Dave HomewoodMy guess would be radar pods?
Dave HomewoodGeoff,
I’d just like to say that these signings that you and your team organise look like a wonderful idea – not only for raising the profile and the funds for your museum, but also in keeping the Battle of Britain veterans in the public eye so the younger generations remember their sacrifices.
It seems from looking at the photos of your last signing that an amazing amount of people are keen to give up their day and travel to meet these heroes – which is fantastic. Great to see so many younger faces there too.
I do find it curious how the public line up for autographs as if the pilots were popstars or actors. I wonder what the pilots make of it – usually most veterans are reserved about their actions (unlike most popstars and actors). Do the pilots find it a little overwhelming or even embarrassing to be so popular? Or has this become a way of life for them? Either way I think it is great that they are willing to take the time to help the museum, and to help educate the public about their exploits.
I wish that such events could be instigated here in New Zealand so some of our forgotten heroes could be more appreciated.
Good luck with the upcoming events, I really wish I could come along.
Cheers
Dave
Dave HomewoodI was aware of this Melv, thanks, I just thought it odd that by 1937 when the RAF was already very anti-Nazi policy that the use of their symbol was still used, even if it still had other meanings of good luck.
What I wanted to know is was this on all the sqn’s aircraft or was this personal noseart?
Cheers
Dave
Dave HomewoodSee here for details on Italy’s foray against Britain
http://www.dalnet.se/~surfcity/falco_bob.htm
The first British-based RAF pilot to encounter Italian fighters was New Zealander Edward Preston ‘Bill’ Wells, of Cambridge, NZ, (also known as Hawkeye), on the 11th of November 1940. He encountered them over the Channel. He claimed a ‘damaged’ on a CR 42 and probably destroyed a Hs 126 as well. He was flying a Spitfire Mk II (P7322) with 41 Sqn from Hornchurch. I have heard that he in fact probably damaged four CR42s, perhaps even destroyed one or two, but he didn’t see the results so he didn’t claim them. If anyone has Italian records that back up/refute this I’d be pleased to hear.
It was the same day and same encounter that saw the CR42 in Hendon captured at Orfordness, and it’s likely that same plane was one of those engaged by Bill Wells.
Dave HomewoodTell more Mark12. Is that really a bit of a MkIII Spitfire then?
I don’t have any other so sensational rumours, but I can say there is much out there that the aviation community and wider world don’t know about. After the war here in NZ there were massive post-war sales of not only the planes but all the components, etc. Only a few nights ago a mate who is a pilot and enthusiast, so knows what he’s on about, said he knows a local man who bought up a load of stuff from an RNZAF sale at the Te Awamutu Stores Depot after the war. He said he’s got all sorts of stuff in a shed, but all he specifically mentioned were boxes and boxes of BA standard instrument screws. And he also apparently has a sextant from a Lancaster that he got in the sale. I don’t know what the RNZAF stores was doing with a Lancaster sextant (would it have been used in any other aircraft within NZ?). But it doesn’t surprise me bcause in 1991 when RNZAF Te Rapa (No 1 Stores Depot) was being closed down a mate was involved in the inventory listing of all itms to be dispersed to other bases. He found boxes of Spitfire PR camera mounts. The RNZAF never operated PR Spitfires! They’d been in store for about 50 years and never used.
Anyway, there is still lots to be discovered in the way of components that would assist restorations, all sitting in people’s sheds and barns. I’m certain of that. And I would not be surprised if someday a few extra Spitfires or Mustangs did turn up in the outback either.
Dave HomewoodWow, it seems there is more substance to that rumour than I’d given it credit for. I can see a documentary in that… “The Secret Squadron”… hehehe
Dave HomewoodBack in the 1980’s I was told by somone who’d lived in Australia and was very much into the warbirds scene that there were rumours of a small group of farmers in the outback of beyond who’d gotten some ex-RAAF Spitfires from the disposal yards, and had got a few back to flying condition. Legend has it that it was all done illegally and they really only flew them round the outback where no-one ever saw them.
I know this sounds like a fairy tale, and I don’t really believe it. But I was wondering did any of the surviving RAAF Spitfires survive because they were rescued by farmers who stored them in barns? I’m not saying anyone got them flying, that was just the rumours and legend. I just wonder if this is how some of the airframes have been rescued, and I wonder if the rumour came from this? Any ideas?
Dave HomewoodThanks Denys. A pity if it hasn’t progressed. I don’t know how anyone can get upset over such a thing as the restoration of an aircraft to serve a a memorial to a Sqn that served defending that area. Unless some of them were living in it at that time, i don’t see why they should get upset.
Dave HomewoodHi Phil,
Wanaka is pretty far. From Cambridge it is a 6 hour drive to Wellington, then the ferry crossing of Cook Straight, then about another 5-6 hours drive in the SI to get to Wanaka – so not a mere afternoon preamble I’m afraid. And you can only get to it by road or plane – there’s no railway sadly.
New Zealand has the most aircraft per capita in the world apparently and I can quite believe this. As we have such a big country with such a lot of nothing in it, flying is a popular means of travel. And it is a popular sport, hobby, business and all the other things except having a decent Air Force any more.
NZ is a very British country indeed, especially where I live in Cambridge. We didn’t get any convicts officially – only those that escaped from Aussie and jumped ship to NZ. When was this white child born? It must have been long before 1839/40, there were settlers here at the turn of the 19th century.
Anyway, back to historic aircraft… Chris (TurboNZ) was at Wanaka this year, lucky devil, as were many others on this forum who came a lot further than I’d have had to go. 😉
Dave HomewoodI made it along only to Warbirds Over Wanaka 1992, never since. 🙁
I hope to go next time.
The last airshow I attended was Ardmore in Feb last year. Saw the La9’s public debut. 🙂
Maybe I’ll get to Omaka next Easter, that’s be a good one.
Dave HomewoodDavid I spent two year has a Vollenteer with the Collings foundation and I can tell you from first hand experaince that haven a 24 Vet walk throu the 24 and touch and tell his grandchildern that this is were I work during WWII is such a moving sight.
Well I think you’ve just answered yourself there – are you happy to deprive all the Liberator veterans who live in the UK or who visit Britain that same experience?
As well as the USAAF connections with Britain (which was the battleground they fought from, not the USA!), the Royal Air Force also operated B24’s, and as well as there being many British veterans who’d want to visit a real Lib, these were flown by crews from all over the world (esp RNZAF and RAAF crews) and in many theatres from Coastal Command to the Mediteranean to India.
Many of these people visit Duxford no matter where they come from, because it is the world’s best known aviation museum. Few people have heard of these obscure USAF bases where they have others tucked away. So who would take the trouble to visit them?
Plus as said many times here, loads of US veterans also visit Duxford and the other ex-USAAF bases. I know that other Air Force veterans do the same, even ex-RNZAF aircrew go all the way back there to see their old haunts and their old planes. It must remain at DX for them all to see, and as a tribute to those who flew the type from Britain, and furthermore the Liberator is not there just for them, or for British enthusiasts, it is there for everyone and people from across the world go to Duxford to see just such exhibits.
Now you must admit would’nt a flying DX 24 do more good then it sitting collecting dust.
That argument could be put to almost any aircraft in any museum (except perhaps dangerous ones like the Flying Fleas). If it were ever to get flying it should remain at DX anyway, where it belongs.
Dave HomewoodI just caught the tail end of a news report on the midday news about this incident, so I thought I’d pop across to the Commercial Aviation forum for once to see if there’s any more news.
COR DEAR!!! I don’t mean to ruffle feathers here, but Kev, you’re spot on. All the speculation and nonsense does nobody any good.
CNN suspects terrorism? Well, THERE’S A SURPRISE. CNN suspects EVERYTHING as terrorism. They thrive on putting fear into people. That is how they exist.
As we know the news media will frenzy over this for days and weeks and get most of the reporting wrong, make wild speculations and accusations, and then when the truth comes out will come up with conspiracy theories. Don’t emulate them here.
I’m off back to the Historic Forum.
Dave HomewoodFascinating.
There were apparently many cases of confusion and friendly fire during the Battle. Understandable but also sad.
This exact scenario was of course recreated in Piece of Cake. It’ll be interesting when they get that Blenheim Mk 1 flying at Duxford – it could lend a whole new idea to combat themes at airshows, having a squadron of Spitfires attacking it. 🙂
Dave HomewoodHi Whitleyfreak,
I know you’re fairly new here so you may not have seen this thread i posted a few months back. It has a number of links to recordings about D Day. There is some aviation related stuff amongst it.
The BBC 4 documentary ‘The People’s D Day’ was superb. I think you can still listen to it online. It even includes a PR Spitfire pilot in the many people interviewed about their D Day.
Here’s my thread
http://forum.airforces.info/showthread.php?t=26081
Dave HomewoodThanks chaps. That sorts that out then.
🙂
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