Veterans' Day
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I was lucky enough to be present at the most recent Pathfinder Dinner at RAF Wyton, and afterwards had the opportunity to talk with and listen to some of the men who flew those early pathfinder missions. Humbling does not come close. I just find it such a shame that when we do honour our veterans it is done behind closed doors and away from the public.
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Does anyone know of a link to that US military video which showed a couple of US military guys walking through an airport and the entire concourse stopping and applauding.?
Imagine that at Gatport airwick ?
Imagine that at Gatport airwick ?
Vec, know exactly which one you mean and IIRC, I think it was done by Budweiser or one of the American beers. Contrast that to walking through the terminal at BZN, disgruntled movers hurrumphing because you have the audacity to clutter up their airport and the endless wait because some civi in MT couldn't be bothered to sort out your pick up because it was a bit early in the morning.
But talking of veterans, I cannot recommed strongly enough a book that Johnnie Johnson and Laddie Lucas wrote together in the mid-90s called Winged Victory - A Last Look Back: Personal Reflections of Two Royal Air Force Leaders.
It has it all, and the selfless attitude that just oozes through the paper really does make you think that these 2 fine gentlemen are probably turning in their grave at some of the things that happen now. For a fiver off Amazon, it's an absolute bargain
But talking of veterans, I cannot recommed strongly enough a book that Johnnie Johnson and Laddie Lucas wrote together in the mid-90s called Winged Victory - A Last Look Back: Personal Reflections of Two Royal Air Force Leaders.
It has it all, and the selfless attitude that just oozes through the paper really does make you think that these 2 fine gentlemen are probably turning in their grave at some of the things that happen now. For a fiver off Amazon, it's an absolute bargain
Last edited by Melchett01; 28th Jun 2006 at 22:58.
Read this article by an officer who escorted a young Marine killed in action to his home in Wyoming. It will give you an idea what we think of our young folks that are lost in combat.
http://weblog.theviewfromthecore.com...05/day_31.html
http://weblog.theviewfromthecore.com...05/day_31.html
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Originally Posted by SASless
Read this article by an officer who escorted a young Marine killed in action to his home in Wyoming. It will give you an idea what we think of our young folks that are lost in combat.
http://weblog.theviewfromthecore.com...05/day_31.html
http://weblog.theviewfromthecore.com...05/day_31.html
Cunning Artificer
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One day, when I was on late shift at Northolt, I bumped into Flt Lt Joe Kmiecik who was locking up the 207 Sqn office for the day. "Its a lovely evening" I said. "Yes, its been a lovely day altogether." said Joe. Then he pointed out the two Luftwaffe transports parked over on south side, proudly displaying their black and white crosses. "Look at that." he said sadly, "There were plenty more who can't appreciate a lovely evening. Tell me, what the f*ck was it all about, eh?"
He'd flown against the Luftwaffe from the same airfield 33 years earlier. He happened to be the last Polish fighter pilot still standing in his uniform and he wasn't just talking about the Poles.
Politicians are the curse of humanity. A pox on them all.
He'd flown against the Luftwaffe from the same airfield 33 years earlier. He happened to be the last Polish fighter pilot still standing in his uniform and he wasn't just talking about the Poles.
Politicians are the curse of humanity. A pox on them all.
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I think that Joe Public is too tied up with the state of the nation to allow any time for HM Forces either past or present. Veterans day hardly made an impact on the country did it, after all the majority of UK based personnel were all at work as normal when they could have been helping make the day more spectacular.
As for SASless words, I couldnt agree more! I occasionally pop into the local town during the working day to source leaving presents for personnel in my unit and the only people whom speak to me are those that are of an age to remember the war. We often have good chats, have a little flirt with the old girls and it makes you feel united for that small token of time.
As for SASless words, I couldnt agree more! I occasionally pop into the local town during the working day to source leaving presents for personnel in my unit and the only people whom speak to me are those that are of an age to remember the war. We often have good chats, have a little flirt with the old girls and it makes you feel united for that small token of time.
Old Geezers
I was on a tube platform not long ago, trying to get to MB for a meeting. Tube was delayed, and this old bloke came up to me and asked if I knew what the hold-up was. I noticed his tie - AAC wings, so asked him when he was 'in'; turned out he was a glider pilot. He'd been into Normandy on D+1, then done Arnhem, where he was captured. Later did the 'long march', the forced movement of POWs from Poland to Germany in January '45. We both missed the next train, but hey - chances to chat to someone like that are getting fewer. Somehow my own war stories just aren't the same...
Red On, Green On
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There was an unrelated picture of the PoW in yesterday's Telegraph Business section, as he went to the City on Tuesday. He was wearing his RAF tie.
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Jerzy (Joe) Kmiecik
Blacksheep,
I was present in the Officers Mess Bar in 1978 when Joe walked in announced that the drinks were on him - something which produced a stunned silence in the room.
When asked what the occasion was he replied "Today is the 37th anniversary of my being sentenced to death by the Russians."
Joe had been put in a Russian Concentration Camp for trying to escape from Russian occupied Poland to join Free Polish Forces in the fight against Germany. Ironically, it was the German invasion of Russia which enabled Joe to escape from the camp and he walked several thousand miles across Russia to Mermansk where he joined the British Forces. He always maintained that he joined the Army but got on the wrong lorry and became a Fighter Pilot.
I was present in the Officers Mess Bar in 1978 when Joe walked in announced that the drinks were on him - something which produced a stunned silence in the room.
When asked what the occasion was he replied "Today is the 37th anniversary of my being sentenced to death by the Russians."
Joe had been put in a Russian Concentration Camp for trying to escape from Russian occupied Poland to join Free Polish Forces in the fight against Germany. Ironically, it was the German invasion of Russia which enabled Joe to escape from the camp and he walked several thousand miles across Russia to Mermansk where he joined the British Forces. He always maintained that he joined the Army but got on the wrong lorry and became a Fighter Pilot.
Gentleman Aviator
Good letter in the Torygraph today which sums it all up for me:
29 June 2006
The real veterans' day
Sir - I am an old soldier - Second World War - and proud of it. I have no wish to be specially recognised at the behest of deceitful, self-seeking politicians acting for their own ends.
We "veterans" have our own day of remembrance every November, and I see no reason to support an unnecessary and inevitably small-scale imitation of such a solemn national occasion.
Old soldiers would much prefer politicians to show real regard for the Armed Forces by ensuring that those who are currently serving are properly equipped and maintained.
E. J. Turner, Eastbourne, E Sussex
29 June 2006
The real veterans' day
Sir - I am an old soldier - Second World War - and proud of it. I have no wish to be specially recognised at the behest of deceitful, self-seeking politicians acting for their own ends.
We "veterans" have our own day of remembrance every November, and I see no reason to support an unnecessary and inevitably small-scale imitation of such a solemn national occasion.
Old soldiers would much prefer politicians to show real regard for the Armed Forces by ensuring that those who are currently serving are properly equipped and maintained.
E. J. Turner, Eastbourne, E Sussex
Red On, Green On
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Originally Posted by teeteringhead
Good letter in the Torygraph today which sums it all up for me:
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Originally Posted by SASless
How about this concept....
Next time you see and old geezer wearing his medals at an airshow, ceremony, parade, or funeral...don't just walk on by. Stop, offer your hand, a salute (hand and/or verbal) and a real heart felt "thank you".
Take a minute or two and ask him about "his" service and show some geniune interest in his well being.
If it catches on.....it might be you standing there on your cane one day and think how you would appreciate such a gesture.
Next time you see and old geezer wearing his medals at an airshow, ceremony, parade, or funeral...don't just walk on by. Stop, offer your hand, a salute (hand and/or verbal) and a real heart felt "thank you".
Take a minute or two and ask him about "his" service and show some geniune interest in his well being.
If it catches on.....it might be you standing there on your cane one day and think how you would appreciate such a gesture.
Did that at Southend this year - I was chatting to an old Dakota pilot, rattling a tin for the RAFBF, who (after a while) turned out to be David Lord VC's wingman from the Arnhem mission. I make a point of talking to these chaps as you can only get the story from the horses mouth for a finite time. I always thank them - they always brush it off with something like "we were young, we just did what we had to do"
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I'm with SASless - I think we need to have more contact with the veterans and not just one day a year.
I'm lucky to live in a little "City" in Somerset where we have our own Veteran of World War 1 - 108 year old Harry Patch.
The local schools have been making a real effort to bring small groups of kids round to see him on regular visits. The kids get to actually meet a real live hero and Harry gets spoilt rotten
The local paper is also keen to take as many pictures of him as poss. He has his picture in there every week, I swear it.
Last week he was on the front cover - wearing his England football shirt!
What a boy - 108 and still having a larf!!
I'm lucky to live in a little "City" in Somerset where we have our own Veteran of World War 1 - 108 year old Harry Patch.
The local schools have been making a real effort to bring small groups of kids round to see him on regular visits. The kids get to actually meet a real live hero and Harry gets spoilt rotten
The local paper is also keen to take as many pictures of him as poss. He has his picture in there every week, I swear it.
Last week he was on the front cover - wearing his England football shirt!
What a boy - 108 and still having a larf!!
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For the last fifteen years I have been a SSAFA caseworker. Some three years ago I had occasion to visit a WW2 ex RAFVR Flt Lt. The talk got around to his service flying Lancs. I asked how many tours he had done and it turned out to be two and a half. He showed his logbook in which was a copy of his immediate award of a DFC with the chain of command's recommendations, finally approved by Bomber Harris. I said "did you go to Berlin?" "Yes, ten times" as his log book indicated. "But I probably went another six or seven as a trainer" which he explained was when a new crew arrived he, and presumably other experienced pilots on the squadron, would fly with them to show them the ropes but as they were not part of the official crew didn't put the mission in their log books. From what he said, he could well have flown the equivalent of another full tour as a passenger. It wasn't only on the Berlin missions.
Unfortunately, he was a very private person and according to his wife, to her knowledge, had never spoken of his wartime experiences. He needed help from RAFBF but refused to let me contact them on his behalf so the case was dropped.
A real honour to meet such a guy..
Unfortunately, he was a very private person and according to his wife, to her knowledge, had never spoken of his wartime experiences. He needed help from RAFBF but refused to let me contact them on his behalf so the case was dropped.
A real honour to meet such a guy..
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I have spent a couple of days on security at The Royal Hospital in Chelsea this week. Nice to see the old boys march in the borough with band of Scots Guards the other day to exercise their freedom, and hear some of the history of the hospital.
Did you see that old boy on TV last night? 108 year old veteran of WW1 - and still as bright as a button. Wonderful chap!
I would imagine he could put wet kids like Bliar and Brown firmly in their place over defence issues!
I would imagine he could put wet kids like Bliar and Brown firmly in their place over defence issues!
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Henry Allingham
110 years old on 6th June this year Beags. I agree with you though, lucid and proud of what he and his friends and colleagues achieved for us, all this time later!
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Last Saturday I had the privilege of helping to marshall the 130+ light aircraft who visited Wolverhampton for Project Propellor. Before things got too busy I was able to help one or two of these wonderful old gentlemen as they got out of their aircraft. All were very smartly dressed and looked forward to catching up with old friends and comrades. Their roles during WW2 were varied, one was a former Lancaster pilot who claimed he wasn't quite as agile as he would have liked to be "But then I have two stainless steel knees and two stainless steel hips" he said but he could get out of that Warrior faster than I could have done, others had been based at Halfpenny Green as it was then known, all had memories which I wish I had had the time to hear. Many photos were taken - always including their pilot in them. Their delight at being there was lovely to see and their presence had quite an effect on the young FIs and others. Who cared if they needed to sit on our chairs or asked for a drink? We were just pleased to be able to provide it. The day was a private affair for them but we were all able to enjoy the final event - the flypast of one of the BBMF's Spitfires. This was a small recognition of what they had done for us and, as I said, I felt privileged to have been there.