Jump to content

WWII bombers


MarkW
 Share

Recommended Posts

I'm that old that I remember seeing the Vulcan and the EE Lightning at Biggin Hill airshows, when they were still on active duty......Both were bl**dy loud!..... 8-)


And, if you're interested in a bike night culminating in a Lancaster taxi run.......https://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/events/Special-Events/lincolnshire-bike-night.htm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw one of the last flights of the Vulcan over Elvington a couple of years ago. What a machine! One of the things that surprised me was how close it got before you could hear it - pretty much right over head, at which point it was deafening.


There was something very unsettling about seeing something that big coming towards you with its bomb doors open: if you'd been on the Falkland Islands in the early 1980s you'd have had the distinct impression that nothing good was about to happen. 😮

 


We were happily dozing in our small portable prison affectionately known as a tourer on a campsite at the end of Loch Ness when we thought the world had come to an end, a Vulcan with 2 escorts at 7am did a bombing run straight down the middle of Loch Ness and proceeded to go as near vertical as possible right over us, all we saw were three trails heading off over the mountains but apparently they managed to upset the entire village of Fort Augustus. The noise was amazing and terrifying in equal measures.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As a child I was on holiday in Holsworthy in Devon playing in the local park when a Vulcan roared over at very low level followed by another and another . I can see them now in my mind's eye. I don't remember how many there were but it could have been eight or ten . I do remember they were white in colour and belching black smoke . They must have been heading for Dartmoor . My Gran's house must have been on a military flying corridor because every day there were Meteors, Hunters and Canberras ( with black and yellow stripes on the underside ) screaming past the back garden . Happy days .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some very cool stuff on this thread!


I think the most famous (or infamous) plane I've seen is the Enola Gay, which dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. It's in the Udvar-Hazy Centre in Virginia, which is one of my favourite places to visit when I'm in Washington DC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm that old that I remember seeing the Vulcan and the EE Lightning at Biggin Hill airshows, when they were still on active duty......Both were bl**dy loud!..... 8-)


And, if you're interested in a bike night culminating in a Lancaster taxi run.......https://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/events/Special-Events/lincolnshire-bike-night.htm

 

What a machine the EE Lightning was. A colleague I used to work with was an RAF techie who used to work on and maintain them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[mention]MarkW[/mention]


Is it true that when Harriers were flying in the Falklands, flocks of Penguins were so shocked by them, that they would stand and stare at them going overhead and then falling on their backs when the aircraft had passed?

Edited by Smithers
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@MarkW


Is true that when Harriers were flying in the Falklands, flocks of Penguins were so shocked by them, that they would stand and stare at them going overhead and then falling on their backs when the aircraft had passed?

 


Yup true ...my uncle was a penguin erector.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@MarkW


Is true that when Harriers were flying in the Falklands, flocks of Penguins were so shocked by them, that they would stand and stare at them going overhead and then falling on their backs when the aircraft had passed?

 


Yup true ...my uncle was a penguin erector.

how many did he p-p-pick up ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@MarkW


Is true that when Harriers were flying in the Falklands, flocks of Penguins were so shocked by them, that they would stand and stare at them going overhead and then falling on their backs when the aircraft had passed?

 


Yup true ...my uncle was a penguin erector.

 

Was he pppp paid by the penguin or by the ppp pound? (in weight)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A Halifax crashed not far from here in 1944 trying to make an emergency landing at Church Lawford airfield. Sadly they were only about 2 miles from the runway when the plane came down.

They hold a remembrance service at the memorial each November.

http://aircrewremembered.com/wood-donald-zachary-taylor.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Let's not forget the Vulcan has the record for the longest bombing run in history.

 

And it's a great story how they landed for fuel afterwards and were expecting to get arrested but instead got refueled and released.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually, now I come to think about it my paternal grandfather worked for Westland in Yeovil during the war. He died when I was a baby and my old man kicked the bucket when I was a kid, so it's not something I ever got to find out much about. Perhaps a little research is called for...


🤔

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's another pic of what I think was the Vulcan's last flight. Oh , sorry about the interference effect it's a pic of a pic .

IMG_20190419_114448183.thumb.jpg.82953d8873d1af66bf23e16020522104.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw a Vulcan at the side of the road yesterday as I was driving into Norwich, together with a Lightning and a few other odds and ends. I might pop in tomorrow for a quick look around. :thumb:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw a Vulcan at the side of the road yesterday as I was driving into Norwich, together with a Lightning and a few other odds and ends. I might pop in tomorrow for a quick look around. :thumb:

 

Norwich Aviation Museum. It flew into Norwich airport and a friend remembers it going overhead and rattling all the house windows!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Welcome to The Motorbike Forum.

    Sign in or register an account to join in.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Guidelines We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Please Sign In or Sign Up