Battle of Britain Day
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Battle of Britain Day
Well, the 15 th of September has nearly passed and I haven't noticed any mention of the day's special significance. Nobody on the street selling wings. No earnest ATC Cadets in uniform pestering passers by. I suppose its inevitable that after more than 70 years The Few should be swept under the carpet and forgotten. The Duchess of Cambridge's tits are far more important than the events of 1940. 
Gnome de PPRuNe
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I had a lovely view of a Spitfire (probably Peter Monk's IX) cruising past while I was cycling on the North Downs at 3pm.
And a real WTF moment at about 6pm. On the local common I suddenly glimpsed what I thought was a glider in a very low and steep right hand turn over Warlingham - as perspective corrected itself, realised it was the Lancaster rather further off and turning for a run in over Biggin Hill.
But you are right. Although I wasn't listening to the news much (there's only so much titillating gossip one can stand) I heard no mention of BoB day.
And a real WTF moment at about 6pm. On the local common I suddenly glimpsed what I thought was a glider in a very low and steep right hand turn over Warlingham - as perspective corrected itself, realised it was the Lancaster rather further off and turning for a run in over Biggin Hill.
But you are right. Although I wasn't listening to the news much (there's only so much titillating gossip one can stand) I heard no mention of BoB day.
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I had already seen 2 Merlin engined planes both on the Friday and Saturday which I assumed were Spitfire and Hurrican were doing demonstrations at The Newbury Show. But on Saturday at around 1700 going East to West just south of the M4, was a radial engined low winged monoplane with a high back at the rear of the cockpit, my spotters instinct said FW190, couldnt possibly be could it ? a new build out of Munich ?. If it wasnt, what was it then ? I saw a similar object going North South traversing Benson's runway a few years back. Thanks in anticipation Alan S
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So far as I know the only new-build Fw190 that's been operating in Europe is currently being rebuilt in Germany after ditching in the Med off France a couple of years back.
Possible candidate is The Fighter Collection's P-47G Razorback which is now flying - it was at Goodwood this weekend. They also have a P-36 flying which also fits the dexcription.
Possible candidate is The Fighter Collection's P-47G Razorback which is now flying - it was at Goodwood this weekend. They also have a P-36 flying which also fits the dexcription.
Battle of Britain Day
Attended airshow at RAF Leuchars yesterday. Brilliant day except for high winds but best airshow this year for me. Drove 300 miles home and attended Battle of Britain parade at Lincoln today complete with Spitfire flypast. Happy man
A lone Spitfire overflew St Paul's Cathedral at around 12 today. I'm not sure if it was making a tribute to military personnel below or on it's way to Biggin Hill, but from the altitude I'd have guessed the former.
SHJ
SHJ
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Excellent, gulf papa. As ATC cadets in the sixties, we were in the cinema foyer every night with our collection boxes and out in the street at the weekly market for the two Saturdays preceding BoB Sunday. The whole event has become very low key these days, but its good to know there are still young folks our there in at least some of our towns, keeping the memory alive.
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ATC were collecting at Sainsburys last Saturday.
As with many Ppruners I remember BoB w/e as a major event at many RAF Stations. Jolly good fun it was and loads of dosh collected too.
As with many Ppruners I remember BoB w/e as a major event at many RAF Stations. Jolly good fun it was and loads of dosh collected too.
I don't know about earnest but there were certainly some 30 or so ATC cadets spread around Ely all day last Saturday collecting. Same bunch turned up at the Battle of Britain Service in St Marys Church in the city on the following day. May be something to do with the grumpy git of an OC growing up and living at Biggin for donkeys years and appreciating the sacrifices made in our name 72 years ago by young men and women hardly older than some of the cadets.
Brokenlink - Good to know the ATC were out in Ely - 1971-72 I was a VR(T) officer with City of Ely Sqn between TA and regular RAF careers. IIRC CO then was a guy called Bob Browne who had been a wartime Observer on Blenheims at Watton (and I guess pretty lucky to have survived)
