91 Year Old Spitfire Pilot Needs Your Help
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Well that is what happens on Air Cadet camps. Air Cadets go flying, just like they do on the AEF's or at the many gliding schools around the country.
Maybe you could contact the dark blue and ask for assistance.
Maybe you could contact the dark blue and ask for assistance.
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a a
I think "kreuger flap" is in the "Do you want the 5 minute argument or the 10 minute argument" mode. If you look at his posts it seems to always be the aggressive reaction no matter what has been said.
I think "kreuger flap" is in the "Do you want the 5 minute argument or the 10 minute argument" mode. If you look at his posts it seems to always be the aggressive reaction no matter what has been said.
Thread Starter
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"You would need a rear crew member, properly trained in evacuation drills in the unlikely event of an emergency".
I have got the very person cazatou. In his time, Alec made a total of five crash landings, none of which were his fault & he walked away uninjured each time. You know about his Spitfire being hit by flak, over Brest. What I didn't know until I read his Log Book, was that the Spitfire was a complete "write off". He was rushed to Hospital, but was released uninjured & was flying the very next day.
Before he joined the PRU, he was posted to 224 Sqdn & did submarine hunting over the Atlantic in Hudsons. On one sortie, when he was loaded up with depth charges, Alec was just getting up to air speed when his port engine cut. He guided the Hudson off the runway so that the rest of the stream could take off.
No one had told him that they had dug a deep trench beside the runway to lay cables. The port wheel dropped into the trench, which spun the Hudson around, so that starboard wheel did likewise.
Alec looked round to tell the crew to bale out, but the aircraft was empty ! His comment was "they didn't stand on ceremonty". I don't blame them with live weapons on board.
I have got the very person cazatou. In his time, Alec made a total of five crash landings, none of which were his fault & he walked away uninjured each time. You know about his Spitfire being hit by flak, over Brest. What I didn't know until I read his Log Book, was that the Spitfire was a complete "write off". He was rushed to Hospital, but was released uninjured & was flying the very next day.
Before he joined the PRU, he was posted to 224 Sqdn & did submarine hunting over the Atlantic in Hudsons. On one sortie, when he was loaded up with depth charges, Alec was just getting up to air speed when his port engine cut. He guided the Hudson off the runway so that the rest of the stream could take off.
No one had told him that they had dug a deep trench beside the runway to lay cables. The port wheel dropped into the trench, which spun the Hudson around, so that starboard wheel did likewise.
Alec looked round to tell the crew to bale out, but the aircraft was empty ! His comment was "they didn't stand on ceremonty". I don't blame them with live weapons on board.
Last edited by VIProds; 19th Feb 2011 at 15:10.
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VIProds
Alec should patent his "good luck charm".
I hope that he makes it to Benson and I trust that the experience will go some way towards ameliorating the loss of his Personal Memorabilia. Please pass on my best wishes.
Alec should patent his "good luck charm".
I hope that he makes it to Benson and I trust that the experience will go some way towards ameliorating the loss of his Personal Memorabilia. Please pass on my best wishes.
VIProds
I suspect that if you post an appeal for a lift in a light aircraft on the Private Flying area on Prune and / or in the GA Discussion section of the Flyer forum, you will be overwhelmed with offers from GA pilots at or near to Humberside. I am near Benson so at the wrong end of the journey.
I suspect that if you post an appeal for a lift in a light aircraft on the Private Flying area on Prune and / or in the GA Discussion section of the Flyer forum, you will be overwhelmed with offers from GA pilots at or near to Humberside. I am near Benson so at the wrong end of the journey.
Avoid imitations
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I think that the Station Commander and the PRO at Benson have done as much as they can. Using a Military aircraft to ferry a civilian to visit a Station would be a complete misappropriation of these assets. This would be akin to a Royal using a Chinook to go to a stag party. Of course that would never happen.
(Even Colonel Gaddafi might have done this, and yet look how popular he is).
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ShyTorque
Thank you for your support.
I hope that this elderly Gentleman can be re-united with his lost memories but I feel that is a forlorn hope. The RAF should spare no endeavour to ensure that his attendance at the reunion is memorable.
Thank you for your support.
I hope that this elderly Gentleman can be re-united with his lost memories but I feel that is a forlorn hope. The RAF should spare no endeavour to ensure that his attendance at the reunion is memorable.
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Benson said that they could not supply air transport, but kindly offered to send a rail warrant.
Looking North
If you mean that everybody at Benson shares my view that its nothing to do with the Benson Flying Club then you would be right.
If however, you mean that the authorities at Benson couldn't give a toss about the stuff thats missing then I think that you are wrong.
If you feel that the authorities at Benson owe anybody who posts on this forum an explanation then, you would be absolutly wrong!
If you mean that everybody at Benson shares my view that its nothing to do with the Benson Flying Club then you would be right.
If however, you mean that the authorities at Benson couldn't give a toss about the stuff thats missing then I think that you are wrong.
If you feel that the authorities at Benson owe anybody who posts on this forum an explanation then, you would be absolutly wrong!
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xenolith
I would certainly expect that VIProds could reasonably, as Alec's Spokesman, expect to receive an explanation that he could pass on to his elderly friend.
I would certainly expect that VIProds could reasonably, as Alec's Spokesman, expect to receive an explanation that he could pass on to his elderly friend.
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xenolith
Go back and read that post again and work out how many times they expect that elderly Gentleman to change trains on his return journey and the length of time that he will have to travel each way. If his Wife accompanies him then the problem will be compounded.
The major reason that such a long return journey is being undertaken is that RAF Benson failed to look after precious relics that they had borrowed. It is incumbent on RAF Benson to make suitable travel arrangements for such an elderly couple and to ensure that their journey is as comfortable and stress free as possible.
Perhaps you should let the magma cool down?
Go back and read that post again and work out how many times they expect that elderly Gentleman to change trains on his return journey and the length of time that he will have to travel each way. If his Wife accompanies him then the problem will be compounded.
The major reason that such a long return journey is being undertaken is that RAF Benson failed to look after precious relics that they had borrowed. It is incumbent on RAF Benson to make suitable travel arrangements for such an elderly couple and to ensure that their journey is as comfortable and stress free as possible.
Perhaps you should let the magma cool down?
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Xenolith
Chambers Dictionary:-
Xenolith - " A fragment of rock of extraneous origin which has been incorporated in magma".
Now "Cazatou" was the most forward English outpost in SW France at the start of the Hundred Years War!! I like to maintain Traditions.
Chambers Dictionary:-
Xenolith - " A fragment of rock of extraneous origin which has been incorporated in magma".
Now "Cazatou" was the most forward English outpost in SW France at the start of the Hundred Years War!! I like to maintain Traditions.
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xenolith,
Notwithstanding we may not have all the information, my opinion differs from yours. Obviously, you are entitled to your opinion; however, I am inclined to think that Alec deserves a little more than appears to have been offered.
Duncs
Notwithstanding we may not have all the information, my opinion differs from yours. Obviously, you are entitled to your opinion; however, I am inclined to think that Alec deserves a little more than appears to have been offered.
Duncs
Caz
Chambers........How very secondary modern! Now in the OED:-
Xenolith – “Stone or rock occurring in a system to which it does not belong"
OED was, I believe, the official RAF dictionary in your day; I too try to maintain traditions.
Enough........ please
Duncs
OK
Chambers........How very secondary modern! Now in the OED:-
Xenolith – “Stone or rock occurring in a system to which it does not belong"
OED was, I believe, the official RAF dictionary in your day; I too try to maintain traditions.
Enough........ please
Duncs
OK