Big thanks to Tyre_Tread
Discussion
plasticpig said:
For organising a superb day out yesterday. It was great to 
some roads in Northhamptonshire other than the A14 which is what most of my driving in the area has consited of. The P5's were all in superb nick and obviously cherished.
some roads in Northhamptonshire other than the A14 which is what most of my driving in the area has consited of. The P5's were all in superb nick and obviously cherished. Thanks Keir. Shame that our parking area had been given away to some Austin oiks
My official (Belgian/German) photographer will be along shortly with some pics I think.
matt172 said:
slightly off topic, what was the museum like? been meaning ot go and have a look, but never got around to it
Small but stuffed full of very interesting stuff such as a gun turret from a Lancaster and you'd never believe anyone could fit in there let alone spend 8 hours at minus 10 deg C!
Because it was an organised event Ben very kindly gave us a guided tour and allowed us into their little workshop where all their stuff is prepared prior to display. Ben made the displays come alive with his witty and entertaining take on the contents of the museum including a very enlightenng description of a bomber under attch from a night fighter and what the crew had to endure. This was all demonstated with a moddel of a Wellington Bomber in his hand acting out the evasive manoeuvres!
Next time we have a meeting at Sywell, if anyone is interested, I'll ask Ben to do a tour for the Pistonhead crew.
Anyone?
, can't make Mays meet though 
tyre_tread said:
Next time we have a meeting at Sywell, if anyone is interested, I'll ask Ben to do a tour for the Pistonhead crew.
Anyone?
Would certainly be up for a visit around the museum at one of the meets. My grandad was in Coastal Command and spent alot of his time in the rear turrets of Wellington's bombing U-boats and seeing at close hand some of the equipment he used to work with always makes his accounts more incredible when you can see what the guys had to work with back then.
central said:
markytop said:
Wellingtons
Where was he based mate?
Based mainly out of Gibraltor when he was flying Wellingtons, prior to that Chivenor (I think) in North Devon plus somewhere in Scotland amongst others. Don't really like to shout too much about it as it sounds like showing off (plus he still gets embarrased by it), but I am proud to say he was awarded the DFM as he was the first in RAF Coastal Command to spot (and then sink) a U-Boat using radar from an aircarft.
markytop said:
central said:
markytop said:
Wellingtons
Where was he based mate?
Based mainly out of Gibraltor when he was flying Wellingtons, prior to that Chivenor (I think) in North Devon plus somewhere in Scotland amongst others. Don't really like to shout too much about it as it sounds like showing off (plus he still gets embarrased by it), but I am proud to say he was awarded the DFM as he was the first in RAF Coastal Command to spot (and then sink) a U-Boat using radar from an aircarft.
The reason I asked was that Wellingtons were based at Desborough `drome. Right on my doorstep when we were back at the farm.
markytop said:
Based mainly out of Gibraltor when he was flying Wellingtons, prior to that Chivenor (I think) in North Devon plus somewhere in Scotland amongst others. Don't really like to shout too much about it as it sounds like showing off (plus he still gets embarrased by it), but I am proud to say he was awarded the DFM as he was the first in RAF Coastal Command to spot (and then sink) a U-Boat using radar from an aircarft.
certainly not showing off, I could spend hours talking to someone like your Grandad markytop said:
tyre_tread said:
Next time we have a meeting at Sywell, if anyone is interested, I'll ask Ben to do a tour for the Pistonhead crew.
Anyone?
Would certainly be up for a visit around the museum at one of the meets. My grandad was in Coastal Command and spent alot of his time in the rear turrets of Wellington's bombing U-boats and seeing at close hand some of the equipment he used to work with always makes his accounts more incredible when you can see what the guys had to work with back then.
Coastal Command were having their annual reunion at Sywell on Sunday!
Alison's Mum was a Sgt in the RAF and had 2 mentions in dispatches. She was involved in the development of Radar and a project called FIDO = Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation which involved sitting in a wooden hut at the end of runways and guiding aircraft in - if gthey git it wrong, the cabin they were sitting in got wiped out. Involvement on a voluntary basis as it was dangerous!
tyre_tread said:
markytop said:
tyre_tread said:
Next time we have a meeting at Sywell, if anyone is interested, I'll ask Ben to do a tour for the Pistonhead crew.
Anyone?
Would certainly be up for a visit around the museum at one of the meets. My grandad was in Coastal Command and spent alot of his time in the rear turrets of Wellington's bombing U-boats and seeing at close hand some of the equipment he used to work with always makes his accounts more incredible when you can see what the guys had to work with back then.
Coastal Command were having their annual reunion at Sywell on Sunday!
Alison's Mum was a Sgt in the RAF and had 2 mentions in dispatches. She was involved in the development of Radar and a project called FIDO = Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation which involved sitting in a wooden hut at the end of runways and guiding aircraft in - if gthey git it wrong, the cabin they were sitting in got wiped out. Involvement on a voluntary basis as it was dangerous!
Am sure my Grandad would have loved to have gone to the reunion, but being in his mid-nineties, he doesn't get about too much these days, which is a shame as he does have some great stories to tell. The sitting at the end of runways testing radar you mention above reminds me of how he was telling me about landing Wellingtons at Gibraltor - before they extended the runway they were about the largest payload you could get in there, and if the wind swirled around the Rock, they occasionaly used to run out of runway before they either got airborne, or had stopped if landing. Apparently there are a number of planes in Gibraltor harbour.
markytop said:
tyre_tread said:
markytop said:
tyre_tread said:
Next time we have a meeting at Sywell, if anyone is interested, I'll ask Ben to do a tour for the Pistonhead crew.
Anyone?
Would certainly be up for a visit around the museum at one of the meets. My grandad was in Coastal Command and spent alot of his time in the rear turrets of Wellington's bombing U-boats and seeing at close hand some of the equipment he used to work with always makes his accounts more incredible when you can see what the guys had to work with back then.
Seriously Mark, if your Grandad is well enough to go then you should take him one day. The staff were telling us how animated the older folk get when they see some of teh old stuff and how the stories start pouring out. They, the staff, really need to hear these stories so they can pass it on to visitors.
Coastal Command were having their annual reunion at Sywell on Sunday!
Alison's Mum was a Sgt in the RAF and had 2 mentions in dispatches. She was involved in the development of Radar and a project called FIDO = Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation which involved sitting in a wooden hut at the end of runways and guiding aircraft in - if gthey git it wrong, the cabin they were sitting in got wiped out. Involvement on a voluntary basis as it was dangerous!
Am sure my Grandad would have loved to have gone to the reunion, but being in his mid-nineties, he doesn't get about too much these days, which is a shame as he does have some great stories to tell. The sitting at the end of runways testing radar you mention above reminds me of how he was telling me about landing Wellingtons at Gibraltor - before they extended the runway they were about the largest payload you could get in there, and if the wind swirled around the Rock, they occasionaly used to run out of runway before they either got airborne, or had stopped if landing. Apparently there are a number of planes in Gibraltor harbour.
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