20th Century
A Passenger’s Tale
How it all began Not long after our new neighbours Ernie and Maisie Allen moved in next door, my wife and I were invited to join them and a group of their friends for drinks [more…]
Engineering
20th Century
Through The Laurels, An RAF Story – Ch. 11
My Swansong from the Royal Air Force. (1973) On arrival back at Waddington we were to take part in the UK-USAAF Bombing and Navigation Competition. The day after the competition the results came through. Bomber [more…]
20th Century
Happy Birthday, Ruby!
Above photo: My ruby laser with a ‘mirror alignment laser’ just off to the right hand side of the photo. A small amount of smoke in the air makes the alignment laser-beam visible. In the [more…]
20th Century
Through The Laurels, An RAF Story – Ch. 10
RAF Akrotiri, Bomber Wing. April 1972 Within ten days of arriving in Cyprus I was detailed for a Ranger to Masirah in **XH562, with Flt Lt Julian Flood as Captain. A three nights, four days [more…]
20th Century
Through The Laurels, An RAF Story – Ch. 9
Masirah. The Jewel of the Arabian Sea Masirah is twenty odd miles off the coast of the Sultanate of Oman. This was a wartime airfield but not where the airfield now lies. The island was [more…]
Arts
The Home Engineer, Part One
Most men, and not a few women judging by the amount of lady machinists who have YouTube Channels, at some point or another in their lives yearn for a workshop. Now, there are a few, [more…]
Engineering
“And what have the Romans ever done for us?”
Introduction It is interesting that in Monty Python’s ‘Life of Brian’ when Reg , the leader of The People’s Front of Judaea, poses that question the very first response he receives from his gang of [more…]
20th Century
Through The Laurels, An RAF Story – Ch. 8
Moonflower to Butterworth. (May,1969) We left Waddington, in **XM652 with Flt Lt Tony Semark as Captain. Down the route to Cyprus. The next leg on to Muharrg, Bahrain. The next day to Gan, Maldives. On [more…]
20th Century
Through The Laurels, An RAF Story – Ch. 7
To rescue Bootsy, then Pensacola Feb,1969 I was detailed to fly with Squadron Leader Robert Wood in **XM603 on a CBLR, (Cyprus Bombing Lone Ranger), plus to bring back the Station Commander of Waddington, Group [more…]