A Friday visit for a change...
As yesterday was my birthday I moved my working day to today. MJ444 still lingering in H2 and awaiting it's departure to sunnier climes with "Fighter Pilot Adventure Flights" in Queensland AUS (although today was quite warm and sunny!).
PL983 undergoing an engine run as it is reassembled following it's own journey down under.
Other residents soaking up the rays...
82 Years Ago...
"One day the heavy guns of the Navy were enough to deafen anyone and the air was filled with aircraft in their thousands going back and forth. By two o'clock the ship had gone as near the shore as she could and we waited while a large raft came alongside and started loading. The lorries first of all, then the tanks. We drove slowly on to the barge in case it capsized. The raft was so long the helmsman had great difficulty in keeping it heading for the shore, but land was slowly getting nearer. The co-driver and I were sealed in and eventually the order came "Start up, Taff" and into the water we went and slowly drove on to dry land. I believe our tank was the first of our regiment to land. We landed at 6.30 on June 6th. Our D-Day had arrived!What was the reaction? Fear certainly with the heart pounding away. The bodies floating in the sea were proof that this was no child's play, but you had to hide your fears and listen carefully to the tank commander's directions as we were still under seal and could see very little ourselves. The vision through the periscope was minimal and we had to rely on someone who could see what was going on. I saw a row of men coming to meet us with their hands on their heads - these were the first POWs for me to see. We went out of the village into a large field to wait for the regiment to assemble. In the next field a cow lay feet up to show that everything was endangered here."
Rhys made it through to the end of the war returning to civilian life. Many of his comrades were not so fortunate...
Warm Wednesday...
Some shots from my post lunch saunter. ML407 came in from the NW for a fly through before heading back towards Sywell as I returned to work...
Warbird Wednesday and a bit smokey...
Under leaden skies, B-17 Sally B was towed out and three engines started...
Big biplane arrived and some of the regulars out in the showers...
A warm Wednesday wander...
A warm day attracted a lot of visitors with some Spitfire action as PT462 was flying...
Meanwhile Aero Legends MJ444 "Lady Luck" was resting in H3...
A little lunchtime warbirdery...
From
a regular 'tog, it's been some years (?) since Mk XVI TD248 was last at
Duxford. (A little help from AI to remove that pesky fence!)
P-51D "Tall In The Saddle" was pulled out for an engine run.
MJ444 was parked up in H3 and MH434 was cover off for a change, having a wash down.
Happy 90th Birthday Spitfire...
20 Years on...
Hard to believe it is 20 years this week since I started my volunteer role at IWM Duxford in the Film & Video Archive (now Visual Resources Dept.) working on accessioning RAF Gun Camera film from WW2.
Back in May 2014 I thought I'd watched my last film but in a case of 'foreshadowing' I posted "After almost eight years of watching gun camera film, I have watched my last reel (until they find some more!)."
Well, turned out they did find some more!...
"Old Friend" visiting...
It was 10 years ago that I flew in MJ627 from Duxford and fittingly she was back here for a visit today...
