Battle of Britain History - but not as we know it.....
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Barbara, my apologies if this appears to be teaching you to suck eggs, but a hint that many of us who write here frequently follow: don't write your stories straight into the Pprune site, but instead, write them 'off line' into Microsoft Word or whatever word processing programme you use - and save them. Then 'cut and paste' into the PPrune site. (Your son will show you how to do this very simple thing if you're not familiar with it.)
Let me join the others in saying I am waiting eagerly to read your story.
Let me join the others in saying I am waiting eagerly to read your story.
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Barbara,
A fellow Brit in the US here. I was in Colorado, not far from Colorado Springs either, just this morning. If only I'd logged onto Pprune, I'd have moved my travel plans to help you share your stories.
Kirton may not have been "where it was at", but Bletchley Park certainly was.
Thank you for your service, as they say in these parts.
Roadster
A fellow Brit in the US here. I was in Colorado, not far from Colorado Springs either, just this morning. If only I'd logged onto Pprune, I'd have moved my travel plans to help you share your stories.
Kirton may not have been "where it was at", but Bletchley Park certainly was.
Thank you for your service, as they say in these parts.
Roadster
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Barbara, You'll be pleased to know Kirton, although becoming an army unit for many years, currently houses No1 ACC (Air Control Centre). They received the keys to the town last year for services in Afghanistan. So times don't change too much.
It's not often plotters, (or more commonly now known as Aerospace Battle Managers / nee Fighter Controllers) get praised on pprune. About time! Thank you for your service in war. If it wasn't for your generation we'd all be speaking German .. and I'm terrible at it!
It's not often plotters, (or more commonly now known as Aerospace Battle Managers / nee Fighter Controllers) get praised on pprune. About time! Thank you for your service in war. If it wasn't for your generation we'd all be speaking German .. and I'm terrible at it!
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BofB history etc
Sir George:
There were many Wrens at Bletchley Park billeted on the Duke of Bedford's estate. I had no contact with them, however, but I have photos of them working on Colossus, the first computer ever built (1943) to cope with breaking the German High Command high grade cypher.
Our Senior Service, the Royal Navy, was the only service not to discriminate against women. They were the "Womens Royal Navy Service" --- WRNS, known as Wrens. The RAF called us WAAF, "Womens Auxliary Air Force", (changed post war to WRAF by Duncan Sandys Parliamentry Act), and the poor Army gals were ATS, "Auxiliary Territorial Service". (I hope I've remembered that "A" correctly).
There was a naughty joke going around the other services at that time, at the expense of the WRNS. Here it is, and I hope you're not insulted because of your mother having been a Wren. "One cold January morning, two Wrens went into the sea for a dip, and four blue tits came out." Perhaps you've already heard it?
TTFN......BS
There were many Wrens at Bletchley Park billeted on the Duke of Bedford's estate. I had no contact with them, however, but I have photos of them working on Colossus, the first computer ever built (1943) to cope with breaking the German High Command high grade cypher.
Our Senior Service, the Royal Navy, was the only service not to discriminate against women. They were the "Womens Royal Navy Service" --- WRNS, known as Wrens. The RAF called us WAAF, "Womens Auxliary Air Force", (changed post war to WRAF by Duncan Sandys Parliamentry Act), and the poor Army gals were ATS, "Auxiliary Territorial Service". (I hope I've remembered that "A" correctly).
There was a naughty joke going around the other services at that time, at the expense of the WRNS. Here it is, and I hope you're not insulted because of your mother having been a Wren. "One cold January morning, two Wrens went into the sea for a dip, and four blue tits came out." Perhaps you've already heard it?
TTFN......BS
few Americans are aware that WW11 started 9/3/39. The war history here starts 12/7/41,
Welcome and do intend to read your story when its up.
It appears from the dates that you have
gone native in the colonies.
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Andu:
Thank you very much for your helpful info. I've said before I'm the complete computer dummy, but I'm certainly learning, and my son will show me what to do when he comes next time.
I seem to have opened a can of worms, and I apologise to everyone for taking up so much space here. As I told PPRuNe Pop the other day, on the advice of Kookabat, I spent a considerable time typing a precis of my service (over 6 years) on the "WW11 Brevets for RAF Pilots" site, but on trying to send it, it disappeared into space. There are so many things I remember of those years, my stories would make a whole chapter of a book, much too much to record on the web, altho' I've typed out many of them.
Thank you for your interest......TTFN......BS
Thank you very much for your helpful info. I've said before I'm the complete computer dummy, but I'm certainly learning, and my son will show me what to do when he comes next time.
I seem to have opened a can of worms, and I apologise to everyone for taking up so much space here. As I told PPRuNe Pop the other day, on the advice of Kookabat, I spent a considerable time typing a precis of my service (over 6 years) on the "WW11 Brevets for RAF Pilots" site, but on trying to send it, it disappeared into space. There are so many things I remember of those years, my stories would make a whole chapter of a book, much too much to record on the web, altho' I've typed out many of them.
Thank you for your interest......TTFN......BS
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Roadster:
Thank you for your post. You must have been in the States for some time, as you seem to have absorbed the language. At the risk of getting my face slapped, I'm a one woman campaign against using "at" to end a sentence. Quote --- "Kirton may not have been where it was 'at'. The 'at' is not necessary, and a sentence shouldn't end in a preposition, but that usage of 'at' has crept into the vernacular here during the past 10 to 15 years and practically everyone says it, and it is incorrect grammar. Would you like to join me in my campaign or would you like to punch me in the nose? Have you ever heard Churchill's famous saying? "A preposition is a word up with which I will not put"......Cheerio Pip-Pip......BS
Thank you for your post. You must have been in the States for some time, as you seem to have absorbed the language. At the risk of getting my face slapped, I'm a one woman campaign against using "at" to end a sentence. Quote --- "Kirton may not have been where it was 'at'. The 'at' is not necessary, and a sentence shouldn't end in a preposition, but that usage of 'at' has crept into the vernacular here during the past 10 to 15 years and practically everyone says it, and it is incorrect grammar. Would you like to join me in my campaign or would you like to punch me in the nose? Have you ever heard Churchill's famous saying? "A preposition is a word up with which I will not put"......Cheerio Pip-Pip......BS
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Like the others BS, I look forward to reading your recollections. Your indomitable spirit, and that of those around you then and since, is what once made Britain Great. Thanks
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AdanaKebab:
Thank you for your update on Kirton. I knew it was still operational, because an RAF contingent comes down to the Springs from Aurora, near Denver, to attend the BofB Day ceremony here, hosted by the RCAF, and at my first ceremony in 2008, they told me. I thought it was still RAF, tho'.
"Aerospace Battle Managers"? What a high falutin' mouthful! I would much rather remain a plain old plotter.
I'm spending far too much time on these posts, altho' they are so interesting and new to me. It is already past midday here, and I have to go get some brekka. When you get to be my age, you're not hungry early morning......TTFN......BS
Thank you for your update on Kirton. I knew it was still operational, because an RAF contingent comes down to the Springs from Aurora, near Denver, to attend the BofB Day ceremony here, hosted by the RCAF, and at my first ceremony in 2008, they told me. I thought it was still RAF, tho'.
"Aerospace Battle Managers"? What a high falutin' mouthful! I would much rather remain a plain old plotter.
I'm spending far too much time on these posts, altho' they are so interesting and new to me. It is already past midday here, and I have to go get some brekka. When you get to be my age, you're not hungry early morning......TTFN......BS
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Well that's me told 
I'm reminded of a joke, excuse the mildly bad word at the end.
A young chap from out in the sticks is lucky enough to gain a place at an Ivy League university. On his first day, he stops a more senior student and asks:
"Excuse me, could you please tell me where the library is at?"
The older student snaps straight back:
"I don't know where you're from, but here, we do not end sentences with prepositions".
The young man thinks for a second, and adjusts his question:
"Excuse me, could you please tell me where the library is at, asshole?"
I'm reminded of a joke, excuse the mildly bad word at the end.
A young chap from out in the sticks is lucky enough to gain a place at an Ivy League university. On his first day, he stops a more senior student and asks:
"Excuse me, could you please tell me where the library is at?"
The older student snaps straight back:
"I don't know where you're from, but here, we do not end sentences with prepositions".
The young man thinks for a second, and adjusts his question:
"Excuse me, could you please tell me where the library is at, asshole?"
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Roadster:
Well, that's me told, too.
Seriously, tho', the 'at' is not needed. "Where's he at?" need only be, "Where is he?" Why waste words? Especially when it's bad grammar. I don't think grammar is taught in schools here any more, along with other things.
You didn't say whether you would join me in my campaign or punch me in the nose. I'm truly sorry if I offended you, but this 'at' business really bothers me.......TTFN......BS
Well, that's me told, too.
Seriously, tho', the 'at' is not needed. "Where's he at?" need only be, "Where is he?" Why waste words? Especially when it's bad grammar. I don't think grammar is taught in schools here any more, along with other things.
You didn't say whether you would join me in my campaign or punch me in the nose. I'm truly sorry if I offended you, but this 'at' business really bothers me.......TTFN......BS
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Rab-k:
I wrote an ROC story especially for you about RAF Kirton-in-Lindsay' s first night raid. I saw it in print, but it didn't send and is hanging in space somewhere.
Kirton was in 12 Group and we received plots in the Ops Room from ROC Lincoln. When I've worked out what is wrong with my sending abilities, I'll try it again --- it would have cheered your heart.
TTFN......BS
I wrote an ROC story especially for you about RAF Kirton-in-Lindsay' s first night raid. I saw it in print, but it didn't send and is hanging in space somewhere.
Kirton was in 12 Group and we received plots in the Ops Room from ROC Lincoln. When I've worked out what is wrong with my sending abilities, I'll try it again --- it would have cheered your heart.
TTFN......BS
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Racedo:
I havent been called Babs for donkeys' years. This month, I have been in the States for 64 years, apart from 6 1/2 years in Havana, Cuba.
I arrived in NYC (New York City) on August 8th 1946, aged 28, on a Bride Ship, no less, that having been the only transport available at the time. (So many stories). Yes, it's been a long time, but I have never "gone native", I am still me.
TTFN......BS
I havent been called Babs for donkeys' years. This month, I have been in the States for 64 years, apart from 6 1/2 years in Havana, Cuba.
I arrived in NYC (New York City) on August 8th 1946, aged 28, on a Bride Ship, no less, that having been the only transport available at the time. (So many stories). Yes, it's been a long time, but I have never "gone native", I am still me.
TTFN......BS
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Everyone from Newfoundland knows that the correct usage is "Stay where you're to and I'll come where you're at".
After an excellent landing you can use the airplane again!
After an excellent landing you can use the airplane again!
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RAF Internet
We have for some time been transferring the RAF History from the old RAF website to the new one at www.raf.mod.uk. Unfortunately we sometimes have errors and for this I apologise but I firmly beleive that the new site is clearer and easier to access. We are continuously updating and improving the way the information is provided. However, if you find something wrong you can email us directly at www.raf.mod.uk/contactus.cfm of for those in the Service you can contact me at SO2 eComms at HQ Air Cmd.
Although no excuse, I have a very small team to run the RAF Internet, RAF AirSpace, Social Media sites and many aspects of Engagement Delivery. So we do sometimes get things wrong but I am a great believer in our fine history and will do my best to get it displayed and improved as best as I can.
Although no excuse, I have a very small team to run the RAF Internet, RAF AirSpace, Social Media sites and many aspects of Engagement Delivery. So we do sometimes get things wrong but I am a great believer in our fine history and will do my best to get it displayed and improved as best as I can.
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Barbara S,
It is amazing how the straight talk (or written word) of an enigmatic English Gal can stop most people dead in their tracks.
Well done, you are as Blunt( read honest ) as the people in my neck of the woods, I think this is wonderful you remind me of my old Aunt Doris who used to pack parachutes for the aircrew.
my regards
Peter Russell-Blackburn from Lancashire
It is amazing how the straight talk (or written word) of an enigmatic English Gal can stop most people dead in their tracks.
Well done, you are as Blunt( read honest ) as the people in my neck of the woods, I think this is wonderful you remind me of my old Aunt Doris who used to pack parachutes for the aircrew.
my regards
Peter Russell-Blackburn from Lancashire
Last edited by Peter-RB; 25th Aug 2010 at 08:33.
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Barbara,
( I feel a little uneasy addressing a Lady as such, I suppose that's being English ) - forgive me if it's already been mentioned, but how about a book ?!
If you got the right agent they would do the leg-work, and you might even get a handsome profit !
( I feel a little uneasy addressing a Lady as such, I suppose that's being English ) - forgive me if it's already been mentioned, but how about a book ?!
If you got the right agent they would do the leg-work, and you might even get a handsome profit !
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Forget.
Many thanks, I was never top of the class in English, mine was more Hunting , Shooting, Rugby, Cricket, Drinking and Gals, oh , and to pay for all that I spent about 90 hours a week farming 2300acres of the West Ridings Best, took your prompt for me to see the problem, Thankyou. Barbara S sounds just like my old Aunt Doris, she would pull me up for speaking with slang words, simple things like Tanner(sixpence) Bob(Shilling) and Quid (one pound) if I said it again she whack me! Good days Eh..!
Peter R-B
Vfrpilotpb
Many thanks, I was never top of the class in English, mine was more Hunting , Shooting, Rugby, Cricket, Drinking and Gals, oh , and to pay for all that I spent about 90 hours a week farming 2300acres of the West Ridings Best, took your prompt for me to see the problem, Thankyou.
Barbara S sounds just like my old Aunt Doris, she would pull me up for speaking with slang words, simple things like Tanner(sixpence) Bob(Shilling) and Quid (one pound) if I said it again she whack me! Good days Eh..!Peter R-B
Vfrpilotpb
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Barbara's Wartime Memories
As readers of this thread may know we encouraged Barbara to write all her Battle of Britain and WWII memories down in a word document which she has now done and is attached for your reading pleasure! RAF FCA Message Board - WWII from a WAAF's Point of View
Enjoy
Enjoy