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Post by planecrazy on Jan 12, 2021 16:03:22 GMT 12
Been reading up a bit on Geoff Fisken and decided to repaint my Durafly 920mm span RC Buffalo as a mount he had some success with.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 12, 2021 20:39:21 GMT 12
Although Geoff flew a lot of different Buffalos, the one he flew most often was W8147, if you need the serial.
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Post by davidd on Jan 14, 2021 11:04:42 GMT 12
Just a tiny point, but the type of Mae West worn by the Buffalo pilots in defence of Singapore/Malaya/Burma was, I think RAF 1932 pattern, which like the later 1941 pattern was a pale sort of yellow-ish khaki colour, certainly not the bright yellow as seen on later Mae Wests. However there were a few pilots who may have painted the rather dull originals with yellow paint (possibly the Sqn CO might turn a blind eye, but the Equipment Officer possibly not!) Something to consider, or perhaps not! However your aircraft as a whole, and the pilot, certainly look the business. Like the scuffing too, not overdone. David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 14, 2021 14:37:03 GMT 12
Here is a photo from my late friend Brian Baber's album of members of No. 243 Squadron, including some wearing their Mae Wests. Back Row L to R: John Oliver, F/Lt Bows, P/O Jim Cranstone, Noel Rankin, Sgt Geoff Fisken Middle: Vin Arthur, F/O Holder, P/O Marra, F/Sgt Mothersdale Front: Allan Lawrence & Brian Baber
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Post by planecrazy on Jan 14, 2021 18:37:54 GMT 12
Just a tiny point, but the type of Mae West worn by the Buffalo pilots in defence of Singapore/Malaya/Burma was, I think RAF 1932 pattern, which like the later 1941 pattern was a pale sort of yellow-ish khaki colour, certainly not the bright yellow as seen on later Mae Wests. However there were a few pilots who may have painted the rather dull originals with yellow paint (possibly the Sqn CO might turn a blind eye, but the Equipment Officer possibly not!) Something to consider, or perhaps not! However your aircraft as a whole, and the pilot, certainly look the business. Like the scuffing too, not overdone. David D Excellent stuff just what I want to hear, so a similar colour to the Mae Wests worn in the Battle of Britain? Interesting also she had the half black half duck egg blue undersides from what I can make out?
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Post by davidd on Jan 15, 2021 16:01:39 GMT 12
The latest image put up by Dave H also reminds me that white flying overalls also seemed to be very popular with the fighter pilots in Singapore/Malaya squadrons, possibly also on flying boats and Hudsons too perhaps? Fisken at back right also has sgt stripes on his overalls, which would possibly be rather unusual. And yes, the colour of these Mae Wests would be similar to the ones in the BoB, although some of the ones shown immediately above appear to be very dark! And semi-inflated too, perhaps this was deliberate, to save time, may not have had the CO2 cylinders in Far East AF at the time perhaps. Notice a lot of guessing going on here. David D
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