25/12/13

Duxford :: 11/12/13

Tucked away at the back of H2 - soon to be broken down and packed for shipping?...

The other P-40...

Meanwhile outside...

Crate for #284....

Yet another shipping container looks likely to be parked outside Hangar 2 at Duxford...

"Robert Collings, executive director of the Stow, Mass.-based Collings Foundation, said that the purchase of the Curtiss P-40B Warhawk from an aviation museum in England was completed this week. The plane will be disassembled and shipped to the United States, where it eventually will fly over Buffalo and other cities, with plans to participate in the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack in 2016, he said."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2013/12/06/rare-pearl-harbor-warplane-returning/qhgv60p7HIOSfRIRDDrVVM/story.html


Maybe a rebranding to "The Container Collection" is imminent?...

Duxford :: 4/12/13

Quiet day on the airfield as I pottered around after a bite to eat.

A brief look at the exposed girders in H2(N)...

Duxford :: 15/11/13

Bit of a wander timed just right....

And had the chance to see the current state of AB910 and report back to the son of John Niven - not likely to be flying soon!...

Meanwhile, over in Airspace...

13/11/13 :: A day well spent...

Months ago, at Flying Legends, I'd spotted a full size replica Spitfire on display on the hangar base outside Wing Co Joe's. There was a crowd around the aircraft and I didn't have the time to stop and chat with the 'crew', so headed out to do my duty on the flightline.

On getting home I Googled the replica and discovered it was a wonderful piece of work built by Terry Arlow - http://www.simplyspitfire.com/

One thing led to another and I discovered that I had viewed the gun camera film of the pilot of MK805, F/Lt Tony Cooper of 64 Sqdn.

So, today I had the pleasure of spending a few hours in the company of a real gentleman and handing over a DVD 'compilation' of his gun camera footage from May through to August 1944. 

I was able to look at his Log Books, and in what can only be described as an extraordinary coincidence, I looked at a photograph of F/Lt Cooper, sat in front of a Spitfire, with several other pilots at 53 OTU Kirton-in-Lindsay in February 1945. Sat next to Tony was a S/Ldr Niven (OC) - I peered at the photograph and recognised the face. A quick check of the Log Book of John Niven on my laptop, revealed it was indeed the one and the same.

To be able to sit down and actually talk with one of the pilots, whose footage was some of that which I have been watching over the last seven years, was a real privilege and honour.

I hope to be able to spend some more time with Tony and maybe even find yet more footage of his time in action...

Research :: John Niven DFC*

I have now, kindly, been sent digital copies of the Flying Log Books of John, along with some photos, and hope to do some matching up of the film footage I have viewed with the actual entries in his Log Books.

As a slight aside, a thread over on Flypast Historic Aviation forum regarding "Falkland Islands Spitfires", mentioned one of the ten paid for by the Falkland Islanders, being allocated to 602 Squadron.
A quick check of the Log Book for 1941 revealed that John flew X4615 during April, May and June of 1941.

John also flew for a time with 485 (NZ) Squadron and there are a few photos from his time with them. I had hoped to add another element to the story in finding ML407 as one of the Spitfires he flew. Not found it yet, but other Spitfires in the "ML" series crop up. While a few photos feature Spitfires with the "OU" squadron code,  ML407 OU-V is absent (or is maybe just hidden behind a group of very young men)...

Image Courtesy Roger Niven

ML407 - "The Grace Spitfire"

UPDATE: Found the following entry in his Log Book serving as OC 485 (NZ) Sqdn -
Aug 3 1944 Spitfire IXB ML407 Target Support Cover - 20000' Lille Ostend area covering 300 Halifaxes on Noball at Foret Le Nieppe. Very hazy. Bad for strafing. Little flak from St.Omer & Hesdin.

He also flew one of the BBMF Spitfires during his service -
Feb 19 1945 Spitfire VB AB910 Weather Test (15 mins) Operating from Hibaldstow

Stay tuned!...

Gun Camera footage - some further 'matches'...

As a result of the RAF gun camera film I have been cataloguing for the IWM, I have had a couple of more 'results'.

I am in touch with a former RAF pilot via a third party and hope to "reunite" him shortly with the footage he shot during his time flying Spitfires. More info on this once I have arranged the viewing of the film. I am excited about this opportunity and I understand the pilot had no idea of the existence of this film.

~~~~~~~~

On another front, it transpires that the father of an old friend of one of my brothers, flew Spitfires during WWII and I have identified several clips of film that he was responsible for.
The pilot in question was John Niven (DFC & bar) and he had distinguished service in the RAF, flying spitfires in the UK, Indian and Japan. He was Squadron Leader in the 602 City of Glasgow Squadron and 485 New Zealand Squadron. He also flew with 322 Dutch Squadron.

Image Courtesy Roger Niven

He was interviewed by Moray Firth Radio in 1986 and the ten part interview archive is available online -
MFR: Memories of a Spitfire Pilot

Sadly John died in 1986 but his wife is still alive and the Log Books are in the possession of the family and hopefully will provide the link to the footage.
I am equally excited about this discovery as it has such a close link via a very long standing family friendship.

Moonskies...

Moon shot - 75-300mm at full zoom - 1/200, f/14, ISO 200

Duxford :: 11/10/13 :: Wet & windy...

Bit of a wet and windy day today - not looking good for the final air show of 2013...

Took the new 75-300 M.Zuiko lens for a stroll after lunch. The 5-axis image stabilisation system in the OM-D EM-5 seems to cope well reducing shake...

ISO1600, f/4.8, 1/40

ISO1600, f/4.8, 1/25

ISO1600, f/4.8, 1/50

Duxford :: 2/10/13

Post lunch perambulations....

"We have the "Hun" surrounded...."

Goodbye Nikon, Hello Olympus...

Took the decision to trade in my ten year old Nikon D70 and two lenses for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 µ4/3 digital camera.
I went for the OM-D kit but the dealer had run out of stock, so came away with the body and a 'loaner' lens until they got a restock of the 24-50mm lenses.

I was finding that I was not using the Nikon due to the size of the whole system. On trips and general shots I'd been using the Panasonic DMC-TZ7 'point+shoot' but was getting frustrated with the lack of a viewfinder.

So with a reasonable offer made on the Nikon I took the leap to a whole new system! I'd lusted after the original OM1 and OM2 back in the 70's but owned a Praktica LTL3 then Canon AE1. It's a bit like handling the AE1 in size - the OM-D is a bit smaller and more 'pocketable'.

I've taken advantage of the free HLD-6 battery grip offer (worth £200) which might assist handling in colder weather.

I hope to be able to get a Zuiko 75-300mm super telephoto lens at some point - that should be more than enough zoom for me.

Duxford :: 11/9/13

Finding my way around the Olympus OM-D E-M5 - only got a 14-42mm lens on it at the moment until  the store gets the kit lens in stock.
F-86 took off for a fly around somewhere and on its return put on a spirited display...

Elsewhere a familiar pair were on display...

Not shot with 'tilt shift' - it is just a model ;o)

Shot using the 'tilt shift' filter - the toy box look!

Duxford :: 29/8/13 :: Graceful....

Just for a change - The Grace Spitfire was giving 'jollies' to some lucky sods today....

Duxford :: 22/8/13

Maybe I should rename this blog "Focus On Frankie" as it seems to feature a fair bit!!!

Today sat out just prior to tearing around the Duxford sky....

Back Garden :: 6/6/2013

For good reasons the blog is called "Warbirdskies"....

This afternoon has been quite busy overhead and in the surrounding area. The sound of a Merlin had me scrambling out into the garden with a pair of binos to see a P-51 circling just to the north. From the yellow nose I figured it may be Ferocious Frankie out for some air tests.
He's been back a couple of times since though managing to catch me unprepared camera wise!!!
So here is a photo from last August...

Duxford - 25/8/2012

The resident Duxford "Snaparazzi" have reported that "FF" has indeed taken to the air several times today - so kind they should head to my location to fly about...

From the OFMC website FAQs  -

How much will a display cost?

"A local display will be a minimum of £1,500"....

Maybe I should paint over the big white "DX" that's on my roof?....

"...a Spitfire bird..."

Happened to check out the website for the "Secret Garden Party", which is on this weekend, and the background audio is of an interesting theme...

http://www.secretgardenparty.com/#!/home/


(if you wonder what the track is - "Spitfire" by Public Service Broadcasting)

Did catch the shiny B-25...

...flying around just to the south of me the other day - shot on my point and shoot hence the poor quality...

Duxford :: 17/7/13 :: Shiny shiny...

Red Bull B-25 Mitchell N6123C

Gloster Gladiator

Duxford :: 13/14 July 2013 :: Flying Legends

Spent 4 hours on the Saturday, cooking out on the flightline, as I tried to keep out of the viewfinder of the many people taking advantage of the "Flightline Walk". Watched over the Gladiators...

First time two Gladiators had been in the same place at the same time since WWII?...

Not forgetting they then both flew together!

Sunday was spent as a spectator - took a few shots of the hardware on the ground which I'll post up later.

Duxford :: 12/7/13 :: Hot, hot, hot....

Something must be happening this weekend. Lots of aircraft arriving and lots of people and tents on site....

Met up with Gary W for a natter at lunchtime - not sure if we put the world to rights but we had a damn good try!

Anyway, spotted these three doing some sort of new dance out on the airfield...

Bit of a new view of the Beaufighter now that the southside of H2 has been emptied out a bit...

If you're one of my regular readers I will be working at Flying Legends this Saturday - probably somewhere out on the flightline, so if you're out and about stop by and throw a wet towel over me!!!...

Duxford :: 3/7/13 :: Today's colour is "yellow"...

Now that the Clooney/Pitt Circus has moved on Duxford has returned to it's normal 'sleepy' state.
Some from my post lunch perambulations  - lack of anything yellow in the sky was the inspiration...

Duxford :: 30/5/13

Modern fixtures such as visitor info boards have been removed and the bases disguised by oil drums and ammo boxes...

Wing Co Joe's is ready for the next air raid...

Set dressing is in place to hide modern additions to older buildings.

As Duxford is taken over by the film industry, some areas are being taken back in time. Barriers have been set out to isolate the area between H2 and H4 for filming, though at this time visitors still have access throughout the site.

Let's hope filming doesn't include "blowing up" any more hangars!!!!!!