Aviation Heroes for poss TV
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Netherlands
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Thanks Frank, I didn't know who was behind the nickname. There can't be many pilots who made the leap from fighting in the Battle of Britain to posting on the internet! 
How about Eric Moody, captain of the 'Galanggung Glider', the BA 747 that encountered volcanic ash over Indonesia decades ago? He and his crew's handling of the emergency, partial engine restart and subsequent emergency landing was outstanding. I used to show a Boeing-made video on the dangers of volcanic ash to airliners, to trainees. His account of the incident on that video was priceless and I never tired of watching it.
Also recently saw a documentary where he visited Australia a few years ago for a reunion with some of the passengers on the flight; great stuff!
Also recently saw a documentary where he visited Australia a few years ago for a reunion with some of the passengers on the flight; great stuff!
Gamekeeper
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: South East
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How about John Romain - obviously not a WW2 "hero" - but a significant figure in today's aviation community - who has done through restoration of Spitfires and other historic types a lot to honour their memory. Has also been awarded the CAA General Aviation Safety Award in 2006 for performing a successful emergency landing of a Spitfire, which if memory serves me right he was Air Testing.
Veteran Pilots of WWII
Derek Piggott
WW2 Dakota pilot
First UK man powered aircraft pilot
Stunt pilot in Blue Max, Mag Men and more
Probably taught more people to glide than almost anyone else in the UK
Was still flying and writing glider test reports at 86
Author of numerous aviation books
and, from personal experience, very approachable and helpful.
WW2 Dakota pilot
First UK man powered aircraft pilot
Stunt pilot in Blue Max, Mag Men and more
Probably taught more people to glide than almost anyone else in the UK
Was still flying and writing glider test reports at 86
Author of numerous aviation books
and, from personal experience, very approachable and helpful.
Join Date: Aug 2002
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May I suggest S/Ldr Ian Blair.
Ian Blair joined 113 Squadron in 1938 as a AC1/Armourer AG. on Hawker Hind and later Blenheim Mk 1s. He took part in the heavy fighting of the first Lybian campaign. He was forced to take control and fly the Blenheim airceaft after his pilot was killed following an attack by an Italian Fiat CR 42. Remarkably he managed not only to evade the enemy aircraft, but fly to fly the Blenheim 350 miles back to his base where he made a succesful textbook landing. This extraordinary action earned him the award of an immediate DFM. The experience led him to train as a pilot at No 4 SFTS RAF Habbaniya, where the No 6 War Course were heavily engaged in operations to raize the siege of the base from the Iraqi Army. He was finally awarded his wings in May 1941. On return to the UK he served with 501 Squadron on combat duties on Spitfire Mk V's until injured as a result of enemy action. On return to flying duties he was posted to 602 Squadron flying MkV's and MkIX's until June 1944. In February 1944, he claimed a high altitude victory by destroying a Me.109 F at an altitude of 35,000 feet, flying a Spitfire Mk.VII H.F
He was also the pilot on the "Careless talk may cost his life" poster of 1941
S/Ldr John (Ian) Blair
He can be contacted through The Blenheim Society.
Ian Blair joined 113 Squadron in 1938 as a AC1/Armourer AG. on Hawker Hind and later Blenheim Mk 1s. He took part in the heavy fighting of the first Lybian campaign. He was forced to take control and fly the Blenheim airceaft after his pilot was killed following an attack by an Italian Fiat CR 42. Remarkably he managed not only to evade the enemy aircraft, but fly to fly the Blenheim 350 miles back to his base where he made a succesful textbook landing. This extraordinary action earned him the award of an immediate DFM. The experience led him to train as a pilot at No 4 SFTS RAF Habbaniya, where the No 6 War Course were heavily engaged in operations to raize the siege of the base from the Iraqi Army. He was finally awarded his wings in May 1941. On return to the UK he served with 501 Squadron on combat duties on Spitfire Mk V's until injured as a result of enemy action. On return to flying duties he was posted to 602 Squadron flying MkV's and MkIX's until June 1944. In February 1944, he claimed a high altitude victory by destroying a Me.109 F at an altitude of 35,000 feet, flying a Spitfire Mk.VII H.F
He was also the pilot on the "Careless talk may cost his life" poster of 1941
S/Ldr John (Ian) Blair
He can be contacted through The Blenheim Society.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Air Commodore EB Ted Sismore DSO DFC AFC is worthy of inclusion in this program.
Navigator on Blenheims in the early part of the war, later lead navigator when Mosquitos bombed Berlin for the first time. The raid was timed to coincide with and disrupt a speech by Hermann Goering.
Planned the route for Mosquitos to raid the Amiens prison.
Lead navigator on Operation Carthage, the raid on the Gestapo HQ at Shell House, Copenhagen.
Post war, navigated a Mosquito that broke the Flying record for the London to Cape Town. Later awarded the Royal Aero Clubs Britannia Trophy for 1947.
Navigator on Blenheims in the early part of the war, later lead navigator when Mosquitos bombed Berlin for the first time. The raid was timed to coincide with and disrupt a speech by Hermann Goering.
Planned the route for Mosquitos to raid the Amiens prison.
Lead navigator on Operation Carthage, the raid on the Gestapo HQ at Shell House, Copenhagen.
Post war, navigated a Mosquito that broke the Flying record for the London to Cape Town. Later awarded the Royal Aero Clubs Britannia Trophy for 1947.
)
If you're really desperate there is also Captain Toss Parker, a regular, and humorous, contributor to the Fragrant Harbour forum! He's definitely an aviation hero (in his own mind that is!).
Yes, Him
Join Date: Aug 1999
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Most of those suggested on here are worthwhile old duffers who have already been done to death on TV.
Get yerself down to RAF Odiham and have a chat with the boys and girls who fly the Chinooks in Afghanistan.
Get yerself down to RAF Odiham and have a chat with the boys and girls who fly the Chinooks in Afghanistan.
Join Date: Mar 2006
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There are a lot - well, quite a few - of heroes in present day, who ought to have their stories told.
I for one would be happy to record their accomplishments or pass on details of someone a lot better qualified to do so.
The veterans of WWII are hardly to be insulted in such disparaging terms however; it was after all a colossal undertaking, and a rare war in history which was truly good against evil; though I grant the Taliban run a close second to the Nazis, and would probably be first if they had the brains & capability...
I for one would be happy to record their accomplishments or pass on details of someone a lot better qualified to do so.
The veterans of WWII are hardly to be insulted in such disparaging terms however; it was after all a colossal undertaking, and a rare war in history which was truly good against evil; though I grant the Taliban run a close second to the Nazis, and would probably be first if they had the brains & capability...
Many great suggestions already (John Farley not least of all - I see him fairly often). If you are still looking for any more, not wishing to advertise, but I have interviewed well over 100 wartime veterans for my new book which was published yesterday.
Please feel free to send me a private message if you would like to talk about it.
Please feel free to send me a private message if you would like to talk about it.
Join Date: Jan 2003
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I'm surprised that anyone is doing research for the BBC for free, especially for a fatuous programme akin to the Sun.
If you search "Mark Thompson" he was Director General of the BBC in 2004, hardly resurrected as a presenter
If you search "Mark Thompson" he was Director General of the BBC in 2004, hardly resurrected as a presenter
Vizsla
If you search "Mark Thompson" he was Director General of the BBC in 2004, hardly resurrected as a presenter
If you search "Mark Thompson" he was Director General of the BBC in 2004, hardly resurrected as a presenter
BBC - Astronomer Mark Thompson's star turn on The One Show
So, what was that you were saying about 'fatuous'?
...
Join Date: Apr 2000
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Sadly too late to interview Neville Duke....
.....but Peter Twiss of the astonishing (at the time) 1132mph Fairey Delta 2 World Airspeed Record is well worth listening to.
No chance if you use the word Hero though.
.....but Peter Twiss of the astonishing (at the time) 1132mph Fairey Delta 2 World Airspeed Record is well worth listening to.
No chance if you use the word Hero though.
