91 Year Old Spitfire Pilot Needs Your Help
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,899
Received 2,834 Likes
on
1,210 Posts
Sigh......
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Erehwon
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can we get this back to the 91 year old Spitfire?
It's now 2011 and the first prototype flew in March 1936 - correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that 75 years.
I suppose they could be talking about the pilot . . .
Back to reality, hope there is some resolution here, he thoroughly deserves that.
Just perhaps, he assumed today's RAF was like the one he used to be in. Sadly in this and so many other cases, it was a wrong assumption; completely understandable, but wrong.
It's a real shame.
It's now 2011 and the first prototype flew in March 1936 - correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that 75 years.
I suppose they could be talking about the pilot . . .
Back to reality, hope there is some resolution here, he thoroughly deserves that.
Just perhaps, he assumed today's RAF was like the one he used to be in. Sadly in this and so many other cases, it was a wrong assumption; completely understandable, but wrong.
It's a real shame.
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: UK
Age: 56
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is, in my opinion, a little too much in the way of aggressive posting going on, from all (both) sides. I would like to request that we all take a small breather and calm down.
I don't like the way that Alec or his property have been treated. I also don't like the abuse that RAF Benson's personnel have been subjected to in this thread.
Alec's property should have been looked after - it seems that it wasn't! I understand the posts that desire an inquiry to identify what went wrong, so that it might be prevented in the future, but, I don't fully comprehend the logic that blames RAF Benson, as a whole, for the loss. Taking that approach to its, in my view, logical conclusion would suggest that the Service and anyone in it, is to blame or that HM Forces and everyone in it is to blame; I guess if that was the case, then most of the posters on this thread are at fault - I'm sorry, but I don't buy that argument.
For ex members of the Service, please don't assume that the powers and freedoms available to Station Commanders in your day still exist today.
Alec fought for his country, there are personnel at RAF Benson that are doing the same right now - let's please not forget this fact or be abusive to either.
I don't like the way that Alec or his property have been treated. I also don't like the abuse that RAF Benson's personnel have been subjected to in this thread.
Alec's property should have been looked after - it seems that it wasn't! I understand the posts that desire an inquiry to identify what went wrong, so that it might be prevented in the future, but, I don't fully comprehend the logic that blames RAF Benson, as a whole, for the loss. Taking that approach to its, in my view, logical conclusion would suggest that the Service and anyone in it, is to blame or that HM Forces and everyone in it is to blame; I guess if that was the case, then most of the posters on this thread are at fault - I'm sorry, but I don't buy that argument.
For ex members of the Service, please don't assume that the powers and freedoms available to Station Commanders in your day still exist today.
Alec fought for his country, there are personnel at RAF Benson that are doing the same right now - let's please not forget this fact or be abusive to either.
Cool Mod
Join Date: Apr 1998
Location: 18nm N of LGW
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Simples
The nails (claws) of people using this thread to fight on their own have just been pulled. There will be more unless the topic of this thread is adhered to.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: inside the train looking onto the platform.
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Give it a rest
Gents, as I understand it a hero left his stuff behind without getting a signature for some memorobilia with a probably over worked young Fg Off who was asked to run an event for which he ws not trained a few yeras ago, and now it cant be found a whole load of people are jumping on a bandwagon of bashing a Stn Cdr and his staffs who were not there when it happened.
People at Benson are fighting in Afgh and at any one time approx 80% of the stn are either returning from, preparing to deploy or are actually deployed - FACT. That this has happened was wrong, that the stn staffs have offerd some recompence is laudible but calling for the stn cdr to resign or a BOI shows the complete naievety of current service life by many posters on here. Benson were, it seems, at fault years ago, but give it a rest and let them get on with flying in afgh and Kenya, a National Stby Commitment, defending Puma 2, fighting off a RN snatch of Merlin and preparing for a sandy det at very short notice.
Let Alec and his chums have their day out, accept that the deed was done out of nothing but a mistake and get on with your lives.
People at Benson are fighting in Afgh and at any one time approx 80% of the stn are either returning from, preparing to deploy or are actually deployed - FACT. That this has happened was wrong, that the stn staffs have offerd some recompence is laudible but calling for the stn cdr to resign or a BOI shows the complete naievety of current service life by many posters on here. Benson were, it seems, at fault years ago, but give it a rest and let them get on with flying in afgh and Kenya, a National Stby Commitment, defending Puma 2, fighting off a RN snatch of Merlin and preparing for a sandy det at very short notice.
Let Alec and his chums have their day out, accept that the deed was done out of nothing but a mistake and get on with your lives.
In 2002, Alec attended the 60th anniversary reunion of the PRU at RAF Benson & was asked if he would bring photographs of his Spitfires & his aerial reconnaissance pictures as well as press cuttings that he had saved, to be displayed at the event. After the reunion, when his items were not returned, he wrote to the Flt Sgt that was organising the event. He didn't get a response, so wrote to Benson's C.O. & again amazingly didn't receive a response.
Hardly a 'mistake'......
Sorry if you don't think that's something to be angry about; others clearly do.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,899
Received 2,834 Likes
on
1,210 Posts
xenolith
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Mold
Posts: 56
SaddamsLoveChild
Forget it, the verdict of the Kangaroo Court is in, you wont deter this lynch mob.
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Mold
Posts: 56
SaddamsLoveChild
Forget it, the verdict of the Kangaroo Court is in, you wont deter this lynch mob.
Sad little person...
Hence the sigh and leaving it alone, regardless, the one innocent party in all of this was Alec, he acted in good faith and was let down......
I do hope when he has had his trip, we hear back on him having a good day.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Detroit MI
Age: 66
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This thread has gone on for a while and got a bit "hot and heavy" in places... However, what has occurred is undeniable. A man, in good faith, lent his memorabilia to theRAF. The RAF, and specifically RAF Benson it seems, didn't care enough to do enough to protect that man's legacy. It is a sad reflection on the RAF that it cares so little about those who went before - and gave far more than most give now.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 82
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Alec's Trip To Benson
Just to keep those of you that were following this thread updated. Alec & myself were flown from RAF Waddington to RAF Benson, last Friday. Our pilot Flt Lt G. Pike, kindly took the day off work & his C.O., Wg Cdr A. Pike was happy to carry out some of his duties while he was away. There was a Staff car waiting for us on arrival at Benson. It took us straight to Station Headquarters where the Officer Commanding Base Support Wing, Wg Cdr V. Pike was waiting to greet us at the main entrance, together with the Station Public Relations Officer, N. Pike.
We were in the Wg Cdr's office chatting for about an hour & the Wg Cdr seemed genuinely interested in Alec's experiences during the War. They had arranged for us to go to lunch, but before that Alec had an official photograph taken with the Wg Cdr in front of a blue Photo Reconnaissance Spitfire, displayed outside HQ.
It was arranged that the O.C. 78 Sqdn, Wg Cdr D. Pike (who was Acting Station Commander for the day), would join us for lunch & told us all about his Merlin's. After lunch, we were driven over to 78 Sqdn where the O.C. showed us his Merlin office.
We were then driven to Benson's Museum to meet the Curator, who was very keen to talk with Alec. While there, our pilot for the day recognized a photograph hanging on the wall, of some wartime aircrew planning a mission in the Op's room. He was able to tell the Curator that one of the airmen in the photo was his Uncle & he never returned from that mission.
I think that RAF Benson's personnel really did Alec proud. The present personnel had nothing to do with Alec's missing property & Alec would like to draw a line under it all. I know that he had a fantastic day & really enjoyed himself. I would like to thank our pilot, everyone at Benson for being so caring & everyone on PPRuNe that supported Alec, especially all the pilots that volunteered & were willing to give up their time to fly Alec down to Benson. As I have said on another thread, aren't aviation people a smashing bunch.
We were in the Wg Cdr's office chatting for about an hour & the Wg Cdr seemed genuinely interested in Alec's experiences during the War. They had arranged for us to go to lunch, but before that Alec had an official photograph taken with the Wg Cdr in front of a blue Photo Reconnaissance Spitfire, displayed outside HQ.
It was arranged that the O.C. 78 Sqdn, Wg Cdr D. Pike (who was Acting Station Commander for the day), would join us for lunch & told us all about his Merlin's. After lunch, we were driven over to 78 Sqdn where the O.C. showed us his Merlin office.
We were then driven to Benson's Museum to meet the Curator, who was very keen to talk with Alec. While there, our pilot for the day recognized a photograph hanging on the wall, of some wartime aircrew planning a mission in the Op's room. He was able to tell the Curator that one of the airmen in the photo was his Uncle & he never returned from that mission.
I think that RAF Benson's personnel really did Alec proud. The present personnel had nothing to do with Alec's missing property & Alec would like to draw a line under it all. I know that he had a fantastic day & really enjoyed himself. I would like to thank our pilot, everyone at Benson for being so caring & everyone on PPRuNe that supported Alec, especially all the pilots that volunteered & were willing to give up their time to fly Alec down to Benson. As I have said on another thread, aren't aviation people a smashing bunch.
Last edited by VIProds; 23rd Apr 2011 at 17:26.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All's well that ends well.
So glad that Alec was so well hosted and enjoyed his day and the fact that HE now wants to draw a line under this should speak volumes
(not that some people on here would have any intention of retracting their scathing comments aimed at people who had absolutely nothing to do with the original loss.)
Well done to all the Pike family
So glad that Alec was so well hosted and enjoyed his day and the fact that HE now wants to draw a line under this should speak volumes
(not that some people on here would have any intention of retracting their scathing comments aimed at people who had absolutely nothing to do with the original loss.)
Well done to all the Pike family
