Spitfires

[happy daze john in oz]

In my old pub in kent we had a customer who had sufered some very bad facial and had burns whilst in the RAF during the war. He had been one of McIndoes, think that was his name very well known plastic surgeon at the time, who had done a great job on him. Many felt very sorry for him thinking he had been in a plane crash. Factwas he was photograph expert who looke at arial photos and was actualy burned when one of the planes coming into land at Biggin Hill hit a power line and came down. But fair play to him, it got him a lot of free beers.

[Keith at Tregenna]

I did discuss the question with Brian and he was very positive about including such especially since flying was one of his hobbies. A new forum called R.A.F was duly created.
Although Keith would have liked the forum to be called Aviation the existing name stands.

Thank you so much, I did mean MN related aviation, but respect Brians dedication to the RAF, flight and old friends. K.

[Keith at Tregenna]

An Airman's Prayer

Chaplain John Eastwood

God guard and guide us as we fly
Through the great spaces of the sky;
Be with us as we take to air
In morning light and sunshine fair.
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Give us courage and make us brave;

Protect us whereso'er we go,
From shell and flak and fire and foe.
Most loved member of our crew.
Ride with us up in the blue.
Direct our bombs upon the foe
But shelter those whom Thou dost know.

Keep us together on our way,
Grant our work success today.
Deliver us from hate and sin,
And bring us safely down again.
O God protect us as we fly
Through lonely ways across the sky.

LINK: The 464th Bombardment Group in WWII For Our Morale - "An Airman's Prayer"

[j.sabourn]

During my time working with the MOD thought what I saw of the naval heli pilots that they were extremely good. Before the fitting of a helideck on the vessel I was on all personell transfers had to be by line lowered or taken up to the chopper. The station keeping of these pilots were superb as were holding station very close to bridge superstructures etc. For those not aware when receiving a passenger as such they had to be earthed, this consisted of touching the belt buckle on their harness with what we called the shepherds hook. This had a wire to attached to the deck. This earthed him before his feet touched the deck so preventing a burst of static electricity to the concerned passenger. Regards John Sabourn

[Frederick Lacey]

Has anyone seen the picture of the Spitfire on page 3 of the Daily Mail today, beautyful, and was piloted for a while by Eric Carter aged 91 years, who flew Spitfires in Northern Russia to protect supply routes, purely magical.

Fred.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Has anyone seen the picture of the Spitfire on page 3 of the Daily Mail today, beautyful, and was piloted for a while by Eric Carter aged 91 years, who flew Spitfires in Northern Russia to protect supply routes, purely magical.

Fred.

Flying high again... the Spitfire pilot shot down by elf 'n' safety: Hero, 91, takes controls of rare two-seat aircraft 70 years after he first flew legendary plane

Read more: Flying high again...the Spitfire pilot shot down by elf 'n' safety: Hero, 91, takes controls of rare two-seat aircraft 70 years after he first flew legendary plane | Mail Online

K.

[Keith at Tregenna]

An earlier report from the Mail:

Taking to the skies again over the green fields of England for the first time since it was downed during World War II, this Spitfire in its British standard camouflage colours epitomises the heroic defiance of our island nation against the might of the Nazi onslaught.

The stunning sight above Biggin Hill airfield in South-East London is the result of an eight-year restoration project which cost £3 million.

The Mk1 Supermarine Spitfire - one of just three in existence which are still airworthy - has been completely rebuilt using original Spitfire parts salvaged from aircraft which flew in the Battle of Britain.

Read more: Battle of Britain Spitfire: Restored after 40 years and £3m | Mail Online

K.

[Ronnie Grant]

Hello, i am told , because I don't know personally, that the turn around time for a spitfire was about 26minutes, the hurricane could be serviced in about 9 miutes. I used to drink with a hurricane pilot in Auckland Nz, he called it the hurribus but there is no doubt that it was the aircraft, the one who could absorb damage and get back up in the air, that was the real star of BoB. A kind of ugly sister?

[Keith at Tregenna]

Would be a sight to see:

Spitfire and Eurofighter to welcome Paralympic Flame:

Two aircraft of different eras will welcome the Paralympic Flame when it arrives at Fulwood Barracks.

A Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will overfly the barracks, followed just minutes later by a Eurofighter Typhoon.

LINK: Spitfire and Eurofighter to welcome Paralympic Flame | Granada - ITV News

[Keith at Tregenna]

You don't sit in a Spit - you strap the beast on! Ever wondered what it's like to pilot a Spitfire? Ben Griffiths fulfilled a childhood dream and found out:

Spitfire! It’s one of the most evocative words in the English language. Steeped in history and significance, it is impossible to hear those two syllables and not think of 1940, The Few, and our finest hour.

LINK: You don't sit in a spitfire - you strap the beast on! Ever wondered what it's like to pilot a Spitfire? Ben Griffiths fulfilled a childhood dream and found out | Mail Online