircraft”.
As for the Memphis Belle, I was actually thining about the documentary, not the film. The narrator states that when the leader drops his bombs, everyone drops.
As for the niggle between USAAF and RAF about tactics, this is very well dramatised in ‘Over Here’.
Dave HomewoodThanks Steve and Daz. It sounds like a fantastic series.
Dave HomewoodThank you Robbo and John C.
Thanks too James for posting that link, which has gone onto the thread whilst I wrote my response above. I have begun looking at the site but have not yet found the page detailing night formation.
Dave HomewoodWTF???
You know, it would be a lot more helpful if you simply recommended a book (or website) that details RAF night flying tactics rather than being obnoxious and condescending.
This question struck me WHILE I WAS READING A BOOK.
I do read books. I have many books. I use my library often, even though I have to travel a great distance to get to it!
Not one of the books I have read has yet answered the question of whether RAF night bombers used lights while in formation.
So I Googled, but as the internet is such a vast source of information, I could not find a site that conclusively answered my query. There’s lots and lots on Bomber Command, etc. But it’s a needle in a haystack finding whether lights were used, what type and when!
So I assumed that this was a legitimate enough question to ask on the forum, because there was bound to be someone here with some experience who may have come across the answer. Gnome and Damien kindly provided some interesting answers.
SO WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM???
Mike and James, I have a lot of respect for you both, you’ve obviously been around a long time and done a lot, particulalry in the Warbirds scene. Much more than I have ever done. You also obviously have a vast collections of books and easy access to others. Please do not assume that everyone else does. We all live in different circumstances and have different levels of knowledge. Thank you.
Dave HomewoodHaving not had the benefit of seeing this wonderful-sounding show, I am a little in the dark on the format. Are they eliminating people as they go like they did in Spitfire Ace? Or are they assigning specific jobs within the aircraft to each of the five participants? ie – does one eventually become navigator, one gunner, one pilot, etc, and they all stay with the series right through??
Also, are their Grandad’s all still alive and in the show? Will they get a flight too if so?
Dave Homewood“Wings” was a great series, the lead character Alan Farmer was played by Tim Woodward, who later went on to fly Spitfires in WWII (ie “Piece of Cake”, as Sqn Ldr Rex). And yes, another lead character was Charles Gaylion, the snobby officer played by Michael Cochrane who’s a well known characrter-actor.
It began in 1976 and ran till 1978 for 26 episodes, each 50 minutes long. Lots of Be2c aircraft (full sized replicas and models) and Eindekkers and Dr1’s, etc.
It also used to focus on life at home in WWI too.
I’ve always wondered what became of all the Be2c aircraft they built. And the large models built by master modeller David Boddington.
Dave HomewoodThose last photos are stunning, thanks B17 man. Yes please, more like that.
If not a book or magazine as you suggest, how about a website? Then more photos and stories can be added as people come up with them!
The tufts of cloud in the second shot look almost like flak bursts. 🙂
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