20th Century
The Spitfire, of course, Part 4
Musings on the development of the Miles M20 prototype Firstly, a reminder of where we started back in part one, I suggested in the first article in this series that the Spitfire was not an [more…]
Aviation
20th Century
An early airman’s tragic adventure
Early 1930: It had been a depressing English winter – cold, dark and wet for weeks on end. In West Wickham, a young man who had left Australia five years earlier and settled here in [more…]
20th Century
The Spitfire, of course, Part 3
A look at the Miles M20, the “Emergency Fighter” Design and build us a cheap fighter, knock it up out of wood, shove in this night fighter engine, loads of fuel, plenty of ammo and [more…]
20th Century
The Spitfire, of course, Part 2
A couple of years ago I wrote an article here concerning the design of the Spitfire and questioned its status as the best fighter of WWII. I mentioned in that article a follow up piece [more…]
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
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…]
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…]