Spitfire

[steve66 3,623]

Sad to hear that one crashed today near conisby believe the pilot has died , one week before the D day celebrations .

Hopefully the Battle of Britain memorial flight will still be able to fly 

[waltjnr 7,333]

  On 25/05/2024 at 18:39, steve66 said:

Sad to hear that one crashed today near conisby believe the pilot has died , one week before the D day celebrations .

Hopefully the Battle of Britain memorial flight will still be able to fly 

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Yes sad loss of pilot ,and an iconic machine 

[Leo Sayer 3,026]

My grandfather on my dad's side was a spitfire pilot in ww2. Just 19 years old , went and did a crash course learning to fly in Canada  then he was up there and at them. Got shot down by the Gerry, but luckily survived. He died when I was in my early teens. I remember a very clever switched on serious man, with all scaring to the side of his face from the shrapnel that hit him in the face when he got hit. The average life expectancy of a spitfire pilot during ww2 was apparently just 4 weeks. These fellas had balls of steel. After the army he went to become a small fairly successful businessman, owning wine merchants. I still have his original dog tags in a frame hanging in my office. 

 

[mackem 28,317]

  On 26/05/2024 at 02:07, Leo Sayer said:

My grandfather on my dad's side was a spitfire pilot in ww2. Just 19 years old , went and did a crash course learning to fly in Canada  then he was up there and at them. Got shot down by the Gerry, but luckily survived. He died when I was in my early teens. I remember a very clever switched on serious man, with all scaring to the side of his face from the shrapnel that hit him in the face when he got hit. The average life expectancy of a spitfire pilot during ww2 was apparently just 4 weeks. These fellas had balls of steel. After the army he went to become a small fairly successful businessman, owning wine merchants. I still have his original dog tags in a frame hanging in my office. 

 

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He sounds a real character mate,lived a very interesting life,if you ever fancy it Biggin Hill do factory tours and flights.

Fly a Spitfire Spitfire Tours - Biggin Hill

FLYASPITFIRE.COM

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The Biggin Hill Spitfire Factory is a working hangar where you can see Spitfire restoration projects at various...

 

[paulus 26]

  On 26/05/2024 at 02:07, Leo Sayer said:

My grandfather on my dad's side was a spitfire pilot in ww2. Just 19 years old , went and did a crash course learning to fly in Canada  then he was up there and at them. Got shot down by the Gerry, but luckily survived. He died when I was in my early teens. I remember a very clever switched on serious man, with all scaring to the side of his face from the shrapnel that hit him in the face when he got hit. The average life expectancy of a spitfire pilot during ww2 was apparently just 4 weeks. These fellas had balls of steel. After the army he went to become a small fairly successful businessman, owning wine merchants. I still have his original dog tags in a frame hanging in my office. 

 

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They were still issuing the same dog tags in the 1980`s, One is fireproof and the other acid proof. 

[Leo Sayer 3,026]

  On 26/05/2024 at 07:07, paulus said:

They were still issuing the same dog tags in the 1980`s, One is fireproof and the other acid proof. 

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He gave them me before he passed away.  Very proud to have them on my wall. 

[tatsblisters 10,540]

  On 26/05/2024 at 08:56, Leo Sayer said:

He gave them me before he passed away.  Very proud to have them on my wall. 

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I bet you are proud mate when you think what those pilots went through and all front line personnel in the world wars we really don't know were born the generations that came after.

[paulus 26]

  On 26/05/2024 at 08:56, Leo Sayer said:

He gave them me before he passed away.  Very proud to have them on my wall. 

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The only thing i ever flew was a 4 tonner and drag, but i still have my dog tags, All that those lads sacrificed and endured was a testament to the British Spirit. Such a shame what this Country has been allowed to become. 

[Leo Sayer 3,026]

  On 26/05/2024 at 16:11, paulus said:

The only thing i ever flew was a 4 tonner and drag, but i still have my dog tags, All that those lads sacrificed and endured was a testament to the British Spirit. Such a shame what this Country has been allowed to become. 

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I agree pal !!!! My grandfather would turn in his grave if he could see the mess we are in now