24 Spitfires and Hurricanes together
My father is a 96 years old survivor of Biggin Hill in Sept 1940. He wasn't a pilot, he was an LAC who helped keep the aircraft serviceable, refuelled and re armed, even if the airfield was under attack. His billet was a tent on the perimeter of the airfield.
When I found out this event was planned I sent a request for him to be able to attend as a veteran of those days. I received a reply saying his name was added to a list and further correspondence would follow. I guess they didn't need any engineers at the event because there was never any follow up despite another polite enquiry from me. Very disappointing.
It is very commendable that there is recognition of the bravery of those involved in the battle of 1940, but as others have suggested on here already, there are more stories to tell than just the RAF fighter pilots.
When I found out this event was planned I sent a request for him to be able to attend as a veteran of those days. I received a reply saying his name was added to a list and further correspondence would follow. I guess they didn't need any engineers at the event because there was never any follow up despite another polite enquiry from me. Very disappointing.
It is very commendable that there is recognition of the bravery of those involved in the battle of 1940, but as others have suggested on here already, there are more stories to tell than just the RAF fighter pilots.
One of todays 'flight' formations was named Mortimer Flight, in tribute to Sgt. (Joan) Elizabeth Mortimer MM, WAAF, who was awarded her MM as a result of her actions at Biggin Hill on the 18th August.
Document-35: August 18th and Biggin Hill
Document-35: August 18th and Biggin Hill
Having been otherwise engaged earlier, I managed to see a little TV footage of the Biggin event on the 10 pm news bulletins, They were followed by Newsnight on BBC2, which offered a more down-to-earth, intellectual assessment by Evan Davis, who then interviewed a couple of experts.
I hesitate to disappoint any of you, but this Battle of Britain thing is largely a myth that was originally cultivated to improve our parents' and grandparents' morale while it was going through a wobbly patch. The war fought by the Russians in the eastern front, as you should all know by now, had a far more serious and significant effect on the outcome of WW2. After all, would it really have made any difference if the Germans had taken over Blighty?
Thank goodness that in this modern world of ours we have the benefit of the authoritative and enlightened perspective of talented BBC editors and presenters to debunk the exaggerated tales of the heroism of that generation, and present a cool, rational analysis...
I hesitate to disappoint any of you, but this Battle of Britain thing is largely a myth that was originally cultivated to improve our parents' and grandparents' morale while it was going through a wobbly patch. The war fought by the Russians in the eastern front, as you should all know by now, had a far more serious and significant effect on the outcome of WW2. After all, would it really have made any difference if the Germans had taken over Blighty?
Thank goodness that in this modern world of ours we have the benefit of the authoritative and enlightened perspective of talented BBC editors and presenters to debunk the exaggerated tales of the heroism of that generation, and present a cool, rational analysis...
Originally Posted by Chris Scott
I hesitate to disappoint any of you, but this Battle of Britain thing is largely a myth that was originally cultivated to improve our parents' and grandparents' morale while it was going through a wobbly patch. The war fought by the Russians in the eastern front, as you should all know by now, had a far more serious and significant effect on the outcome of WW2. After all, would it really have made any difference if the Germans had taken over Blighty?
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Chris Scott,
Your: "After all, would it really have made any difference if the Germans had taken over Blighty?"
Ask the old folk of Hamburg (or dozens of other German cities) what their Fathers had told them.
Ask the still thousands of living survivors of Auschwitz, etc what they think !
Ask in any of the Western European lands overrun by Hitler !
Ask the Russians !
But re-reading: "........we have the benefit of the authoritative and enlightened perspective of talented BBC editors and presenters.......",
it occurs to me that your tongue might have been in your cheek when you wrote this !
Even so, it is a poor jest.
Danny42C.
Your: "After all, would it really have made any difference if the Germans had taken over Blighty?"
Ask the old folk of Hamburg (or dozens of other German cities) what their Fathers had told them.
Ask the still thousands of living survivors of Auschwitz, etc what they think !
Ask in any of the Western European lands overrun by Hitler !
Ask the Russians !
But re-reading: "........we have the benefit of the authoritative and enlightened perspective of talented BBC editors and presenters.......",
it occurs to me that your tongue might have been in your cheek when you wrote this !
Even so, it is a poor jest.
Danny42C.
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Anyway ...
Had a chuckle at the expense of the Daily Telegraph yesterday evening ...
Map: Will today's Battle of Britain flypast fly over me? - Telegraph
Good job they weren't Nav Leader for the event ... Eastbourne is now inland
And 'Cobham' indeed
Had a chuckle at the expense of the Daily Telegraph yesterday evening ...
Map: Will today's Battle of Britain flypast fly over me? - Telegraph
Good job they weren't Nav Leader for the event ... Eastbourne is now inland
And 'Cobham' indeed
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 19th Aug 2015 at 08:31.
Quote:
"I think Chris Scott is having a subtle dig at the BBC, not the BoB and RAF!"
Looking at it in the cold light of day, perhaps my piece wasn't quite as subtle as I hoped. Apologies to anyone who took it literally. As for the programme that provoked it, some of you might like to judge its merits for yourself on BBC iPlayer in the next few days:
BBC iPlayer - Newsnight - 18/08/2015
The item about the BoB starts at 24:53 on the time counter.
"I think Chris Scott is having a subtle dig at the BBC, not the BoB and RAF!"
Looking at it in the cold light of day, perhaps my piece wasn't quite as subtle as I hoped. Apologies to anyone who took it literally. As for the programme that provoked it, some of you might like to judge its merits for yourself on BBC iPlayer in the next few days:
BBC iPlayer - Newsnight - 18/08/2015
The item about the BoB starts at 24:53 on the time counter.
Chris Scott has given us an object lesson into why we shouldn't rush to the keyboard before responding. I read it three times before satisfying myself that he was having a not too heavily disguised dig at the Beeb.
It's the only explanation, otherwise the man would be a total knob!
Edited - sorry Chris, you posted your last as I was doing mine.
It's the only explanation, otherwise the man would be a total knob!
Edited - sorry Chris, you posted your last as I was doing mine.
Originally Posted by CoffmanStarter
Mind you ...
The 'opposition' caused quite a stir when they were based at RAF Manston in the 60's during the making of a certain film ...
The 'opposition' caused quite a stir when they were based at RAF Manston in the 60's during the making of a certain film ...
I was sitting quietly fishing on the river Mole between Dorking and Brockham yesterday when the sound that I heard caused me to think, "they're not Cessnas". Looking up I saw the flight of seven Spitfires - I think that the last one may have been a Mustang (unfortunately I had the wrong spectacles on) as they flew along the Downs. A little while later they came back. Alas, for once I didn't have my camera with me.
Made my day, the fishing was good too.
Made my day, the fishing was good too.
I did notice the Mustang in the footage from Biggin Hill. Very nice it looked as well with its No.112 Squadron shark's mouth, but I did wonder if it had strayed into the wrong anniversary.
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"I did notice the Mustang . . . but I did wonder if it had strayed into the wrong anniversary".
Reminds me of Ex Dynamo 90 when we took a load of Little Ships to Dunkirk to mark the 50th Anniversary - the 'African Queen' tagged along!
Reminds me of Ex Dynamo 90 when we took a load of Little Ships to Dunkirk to mark the 50th Anniversary - the 'African Queen' tagged along!
Originally Posted by Martin the Martian
I did notice the Mustang in the footage from Biggin Hill. Very nice it looked as well with its No.112 Squadron shark's mouth, but I did wonder if it had strayed into the wrong anniversary.
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I can see from the (gorgeous) pix that the section visiting the Isle of Wight coasted out at Thorney Island then returned eastbound offshore, south of Southsea. That explains why we watchers on the hills above Portsmouth saw nothing.
Fortunately, much better information is being made available for the 15 Sep event -
BoB Flypast
I can't decide whether to go back to the hilltops to look out for Green section, lurk at Selsey to watch the whole gang forming up, or fight my way into the car park at Goodwood to experience the multiple takeoffs. Tough choices!
Fortunately, much better information is being made available for the 15 Sep event -
BoB Flypast
I can't decide whether to go back to the hilltops to look out for Green section, lurk at Selsey to watch the whole gang forming up, or fight my way into the car park at Goodwood to experience the multiple takeoffs. Tough choices!
