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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 12, 2014 2:03:58 GMT 12
Hells bells! And Graham was literally giving them away for our raffle at the 2011 Forum Meet!
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Post by lifeboatadam on Mar 12, 2014 4:31:43 GMT 12
Thanks Ceejay. They would your father and my grandfather would certainly have known each other, but 70 years is a long time!
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Post by graham488 on Mar 12, 2014 14:07:33 GMT 12
Holy ! I need to keep an eye on Ebay as I have several copies here in stock. Most of my stock though has been gifted to families of veterans and anyone that has helped with research with my latest project. Much more satisfying than the "bucks"
Your Dad is in great nick from the sound of things Chris. My Dad, a survivor of the Singapore 488 is only just hanging in there at 95 and is one of several NZ veterans still left from the earlier squadron.
Nigel Bunting is the flight leader that your Dad recalls but he was shot down on 30th July 1944, almost certainly by "friendly" fire over the American sector at Caen in France. His Navigator at that time was Flg. Off. Spedding who was not his normal crewman. His normal crewman was Phil Reed. Bunting was chasing a Fw 190 at high speed at very low altitude which was his speciality and reported that he had been hit but ploughed into the ground some 15 seconds later. A tragic end for a very brave and experienced night fighter. This happened about a month before your Dad's first success with Andy Shaw over St. Lo.
I too hope to have the book published soon. One of my big regrets was losing Reg Mitchell last year. I had promised him it would be ready in time. He did see a draft copy of the manuscript which is some consolation. He did so much work to get the project underway and I was saddened with his passing before I could get it completed. The book is in fact dedicated to him.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 12, 2014 14:25:45 GMT 12
Reg was certainly a great bloke. I feel privileged to have known him.
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Post by Andy Wright on Mar 12, 2014 14:50:53 GMT 12
It's a sad time as the numbers of WW2 veterans thin. That's why keeping their stories alive through books and forums like this is so important and worth every effort. I will admit to being somewhat worried about the veterans we will lose, without their stories being told, over the next five years while 'all eyes' (and dollars) are turned towards the (justified) WW1 commemorations. The last living links to WW2 are still with us!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 12, 2014 16:01:12 GMT 12
Exactly Andy, already this is happening. I have been trying to organise with our RSA a 70th Anniversary event here in Cambridge to honour our last living local area Cassino veterans and try to get their stories retold to the younger public - but certain members of the RSA committee are seemingly reluctant because they are focusing on WWI commemorations coming up. Um, honouring living heroes versus dead heroes, I'll go with the living ones every time. Who will benefit more from investing in commemorating a war where there are no survivors left?
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Post by Andy Wright on Mar 12, 2014 16:25:51 GMT 12
Um, honouring living heroes versus dead heroes, I'll go with the living ones every time. Bang on, Dave. I've taken things off-topic in this thread again...
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