If I offended anyone by bringing up and posting "Panzerlied" I sincerely apologize. I wouldn't intentionally offend anyone here for the world.
Just trying to have a little fun, that's all.
And that's all I'll say about the matter, no explainations or rationalizations.
It's ok Firelock. Been haunting me the last couple of weeks when this came up. All's well.
Here, this'll make up for it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl9HD01V704
What do you say we get this back to classic aircraft?
How's a restored, original, Hispano-Suiza engined SPAD XIII grab you?
Direct from La Belle France, here it is...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_HhHSt7qlA
What a bunch of whimpy craft!
Here is 5 and a half minutes of engineering excellence, the epitome of beauty and adrenaline pumping power!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N82LCMQJ-r8
(And more in line with the purpose of this forum.)
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
765's not germane to this discussion, but no matter, no matter at all!
The glory of steam is welcome wherever it makes an appearance.
Firelock76 What do you say we get this back to classic aircraft? How's a restored, original, Hispano-Suiza engined SPAD XIII grab you? Direct from La Belle France, here it is... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_HhHSt7qlA
+1. No offense taken. I just wanted to put it in context.
Bob, time and tide change things , but memories live on forever. Such as 11/18 -18.
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
switch7frg Bob, time and tide change things , but memories live on forever. Such as 11/18 -18.
"Veteran pilot, 97, who flew 50 bombing raids over Germany during WWII fulfils lifelong dream of flying a Spitfire after a 70 year wait"
FTA:'...A Mosquito pilot who flew 50 bombing raids over Germany in World War Two has fulfilled his dream of flying a Spitfire after a 70 year wait.
Colin S Bell, 97, took to the skies again at Boultbee Flight Academy in Chichester, in a two-seater Spitfire TR9.
Mr Bell flew Merlin engine powered Mosquito bombers for the RAF's Pathfinder Group during WWII and said his Spitfire experience was 'better than I expected.'
He said: 'I have had this fantastic experience…flying in a Spitfire, something I've always wanted to do, and today is the culmination of that ambition…It was even better than I expected.'
Mr Bell, whose full title is Flt/Lt (Ret'd) Colin S Bell DFC AE FRICS IRRV(Hons) RAF (Ret'd) flew for 608 & 162 Squadrons, part of the Pathfinder Group - an elite, hand-picked bunch of the RAF's most skilled pilots and navigators.
Colin completed 50 such bombing raids - all of them over Germany and 13 over Berlin.
Boultbee Flight Academy invited the retired great grandfather-of-four to fly with instructor Chris in their two-seat Spitfire TR9..."
The article is complete with still photos, and video, for anyone interested it is linked @ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6366841/Veteran-pilot-97-flew-50-bombing-raids-WWII-fulfils-dream-flying-Spitfire.html
I wonder if he ever encountered one of these rare Pfeils (Do 335):
Or more likely, an Me 262:
and wasn't it 1100 hr on 11/11/18 ?
That's right, the "Eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month."
That's when the armistice took effect. I suspect Marshal Ferdinand Foch was being a little poetic. Then again, it would take time to get the word out.
And this veterans day take a little time out to remember those Doughboys, Marines, Sailors, and pioneer Airmen who fought that war. Now all gone down "The Long, Long Trail" but hopefully not forgotten.
OK, back to old airplanes- you've got to see these!
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2019/feb/25/the-second-world-war-in-colour-pictures
Those photos are marvelous, like they were taken yesterday! Thanks for posting them!
At the risk of being the one who invited a skunk into the family picnic....
I found the following linked article @ https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-dday-75th-anniversary-squadron-trip-oxford-20190518-k535nyev55edna3rjgjhrzt6wy-story.html
"From Connecticut to Normandy, vintage planes help mark 75th anniversary of D-Day" By Jesse Leavenworth| Hartford Courant |May 18, 2019
FTA: "...vintage warplanes bearing the black and white invasion stripes of Operation Overlord are set to take off from Connecticut on Sunday for a return flight to Europe.
Placid Lassie, D-Day Doll, That’s All, Brother and other planes of the D-Day Squadron are to depart from Waterbury-Oxford Airport and leapfrog across the Atlantic to take part in Daks Over Normandy. The international gathering of volunteer pilots, crews and historic planes is to culminate on June 5 with a jump by about 250 paratroopers into the same drop zones used in the June 6, 1944 invasion..."
Seems like an event that is appropriate to mention in this Thread about "Historic Warbirds". Wonder how many 'other' WWII aircraft will make the journey to celebrate the 75th Anniversay of 'D-Day"?
Thanks Sam! There was an article in the local paper about one of those aircraft, "That's All Brother," a week or so ago. "That's All Brother" is an actual D-Day veteran, bought as a hulk and restored to flying condition by the Commemorative Air Force organization.
The DC-3 / C-47. In my opinion due to excellence of design, the ability to handle any job given it, and sheer longevity (look how many are still flying, doing what they were meant to do) the greatest airplane of all time. For now.
Speaking of the DC-3/C-47/R4D/Dakota, I was at a car show in Carlisle, Pennsylvania this past weekend and every day a C-47 flew overhead. Invasion stripes, too. Followed by a P-51 Mustang. Sweet music, life is good.
Daks over Normandy sounds awesome! I've been to IWM Duxford- you can fly in a Tiger Moth, a DeHavilland Dragon Rapide or a 2-seat Spitfire, all for a fee. Guess what I'm doing next year!
Thanks for reminding me 54, I should have included the Navy / Marine Corps designator "R4D" as well, although that would have had some people scratching their heads.
The last versions of the DC-3, the "Super DC-3," were still in service when I was in the Corps in the '70s, however they were called C-117's. Very popular with the men who flew them, I might add. Everyone called them "Hummers," since having recip engines they "hummed" while the jets screamed and roared. Needless to say this was long before the "Hummer" vehicle came on the scene.
They are still being flown in Northern Canada in the winter as the guys that fly them haven't found another aircraft that can do the job as well.
Give a listen, you'll like this. When I was a kid, my father had an album of airplane songs by Oscar Brand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-5BF2PpV_c
It would be nice a B-17 and B-24 made an appearance. Unfortunately, neither plane had enough range to cross the Atlantic without refueling stops. Goose Bay, Keflavik and Belfast were the stops on Dad's flight to England in 1944.
Stephen Ambrose gave the 8th and 9th Air Forces short shrift in "D-Day".
Thanks 54, that's the first time I've heard it. Good song!
I'll tell you, I'm glad to see the C-47 and the Troop Carrier Wings being showcased, I had two uncles who served in the same.
I believe it was General Eisenhower who said the most important weapons in the American arsenal were the C-47, the "two-and-a-half-ton" truck, and the Higgins landing craft.
Ike might have called it a two and a half ton truck but the GIs called it a deuce and a half. But you knew that.
54light15 Ike might have called it a two and a half ton truck but the GIs called it a deuce and a half. But you knew that.
Quite true. Some Marines were still calling the trucks "deuce-and-a-halfs" during my time, but that phrase was on the way out. The more common name was "six-by," as in 6 x 6, for the all-wheel drive capability.
I just received this a few minutes ago, a bit late for Memorial Day, but it's so moving I have to pass it along.
If this doesn't break your heart, don't worry, you probably don't have one anyway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpt6Bvr2L-s
"Lest we forget."
Thank you, Wayne.
What those men went through to defeat a nation that was hungry for resorces and had no respect for people of other countries is almost unimaginal to us . I am currently reading Volume 2 of Jerome T Hagen' s three volume work War in the Pacific, and I am to his description of the taking of Iwo Jima.
Johnny
My husband's grandfather was a radioman in the Navy in WW2 and the stuff that he told my late father in law and my husband was next to unbelievable. The courage and strength our grandparents and parents had to do what they did in less than 4 years was in my opinion impossible. Some of the commands that were air based had wounded and killed rates of 30 percentage a mission.
There are no foxholes in the air. With all due respects, the 8th Air Force suffered more fatalities in WW2 than the Marine Corps.
CSSHEGEWISCH There are no foxholes in the air. With all due respects, the 8th Air Force suffered more fatalities in WW2 than the Marine Corps.
Absolutely true. And in the European Theatre of Operations the casualty rate of the 8th Air Force was second only to the infantry.
Flintlock76 CSSHEGEWISCH There are no foxholes in the air. With all due respects, the 8th Air Force suffered more fatalities in WW2 than the Marine Corps. Absolutely true. And in the European Theatre of Operations the casualty rate of the 8th Air Force was second only to the infantry.
8th Air Force Museum is at Pooler, GA outside Savannah adjacent to I-95.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
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