September 15th - "what" day?!
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September 15th - "what" day?!
Expecting the usual media blackout on anything to do with this hallowed date I was surprised and delighted to hear Radio 3 playing Walton's 'Spitfire Music and Battle in the Air' this morning. Delighted, that is, until the announcer declared that today was the 40th anniversary of the release of the film! 
And that was it. Back to normality. Plus ca change. How depressing. 
And that was it. Back to normality. Plus ca change. How depressing.
When I was teaching in a previous existance and asked what and when the Battle of Britain was, one of the keen young 15 year olds suggested that it might have something to do with 1066.
I'm grateful for the sacrifices made in 1940, and we'll be toasting those heroes tonight. Maybe once this train-wreck of a government shuffles off into obscurity we can mark the day as a nation.
Shouldn't hold your breath if I were you.
Successive governments have had best part of 70 years to mark the occasion, why should the next one bother?
To the few.
Successive governments have had best part of 70 years to mark the occasion, why should the next one bother?
To the few.
It is being celebrated - at the National Service of Commemoration at Westminster Abbey on Sunday 1100 - 1200 hrs, attending by senior Royalty, senior politicians and the Service Chiefs. As usual, the Abbey will be overflowing and there is the obligatory flypast by BofB Flight.
Right, comfy on sandbag.
I remember when I was a lad, just about every RAF station had a Battle of Britain day air display on the Saturday nearest the 15th.
Can't see that happening again seeing as how everything we have that is "S" is working hard in sunnier climes.
Nostalgia just isn't what it used to be!
Doc C
I remember when I was a lad, just about every RAF station had a Battle of Britain day air display on the Saturday nearest the 15th.
Can't see that happening again seeing as how everything we have that is "S" is working hard in sunnier climes.
Nostalgia just isn't what it used to be!
Doc C
At my final place of work* before retiring to sunnier climes, I asked the girl (early thirties with an MSc) I shared an office with when D-Day was..
When she looked blankly at me and said "Is this one of your trick questions?"
I replied "No, but I'll give you a clue, it was the 60th anniversary this week.."
"Ooh," she said triumphantly, "1920.."
We have to face it that these dates just don't carry the same resonance with the young that they do with us older scrotes.
(* it was in Malvern)
When she looked blankly at me and said "Is this one of your trick questions?"
I replied "No, but I'll give you a clue, it was the 60th anniversary this week.."
"Ooh," she said triumphantly, "1920.."
We have to face it that these dates just don't carry the same resonance with the young that they do with us older scrotes.
(* it was in Malvern)
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I've always had 15/9/40 marked in my mind as the day we 'won' the BOB, on the basis that Hitler indefinitely postponed Operation Sealion that day...however I notice on the ever reliable wikipedia that it has 17/9/40 as the day in question...is there another significance that makes the 15th the more suitable day to use?
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is there another significance that makes the 15th the more suitable day to use?
40 years ago, a party of us shaven-headed Flt Cdts went to the premiere of the Battle of Britain movie in Nottingham. Wearing those stupid 'civilian hats' until we left the College, of course....
So tonight I shall wallow in nostalgia, raise a glass or few to The Few and watch the DVD*! Again!!
*Not forgetting Miss York's shapely little bottom, of course.....
So tonight I shall wallow in nostalgia, raise a glass or few to The Few and watch the DVD*! Again!!
*Not forgetting Miss York's shapely little bottom, of course.....
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'Twere 42 years ago today that self and numerous other cadets marched proudly across the Parade Ground at Sarf Cerney to receive our Commissions. A most memorable and proud day. Oddly enough, it was only this past wekend that I made contact with 2 of those guys thru Facebook.
Question: Is Facebook an alternative refuge to Pprune for auld farts like me? (Not thread-drift pse start one in Jetblast if you wish to reply!!
I raise a glass as always to ALL who gave so much in the B.o.B.
Question: Is Facebook an alternative refuge to Pprune for auld farts like me? (Not thread-drift pse start one in Jetblast if you wish to reply!!
I raise a glass as always to ALL who gave so much in the B.o.B.
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Beags,
It was also the very day we were "appointed to be Officers in our Royal Air Force"
Funny to think that the BOB film was much closer to the actual event than to the current day.
Do you remember this exchange ?
" Sir , Sir, Are you coming to the 'Battle of Britain' film? "
" I think I'll give it a miss, lad . Being in the play was enough for me"
It was also the very day we were "appointed to be Officers in our Royal Air Force"
Funny to think that the BOB film was much closer to the actual event than to the current day.
Do you remember this exchange ?
" Sir , Sir, Are you coming to the 'Battle of Britain' film? "
" I think I'll give it a miss, lad . Being in the play was enough for me"
It was indeed, Redders!
When I think of the number of people, aerodromes and aeroplanes we had back in 1969 - and yet the 'old sweats' were telling us that we'd missed the Golden Age of the mid-1950s.....
And look at today......
So much has gone forever - virtually every corner of the RAF has been devastated beyond Hitler and Goerings' wildest dreams. I was on an RAF base today for a short while - one of the biggest still standing. Utterly squalid - and I saw all of 1 person in blues. The rest were civvies apart from a couple of folk in cabbage kit.
I wonder whether Trenchard has hit the RPM governor in his grave yet....
I think I'd better shut up now.......
When I think of the number of people, aerodromes and aeroplanes we had back in 1969 - and yet the 'old sweats' were telling us that we'd missed the Golden Age of the mid-1950s.....
And look at today......
So much has gone forever - virtually every corner of the RAF has been devastated beyond Hitler and Goerings' wildest dreams. I was on an RAF base today for a short while - one of the biggest still standing. Utterly squalid - and I saw all of 1 person in blues. The rest were civvies apart from a couple of folk in cabbage kit.
I wonder whether Trenchard has hit the RPM governor in his grave yet....
I think I'd better shut up now.......
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Just attended the BoB reception in Canberra
