Spitfire

51highland · 04-08-2008, 10:02 AM

To-day is the 70th anniversary of the Spitfire entering service with the R.A.F.
Where would we have been without it and the other fighters and their pilots.

sapper · 04-08-2008, 11:02 AM

Many years ago my immediate superior Bert introduce me to an elderly Gentleman with the words "you two will have much in common" he was introduce to me as the Chief Engineer at Supermarine. The Old fellow had retired, but had a little workshop of his own. When there was something that he could not tackle, he would come down to me and I would get it done for him.
In truth we used to sit and natter at my desk and share the coffee from my flask.
Supermarine was bombed out and burned down early in the war. The planes production was spread far and wide, and assembled from all the small workshops. My old late friend Charley Jupe worked on the Spit...Precision Grinder. I never worked on it, but I did on Concord.
The outlying places that produced the Spit, worked non-stop. Each a 12 hour shift and the machines never stopped running. It was a matter of the next shift taking over with remarks like "Where have we got to Bill?" "Fine mate. got it" and off they would go.
sapper

51highland · 04-08-2008, 01:26 PM

The BBC's item on the Spitfire.
BBC NEWS | UK | Spitfire celebrates 70 years

von Poop · 04-08-2008, 01:38 PM

Still doesn't look archaic yet does it.
Pretty good work for 70 years of flight.

This may be a bit of an Internet cliche now, but it's still makes me laugh:
YouTube - Spitfire Low Pass
Happy Birthday Spitfire.

Auditman · 04-08-2008, 02:34 PM

Talking of Spitfires - did you see TV Top Gear's competion with their German Counterparts, under orders "Don't mention the war". The BBC mob arrived in three T9 Spitfires. What a sight

Gage · 04-08-2008, 07:57 PM

Well done to the Spit!

Roxy · 04-08-2008, 08:01 PM

I had the honour to sit next to Wg Cdr John Freeborn DFC* at an AirCrew Association dinner a few years ago. He informed me that he had flewn more Spitfires and more hours that any other pilot during the Battle of Britain-he was attributed with 13 1/2 kills. He was also one of (if not the) youngest wg cdrs. He commanded a wing in Yugoslavia. A humbling experience.

Roxy

von Poop · 04-08-2008, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auditman

Talking of Spitfires - did you see TV Top Gear's competion with their German Counterparts, under orders "Don't mention the war". The BBC mob arrived in three T9 Spitfires. What a sight

I did... and must confess I found it very funny.

Gotthard Heinrici · 04-08-2008, 11:41 PM

God bless the Spit indeed. and still looks the part.

Warlord · 05-08-2008, 01:13 AM

The day that saved the Empire!

04-08-2008, 10:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
51highland Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ipswich Posts: 833	Spitfire To-day is the 70th anniversary of the Spitfire entering service with the R.A.F. Where would we have been without it and the other fighters and their pilots. __________________ 51 highland www.keep-em-moving.com Là á Bhlàir's math na Càirdean (Friends are good in the day of battle) Na diobair caraid's a charraid (Forsake not a friend in the fray) Cuimhnichibh na suinn nach maireann . Mairidh an cliu beo gu brath. (In memory of the Heroes who are no more. May their Fame live on forever)

04-08-2008, 01:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
51highland Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ipswich Posts: 833	The BBC's item on the Spitfire. BBC NEWS \| UK \| Spitfire celebrates 70 years __________________ 51 highland www.keep-em-moving.com Là á Bhlàir's math na Càirdean (Friends are good in the day of battle) Na diobair caraid's a charraid (Forsake not a friend in the fray) Cuimhnichibh na suinn nach maireann . Mairidh an cliu beo gu brath. (In memory of the Heroes who are no more. May their Fame live on forever)

04-08-2008, 01:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
von Poop I Like Tanks Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perfidious Albion. Posts: 8,500	Still doesn't look archaic yet does it. Pretty good work for 70 years of flight. This may be a bit of an Internet cliche now, but it's still makes me laugh: YouTube - Spitfire Low Pass Happy Birthday Spitfire. __________________ It's only the Internet.

04-08-2008, 07:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
Gage Battle of Barking Creek Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Somewhere in Time Posts: 1,375	Well done to the Spit! __________________ 'There I stood at the bar, wearing a Mae West, no jacket, and beginning to leak blood from my torn boot. None of the golfers took any notice of me - after all, I wasn't a member!' Kenneth Lee - after being shot down on the 18th August 1940. John McClane: "Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..." Avatar: SOE (F Section) agent Andree Borrel murdered at Natzweiler Camp 6th July 1944.

04-08-2008, 08:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Roxy Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elgin, Moray Posts: 67	I had the honour to sit next to Wg Cdr John Freeborn DFC* at an AirCrew Association dinner a few years ago. He informed me that he had flewn more Spitfires and more hours that any other pilot during the Battle of Britain-he was attributed with 13 1/2 kills. He was also one of (if not the) youngest wg cdrs. He commanded a wing in Yugoslavia. A humbling experience. Roxy __________________ Remembering my good mates Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 who died in Afghanistan on 2 Sep 06. Also remembering my ggf Pte Thomas Roberts who fought for his country in The Great War and died on 25 Sep 15 at Loos. And my gf Pte Thomas Roxburgh who fought for his country in the Second World War and survived. Last edited by Roxy; 04-08-2008 at 08:02 PM. Reason: spool chook

04-08-2008, 11:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
sapper WW2 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,516	Many years ago my immediate superior Bert introduce me to an elderly Gentleman with the words "you two will have much in common" he was introduce to me as the Chief Engineer at Supermarine. The Old fellow had retired, but had a little workshop of his own. When there was something that he could not tackle, he would come down to me and I would get it done for him. In truth we used to sit and natter at my desk and share the coffee from my flask. Supermarine was bombed out and burned down early in the war. The planes production was spread far and wide, and assembled from all the small workshops. My old late friend Charley Jupe worked on the Spit...Precision Grinder. I never worked on it, but I did on Concord. The outlying places that produced the Spit, worked non-stop. Each a 12 hour shift and the machines never stopped running. It was a matter of the next shift taking over with remarks like "Where have we got to Bill?" "Fine mate. got it" and off they would go. sapper

04-08-2008, 02:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Auditman Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Essex Posts: 48	Talking of Spitfires - did you see TV Top Gear's competion with their German Counterparts, under orders "Don't mention the war". The BBC mob arrived in three T9 Spitfires. What a sight

04-08-2008, 11:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
Gotthard Heinrici Pog mo thon Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 4,023	God bless the Spit indeed. and still looks the part. __________________ *"The Eastern front is like a house of cards. If the front is broken through at one point all the rest will collapse."* - General Heinz Guderian

05-08-2008, 01:13 AM	#10 (permalink)
Warlord Veteran wannabe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: The Land of Eternal Spring Posts: 301	The day that saved the Empire! __________________ If I go forward, follow me; if I stop, hurry me; if I retreat, kill me. Guatemalan special forces motto Picture shows an Israeli Avia downing an Egyptian Spitfire in ´48. Guatemala gave the deciding vote at the UN that year for Israel to become a nation.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode