The afternoon turned out quite a treat - 7 different Spitfires, (MkVc EE602, FR XIV MV268, Mk IX TD314, T9s - PT462, ML407, PV202), Thunderbolt, Hurricane (and Mk1a N3200 doing passes for the photography class)...
15/06/2018
15.VI.18 :: Sunny afternoon saunter...
Choice :- sit in traffic for an hour or two or watch the late afternoon activity over Duxford...
06/06/2018
6.VI.18 :: Hangarage Reportage
Little stroll around this afternoon - Nellie in H3 and the Runway Control Truck that appeared for the May airshow is still 'on display'...
74 years ago S/L John Niven DFC*, OC 485 (NZ) Squadron, spent the day flying Spitfire MkIXB MK862 on "Beachhead Patrol" - his logbook entries for the day...
05.35 First day fighters on patrol. Cloud over coast 7/10 1500' & hazy. Our troops approaching shore for first landing. Warships bombarding shore & Le Havre. Patrolled out to sea. No flak, no Huns.
10.35 Weather improved slightly. Landings made in St.Aubin area. Transports & tanks ashore. Heavy shelling from ships. Patrolled 1-6000'. No air activity.
18.50 Weather over beaches very clear with high cloud. Masses of bombers heading inland. Many gliders on ground near Bavent. Terrific bombing SE Caen. (Badly knocked about) On way home passed glider train stretching from Le Havre - 10 m. S Worthing.
And remembering Tony Cooper who I met and who recently passed away.
On D-Day, 6th June 1944,Tony Cooper’s logbook shows that he flew twice. No 64 Squadron was tasked with providing ‘Low Beach Cover’ over the American assault. The Squadron ORB records that Cooper was allocated his personal Spitfire BM327, ‘SH-F’, for both sorties. He took off at 0430 hours for his first sortie of the day, as part of a 13 aircraft formation, providing “Fighter Cover for Utah Beach” and landed back after a total of 2 hours and 40 minutes airborne (the first hour recorded as night flying). The naval barrage was so intense that it was not safe to be over the coast and the Wing Leader withdrew the formation to a safer distance. Cooper’s remarks in his logbook give an interesting picture of the confusion that reigned and suggest that the invasion stripes, so painstakingly painted on by the ground crew, were not entirely effective: “Navy shelling coast defences – first landing made by the troops at 0620 hours. Nearly shot down by a Thunderbolt – Spitfire in front actually was – Another Spit hit by naval shell and blew up – General Brock’s benefit!”
05.35 First day fighters on patrol. Cloud over coast 7/10 1500' & hazy. Our troops approaching shore for first landing. Warships bombarding shore & Le Havre. Patrolled out to sea. No flak, no Huns.
10.35 Weather improved slightly. Landings made in St.Aubin area. Transports & tanks ashore. Heavy shelling from ships. Patrolled 1-6000'. No air activity.
18.50 Weather over beaches very clear with high cloud. Masses of bombers heading inland. Many gliders on ground near Bavent. Terrific bombing SE Caen. (Badly knocked about) On way home passed glider train stretching from Le Havre - 10 m. S Worthing.
And remembering Tony Cooper who I met and who recently passed away.
On D-Day, 6th June 1944,Tony Cooper’s logbook shows that he flew twice. No 64 Squadron was tasked with providing ‘Low Beach Cover’ over the American assault. The Squadron ORB records that Cooper was allocated his personal Spitfire BM327, ‘SH-F’, for both sorties. He took off at 0430 hours for his first sortie of the day, as part of a 13 aircraft formation, providing “Fighter Cover for Utah Beach” and landed back after a total of 2 hours and 40 minutes airborne (the first hour recorded as night flying). The naval barrage was so intense that it was not safe to be over the coast and the Wing Leader withdrew the formation to a safer distance. Cooper’s remarks in his logbook give an interesting picture of the confusion that reigned and suggest that the invasion stripes, so painstakingly painted on by the ground crew, were not entirely effective: “Navy shelling coast defences – first landing made by the troops at 0620 hours. Nearly shot down by a Thunderbolt – Spitfire in front actually was – Another Spit hit by naval shell and blew up – General Brock’s benefit!”
On the evening of 6th June Tony flew his aircraft on another sortie over the invasion beaches, taking off at 2200 hours, this time tasked with, “Fighter Cover for Omaha Beach”. His comments in his logbook against this sortie read, “Hun bombers attacked invasion fleet – tremendous return fire from ships – one bomber destroyed.” He landed back at ten minutes past midnight – almost 18 hours after his first take-off that day – logging two hours and five minutes of night flying. When asked about night landings in the Spitfire on the short, temporary runways at Deanland, which were lit only by ‘goose-neck’ flares, Tony says, “I remember them well, with reasonably controlled terror, especially when it was raining!”
(Source: SimplySpitfire)
(Source: SimplySpitfire)
01/06/2018
30/05/2018
25/05/2018
25.V.18 :: Pre-show Friday Saunter
Popped in to have a look around - very quiet flying wise due to murky conditions, so just a few pics then hit the road to beat the Friday rush-hour.
As is often the case at Duxford, you walk around a corner and catch something being towed out or in...
24/05/2018
Saunter :: 23.V.18 :: Hangarage Reportage...
Some old faces and new - "Miss Helen" looking better after her reconstructive surgery and P-47D "Nellie", formerly known as "No Guts No Glory" and last in the UK in 2006...
Spitfire T9s PV202 and PT462 resting in the warm sun...
And just before closing, the rather lovely Spitfire PRXI PL983 had a ground run...
Spitfire T9s PV202 and PT462 resting in the warm sun...
And just before closing, the rather lovely Spitfire PRXI PL983 had a ground run...
17/05/2018
Low Level Land...
Getting woken from my afternoon naps in the cottage in Wales...
Hawks, Tucanos, F-15s, Hercs and this beast...
Hawks, Tucanos, F-15s, Hercs and this beast...
09/05/2018
On the way in...
Some of the contents of TFC hangar were out in the morning sun...
Later, as I headed out a couple more snaps...
Later, as I headed out a couple more snaps...
06/05/2018
25/04/2018
Saunter :: 25.IV.18
Sally B is now out of her winter quarters, Spitfire Mk FRXVIIIe SM845 sat out in the sunshine, Spitfire T9 PT462 and Mustang IV "Sharkmouth" down at ARCo end of site...
19/04/2018
17/04/2018
The Two Seat Spitfire Page book
I've been adding photos to the Facebook group, "The Two Seat Spitfire Page", as and when I have had the chance to capture the T9 residents/visitors at Duxford, and when the owner, Greg Davis, ran a "design a logo" competition my submission won, so I was pleased that it has been included on the cover of his newly published book.
It's a round up of all the two seater Spitfires extant today, and a handy reference for those interested in this mark of Spitfire or who may have had the opportunity to fly in/fly a Spitfire.
It can be purchased here -
https://www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/book/greg-davis/the-two-seat-spitfires
15/04/2018
April 15 1945 - Liberation of Bergen-Belsen
I visited Belsen in 1981 - something I will never forget....
14/04/2018
Sunshine!
Dropped in to DX as the sun had finally broken through - busy GA fly in day today and a GeekCon event in Airspace.
Managed to catch PT462 with her tail feathers attached and giving rides -
Classic Wings Tiger Moths were also busy with passenger flights...
Managed to catch PT462 with her tail feathers attached and giving rides -
Classic Wings Tiger Moths were also busy with passenger flights...
13/04/2018
Saunter:: 13.IV.18
Managed to grab a few quick snaps as KH774 was pulled out of H3...
Spitfire T9 NH341, MkIX TD314 and Mustang IV KH774...
Spitfire T9 NH341, MkIX TD314 and Mustang IV KH774...
12/04/2018
Saunter:: 12.IV.18
As it seems to be the topic (or at least was) over on a historic aviation forum, thought I'd take a photo of the DH.9 today on the way in to work...
Also the Sea Fury SR661...
Opposite ends of the piston power spectrum.
Also the Sea Fury SR661...
Opposite ends of the piston power spectrum.
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