09/07/2010
21/06/2010
No Horsemen for Legends...
Just had the word that the P-51 Flight Team AKA "The Horsemen" will not be displaying at Flying Legends this year due to other commitments Stateside.This is a real shame as they certainly bring something special to the show and it would have been nice to hear them 'perform' to the new piece of music specially written by the renowned composer James Horner (see earlier video link).
Disappointment can not be disguised...
18/06/2010
Duxford (Fri)day
Could be a scene from Duxford during WWII - from front to back, TD248, PV202, PL344.(Click image for larger version)
Familiar names...
Today I was watching some film from 1942 when a name popped up that rang a bell. F/O Gentile of 133 Sqdn. Target was a FW 190. I wondered if that was the Don Gentile...
I filed that away to ruminate on later and half way through the film another name appeared. F/Lt Blakeslee also of 133 Sqdn engaging FW190's and a Dornier 217. Now that was two names, could this be Don Blakeslee? It was only a few entries later that "Eagle Squadron" appeared after 133 Sqdn, that the names finally dropped into place. The date of this film was 19/8/1942 and a quick search of the internet revealed a page on Wikipedia -
Don Blakeslee - "During the raid against Dieppe, France on August 18, 1942, Blakeslee shot down a further FW-190, and another probably destroyed on the 19th, thus achieving ace status."
There is a possibility that the clip I had just seen was this very "probable" which gave him "ace status".
Also from Wikipedia - Don Gentile - "Gentile flew the Supermarine Spitfire Mark V with No. 133 Squadron, one of the famed "Eagle Squadron" during 1942. His first kills (Ju 88 & Fw 190) were on August 1, 1942, during Operation Jubilee; and he downed an FW-190 and a JU-88 on August 1, 1942.
In September 1942, the Eagle squadrons transferred to the USAAF, becoming the 4th Fighter Group."
I'm sure that there are many more aces and names that slip by unnoticed, but like the recent clip of Paddy Finucane's penultimate mission, famous names tend to jump out a little more readily, and thanks to the resource of the internet, finding out info is only a matter of a few minutes or mouse clicks....
I filed that away to ruminate on later and half way through the film another name appeared. F/Lt Blakeslee also of 133 Sqdn engaging FW190's and a Dornier 217. Now that was two names, could this be Don Blakeslee? It was only a few entries later that "Eagle Squadron" appeared after 133 Sqdn, that the names finally dropped into place. The date of this film was 19/8/1942 and a quick search of the internet revealed a page on Wikipedia -
Don Blakeslee - "During the raid against Dieppe, France on August 18, 1942, Blakeslee shot down a further FW-190, and another probably destroyed on the 19th, thus achieving ace status."
There is a possibility that the clip I had just seen was this very "probable" which gave him "ace status".
Also from Wikipedia - Don Gentile - "Gentile flew the Supermarine Spitfire Mark V with No. 133 Squadron, one of the famed "Eagle Squadron" during 1942. His first kills (Ju 88 & Fw 190) were on August 1, 1942, during Operation Jubilee; and he downed an FW-190 and a JU-88 on August 1, 1942.
In September 1942, the Eagle squadrons transferred to the USAAF, becoming the 4th Fighter Group."
I'm sure that there are many more aces and names that slip by unnoticed, but like the recent clip of Paddy Finucane's penultimate mission, famous names tend to jump out a little more readily, and thanks to the resource of the internet, finding out info is only a matter of a few minutes or mouse clicks....
23/04/2010
09/04/2010
06/04/2010
New crew member...
...Maya.Like Guy Gibson's black Labrador she has a white chest flash, though we went for a slightly less 'controversial' name.
She was born within spitting distance of RAF Attlebridge, USAAF Station 120, and will no doubt accompany me on many future 'missions'....
Chocks away!!....
01/04/2010
11/03/2010
09/03/2010
05/03/2010
23/01/2010
Bomber Command Veterans book signing...
local garden centre...
UPDATE:
£1295 was raised for the Bomber Command Memorial Fund during this event...
18/12/2009
13/12/2009
11/12/2009
06/11/2009
12/10/2009
That's all f-f-f-folks...
Closing display of the 2009 season at Duxford was handed to B-17 "Sally B" which flew a faultless display. Caught a glimpse of her reflected in the glass of the American Air Museum and thought it an apt photo to include...Hopefully the smoke pouring from her engine is her way of saying that the engine troubles of the last two years are firmly behind her.
25/09/2009
22/09/2009
Helitech 2009 Duxford
Helitech 2009 is currently on at Duxford. Running from 22-24/9/09 it features all things helicoptery and has a static display of modern civilian and military helicopters. Numerous companies had stands in the exhibition marquee catering to the helicopter world ranging from seats to night sun lanterns.
Quite a few of the aircraft in the static display area were up for sale - tempting to crack open the cheque book....
18/09/2009
16/09/2009
15/08/2009
Sally B flying again?
The sound of multi radials had me dash into the garden to catch sight of a B-17 in a slow circuit just to the south of my home.Is "Sally B" (aka Memphis Belle) fit and healthy again after it's run of engine problems?
Today is the Burma Star veterans event at Duxford so maybe she's been providing some entertainment for the attendees?...
04/08/2009
Singapore's National Day Parade Preview...
Last Saturday was the preview for the NDP (National Day Parade) here in Singapore. It's S'pores 44th 'birthday' on the 9th August and there was a preview of the celebrations put on for families.
Our hotel overlooked the venue so we were treated to a free mini airshow and other military displays....
28/07/2009
Singapore Airlines A380...
Airbus A380-800 9V-SKG Singapore Airlines at Heathrow.
The wings are so long they have a curvature like the Earth's!
Have to wonder about the operation of a fully loaded passenger aircraft with an emergency exit tied shut. Looks like a long term setup as they had put black duct tape over the arrows pointing to the exit....
20/07/2009
One small step for man...
...one giant leap for mankind.Today, 40 years ago, man stood on the surface of the Moon.
16/07/2009
"We choose to go to the moon..."
Forty years ago today a Saturn V launched Apollo 11 from the Kennedy Space Centre on July 16, 1969 at the start of it's epic journey to put men on the Moon.
14/07/2009
The Horsemen Arriveth...
The Horsemen P-51 Flight Team arrive back at Duxford on Friday afternoon following filming over the southern coast of Kent. They performed a short display for the benefit of the helicopter camera ship which accompanied them.
13/07/2009
Gag Le Chab
So, Flying Legends is over for another year. All in all a fine weekend only spoilt by the grounding of the entire TFC fleet due to the nice folk at CAA deciding to check paperwork going back to 1940.Weather turned out way better than I had hoped for from watching the doom mongers on the weather forecasts earlier in the week. They got the rain on Saturday night correct so I guess the seaweed hanging out the window works...
Flying displays were as usual excellent with my personal high points being the FW 190 (or is it Fw190) and The Horsemen.
But one thing did spoil the show for me and for many people I had the chance to talk to.
That one thing?
Bernard Chabbert.
His endless commentary talking over everything has become tedious now. Some try to defend him by citing his aviation knowledge. Fine. Be knowledgeable. But be knowledgeable in moderation. He just drones on and on throwing in some philosophical titbit now and again but he has introduced a new word to the English lexicon - chabber: to talk incessantly to an audience to the point where that audience wants to commit suicide or go to sleep.
I cannot be alone in wanting this man to just STFU (to use a modern internetism) - take a breath. Go for a coffee or a glass of wine. Eat some food. Just find something else for your mouth to do other than spout forth words.
Sunday improved as they found the music for the Horsemen routine - what did Chabbert do? He spoke over the middle section. Anna Walker suffered the same - nice aerial display with a charming version of Bolero. Chabbert found the volume dial and decided to improve on the music. This man just doesn't know when to stop.
I feel I have the right to make this complaint. I am a fully paid up member of the Flying Legends Club - I have gone every year since the first one and have, with only one or two exceptions, paid for the Gold Pass tickets. I have usually gone on both days. I have paid my 'dues' by supporting this event.
Hopefully the voices being raised to request the man to be moderated will not go unnoticed - maybe the Silence Chabbert Action Commando unfurling a huge banner in front of the commentary box next year might get the message home....
11/07/2009
10/07/2009
04/07/2009
03/07/2009
05/06/2009
Duxford's F-15 summer wardrobe...
Took a stroll up towards the AAM this afternoon and I see the F-15 Eagle is back out in the open air after having a new coat of paint...
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