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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 16, 2014 15:59:46 GMT 12
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 15, 2014 17:00:52 GMT 12
Well Dave , I cant speak from personal experience , not old enough , yet. But In talking with veterans over the years it seems
RAF BC flew in streams and come daylight they certainly tried to close up , and with GH bombing it was important that they hooked onto a marked leader.Harry Yates in Luck and a Lancaster comments that 75 squadron prided itself in its split arse and stream landings never did match the USAAF formation flying. There are plenty of photos around showing the RAF gaggles on daylight raids. Des Andrewes and John Tarbuck , both on post D Day raids recalled they could see sparkling way above them which were the escorting fighters. And even though the protecting squadrons were designated close , medium and high cover , the flak barrage meant the " close cover " were 10,000 feet above, and not identifiable. There are plenty of fighter pilot stories about watching "the poor bastards below ploughing through the flax barriers. The bomber crews assumed that the French raids were covered by RAF Spitfires and deeper penetration by Mustangs of the USAAF. None of the crews I know had any knowledge or contact with these fighter squadrons. Many BC crews that suddenly switched onto daylight raids were un nerved by all the flak bursts they could see and the flamers going down. Des Andrewes promptly returned to his nav station after having a look over Caen. That said, on some of the special 617 raids, Polish Mustang squadrons were regularly employed to suppress the flax over the targets. Both Arthur Joplin and Tony Iveson recall the fearless ( crazy ) attacks by the Poles , getting in front and below the Lancasters , even on the final bomb runs. I dont recall seeing any briefing papers that show that the crews were told " 616 squadron is covering you" etc.just that cover will be provided by wings of fighters. With 75 Squadron maybe an expert can come up with more details.
I will hunt out some photos of USAAF and RAF formations.
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 12, 2014 11:01:28 GMT 12
Great to see the selfie thanks , so many screens , surely they could have put in just one dial you could watch go round and round ! I assume that the second photo is taken in business class.
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 10, 2014 7:21:31 GMT 12
Yes do bring in the Royal Navy , despite an enormous investment in capital ships and crews, their offensive role seems to have been limited to supporting landings in Italy and Normandy. Unlike the USN in the Pacific war. To spark the debate further , the threat of U boats and German airpower seems to have made the Home fleet impotent , left swinging on their Scarpa moorings. In contrast the German fleet seemed to be much more willing to have a go , but suffered badly whenever they tried to operate in force. Perhaps the main role of the RN fleet was the potential threat they posed .
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 9, 2014 17:14:38 GMT 12
WOT >>>>WOT WOT wot wot wot wot . You swine Moriaty. It is you or Eccles Martyn that has sent me searching for the tapes .. I shall not rest until I have had a sleep: yours Bluebottle
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 9, 2014 14:57:41 GMT 12
Good on you , but the hard question , why is the LH seat the command seat ? If Dubai based , at least you have cricket to watch.
And Errol M cracking a joke ,,,,, get a grip man .
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 9, 2014 14:16:53 GMT 12
What an interesting and creative piece of writing by you both. It certainly raises a number of what ifs. One thing mentioned above , is the "wild card " nature of the Mosquito as it was a very effective weapon . It also used limited amounts of aluminium which presumably would be in short supply. If fact I have often wondered why large scale production of the Mosquito wasnt ordered (sure Canadian built versions did appear later). When you think of the final cost of a four engined bomber and its seven trained crew with an attrition rate of 5 % or more , the economics of a longer lasting twin crewed aircraft would be much better. I know in some squadrons individual aircraft did two operations in one night ( with different crews). And of course it served in NF and ground attack roles. Perhaps because it originated as a private venture that showed up some shiny bums in the Air Ministry they ensured that its availability would be limited . SB s can be spiteful as I have read that they withheld contracts to modify Victors from HP to ensure they either joined BAC/BAe or went broke .HP went broke.
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 9, 2014 13:52:11 GMT 12
Great to read about something thats new to many of us. Keep it up as research pieces like these make this forum real special.
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 7, 2014 7:37:55 GMT 12
Its been a great year for the Forum Dave , so well done. Sit back today and have a few beers, you deserve it.
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 5, 2014 17:58:55 GMT 12
Thanks I will pass it onto Norm and the boys.
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 5, 2014 14:50:14 GMT 12
What have I started ? The simple thought was to move 1940 to 1944 , with war having been being declared in 1943 not 1939. So there has been no extended preliminaries from 1939. But the two Airforces were equipped with the full range of developed aircraft available in 1944. The books on a German occupied UK make interesting reading and it is well recorded that plans were in hand to evacuate the Monarchy , Bank of England and the Fleet to Canada. But forget all that , its about two forces flying the best aircraft they had . I believe that the RAF Staff college has refought this battle a number of times using various modelling programmes. Over to you
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 5, 2014 14:06:18 GMT 12
Always happy to show Forum members around. Wednesday morning is the time as we are around the displays some where.
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 2, 2014 16:04:26 GMT 12
Brenda , sad times ,, I have checked the NZBCA records and we have only one Southland member today , a mid upper gunner ,, no pilots.
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MOTAT
Dec 1, 2014 8:30:43 GMT 12
Post by pjw4118 on Dec 1, 2014 8:30:43 GMT 12
amongst the current plans spoken about by the exhibitions manager last week was to build a permanent canopy over the hardstand where the Sunderland is now parked , but I am sure they are looking at other options.
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 28, 2014 9:55:44 GMT 12
The Wednesday committee suggested another coat , with brushing being done vertically so no strokes show !! MoTAT had its 50th birthday bash last night in the ADH . The theme was aviation with " flight crews" and Hostees all dressed up. A good night enlivened by a pair of Abba dressed very tall fuffafeenies as MCs .
By the way the Avenger was turned around so the Ventura could be put into the Belfast restoration hangar as well. Its now out of the weather. Norm says the Lodestar is a long term job but not so the Ventura , which needs a repaint.
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 27, 2014 10:47:46 GMT 12
A new project has been started this week to have the Thomas Frederick Duck nose art conserved for display. The painted canvas was presented by Jack Wrights family. . With the donation of an oil painting of the original D Duck Wellington by Nick Carter , the sole surviving member of the crew and photographs from private albums , the finished display will be mounted in the foyer of the BC area in the aviation hall. This will include a picture of the famous operational bell from Ken "ring the bell " Crankshaws family. We hope that the display will be dedicated by March next year.
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 26, 2014 18:53:04 GMT 12
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 26, 2014 17:52:27 GMT 12
Hi there, I love legends , myths and mysteries like everyone else , so forget about radar , it shows voids , borrow a bomb sniffer from the airport and check the seepages , drains and tunnel faces. Explosives have very distinctive signature decay products and the old ones, like you would expect in North Head, would be obvious. Try hiding nitro glycerine in your back pocket when you next go through the airport. Peter if your rate rises are too much set off some tri ammonium iodide to protest, the purple cloud is magic.
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 25, 2014 12:27:54 GMT 12
Looking at the Rangitoto photo again , I think it is reversed. The big sheds were on the city side of the bay and the foundations can still be seen on Google Earth. Likewise the huts and gun pits on Motutapu show up clearly. On the summit of Rangitoto there was a concrete roofed observation bunker , not sure about radar being there but there was one on the top of Mt Eden
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 24, 2014 15:21:48 GMT 12
Interesting comments. Just to fill in the gaps with Whites Aviation Photos North Head Motuhie in 1953 Rangitoto in 1946 Kauri Point 1947
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