Xmas pressies.

Two good books among other things from my daughter in Bristol.
“The Royal Air Force. Memorabilia Collection. From origins to the future. Also included is a collection ofitems, some original, some facsimile. Includes a living out pass for AC1 2396155 Heym. L. RAF South Cerney. Original booklet on what to do if captured. Not to be carried in aircraft. Booklet, RAF Parade, priced at 1/-. Record of combat for Sept 1940, flying Spitfires, X4170
X4237
X4424
P7421
P7428
No name mentioned. Also a lovely verse by Patience Strong.
Lord, hold them in thy mighty hand
Above the ocean and the land.
Like the wings of eagles mounting high
Along the pathways of the sky.

Immortal is the name they bear,
And high the honour that they share.
Until a thousand years have rolled
Their deeds of valour shall be told.

In dark of night and light of day,
God speed and bless them on their way.
And homeward safely guide each one
With glory gained and duty done.
It was called.- A hymn for the RAF.

Another book named. Five of The Few. Five pilots stories from the BoB.

Ken

Bang seats.

We are evidently talking about different systems here Scorpion. The early Canberra’s, the B2’s T4’s and the early PR’s all had manual ejection systems. The canopy and hatches had to be fired manually, nothing was initiated by the seats and the pilot had to initiate the control column detonator himself. There was no chance of the canopy doing as you stated, the slipstream lifted canopy with the help of the initial detonation and the canopy had to lift sixty degrees to seperate from the rear latch. I worked on all these marks at RAF Binbrook between ’51 and ’56.

Ken

Ejection.

Hi.

The early Canberra’s were fitted with two stage seats, the initiator was at the top and the main charge was uncovered by the internal slide tube moving up. The back crew had no problems, jetison hatch and pull! The pilot had a bit more to do, he would jetison the canopy, then pull up a wire locked lever, this would explode a ring charge round the rod going to the elevators, a spring would pull the control column out of the way of his knees and then he could eject!

Vet charges.

Hi.

We have excellent vets. A black moggy decided he liked my wife, so he threw himself under her car. He ended up two hind legs badly scuffed and a nasty bruise on his head. We rushed him to our vets who put him out while they attended to his wounds, made a few enquiries about him, kept him overnight. By then we’d decided to keep him if no one came forward. Total charge twenty pounds.

Ken

XM173 Spine repairs.

Hi.
Re. corroded spines on 173, our Lightning was in the same state, I have reskinned the rear two which are removable. The front one is hinged so that will come off (in the better weather) If you don’t have someone who can do it, I can relay to you a reasonably simple way to do it. Give me a shout. I myself had never done this, but our curator asked me if I could do anything with the Lightning. So I learnt as I went along. I have since competely rebuilt a Gannet rudder which was torn off in a Force 7 at HMS Gannet at Prestwick, it ended up bent and in three pieces. Its now ready for refitting.

Ken. Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum

The old days.

Hi all.

Yes Bex, I agree with you, the police had more control in the old days. When I was growing up in the late thirties, we used to play football in the street with a tennis ball. I f the local bobby came round and caught us he would put his penknife throught he ball and the nearest kid would get a cuff across the ear. Oh that those days could come back.

Ken

Is this the sort of photo you need…?

Left photo is the pilots (port) example.

.

Many thanks XM692. I’ve started construction of the port unit, I’ll send you a photo of the finished pair. Thanks again.

Ken.