simonsfotos

I remember this dicumentary when it was first on TV. I made a particular effort to see it as I had taken a load of photos of these same B-25s when they were parked up at a certain airfield five minutes drive from where I live...Blackbushe! They were parked there for a long time, gradually deteriorating and I've often wondered what happened to them all. I know that one or two were restored and at least one languished at North Weald for donkey's years! I seem to remember that there were some 'comments' about the way that the flight acropss the Atlantic actually happened and some of the 'risks' that were taken. I somehow think it wouldn't happen that way these days with the much more stringent H&S, not to say flying safety rules that now exist. I really must get the old pics out and scan them. It's a shame that the documentary is now only available on YouTube (unless anyone knows different that is!). It would make a nice 'extra' to the Hannover Street film on DVD - in spite of the fact that the film itself had a mainly romance storyline, at least Lesley Anne Down was in it!

Yes that is the trouble with airfields, no shelter! Well the buildings get in the way of the runways:) It goes someway to explain why the boot of my Fiesta has permanent residents in the form of windproof and rain proof over gear! Well, during the summer anyway!

Ok then, how's this: It's SCHEDULED to take place every early May Bank Holiday!

Make a date in the diary cos it happen's every early May Bank Holiday

thanks. Caption now updated!

I'm hoping to make one day of this show, probably Sunday or Monday. No idea what to expect as it will be my first solely military event as opposed to air show with vehicles also present! Will be fully armed - with cameras!

This was the first time that I'd been to this event more to have a look at the military vehicles than to photograph the aircraft. There weren't that many there among the hundreds of other vehicles but what was there was a nice mix. Here are some pics of each of the vehicles (being a bit new to this, there are some for which I can't give details as there were no 'boards' to tell me what they were though I'm sure someone on here will let me know and I'll then update the thread!). Also, if you happen to be the owner of any of these and want copies of the pics then by all means get in touch! I have other angles of each vehicle. Too many for this taster. 1944 Chevrolet C8A 1944 Willys Jeep & Ford GPW 1942 Ford GPW Landrover Defender - Truck Utility Light (High Specification) - Wolf Ferret Scout Car Landrover Lightweight Landrover Lightweight - RAF Police Don't know this one I'm afraid! 1963 Thorneycroft Antar Mk3A Ballast Tractor (if anything this big can me so this was gorgeous!) 1942 AEC Matador Gun Tractor (now with logging rear end but otherwise restored in REME markings) 1956 Thorneycroft Nubian RAF Fire Tender Bedford QLR (very appropriate this as I'm about to start on the IBG model kit of one of these!) Dodge Weapons Carrier Dodge 1/2 ton WC9 ambulance Plymouth Staff Car Landrover Ambulance 1940 Morris Commercial PU8 MkII 8cwt FFW

Thank you so much for posting these, especially the film that started the thread off. Living in Fleet as I do, and with my connections with the Farnborough Air Sciences Museum at the former RAE, I have a passion for 'Captured Eagles' and am building quite a collection of models of them - including the 'Italian' Stuka featured in the film. It's the first time that I've seen any of these captured aircraft in flight. Much of the film I recognise as being shot at RAE Farnborough rather than with the RAF. There are two very interesting books on this subject (which may have already been mentioned). First off was Phil Butler's 'War Prizes' which is the definitive history of these aircraft and that was followed a couple of years ago by his photo album study 'War Prizes - The Album' which contains hundreds of photos of the aircraft. A couple of other books which may be of interest are 'Farnborough - 100 Years Of British Aviation' by Peter Cooper which is the complete history of RAE and obviously includes the testing of captured axis aircraft, and 'Wings On My Sleeve' by Eric 'Winkle' Brown who not only holds the record for the number of aircraft types flown by a single pilot but who was also the senior test pilot at RAE at the time of the testing. Hope that's of interest.

Have to agree with M5Clive on this. Peter is one of the nicest guys that I've met during my years of photographing airshows. Thing with him is that he just loves his 'toys' and it shows both in the way he flies them and in his attitude to everyone who wants to take a look.

Absolutely agree. The aircraft didn't 'Crash Land'. For one reason. It was already on the ground when the accident happened. It would appear that the brakes grabbed. So definitely NOT a crash landing. But then again, Britain these days is full of newspaper speak. Such as when a tennis player 'crashes out' of a tournament. How does a tennis player crash! The actual expression is that they 'lost' or were 'beaten'. Peter who owns the Hurricane, along with a P-40, P-51D Mustang 'Jumpin Jacues' and the world's only airworthy Spitfire PR.XI is a personal friend and he is gutted at what has happened. Anyone who saw the 'first flight' video that was doing the rounds, will have seen how emiotional he was about getting the Hurricane into the air and will understand also his feelings at the moment. However, this gorgeous aircraft will be back in the air for the majority of the season, though one of the first public appearance - which was due to have been at the Abingdon Air & Country Fayre on 3rd of May will be missed. I have no doubt that he'll be bringing along one of his other 'toys' from his 'toyshop' as he calls his hangar!

Numbered but not order of preference: 1 Tiger Moth - to learn in! 2 Spitfire MkIX 3 Spitfire PRXIX - so that I can take photos! 4 Lancaster 5 Mosquito 6 Hurricane 7 P-51D Mustang 8 Typhoon tank buster - not that I've anything against tanks! 9 Swordfish - anything that looks that old but can do what they did has to be in there somewhere 10 Anson - The Faithful Annie

Hi Tony. As it was mentioned that Garrison members might be able to help, I'll PM you in a day or so with exactly what I'm after.

Unfortunately I missed it on Sunday but I know it's repeated during the week so will catch it then. I've got the first series on DVD and have seen almost all fo the second series. In my opinion the second is the better as he's even closer to the action. You really get to feel what it's like. It also shows the real respect not only the he has for the guys and gals, but also the respect they have fo him. Definitely worthy of an award. Total repsect to all out there and also to Sky for giving us a real insight.

Hi all I paid my first ever visit to the Tank Museum, Bovington on Sunday. Had a wonderful day browsing around. The only disappointment was the number of exhibits not on view due to the new hall not opening until 4th April, however to be fair, I was aware of this before I went. My only real quibble was with the shop. Considering the fact that it's the biggest tank museum in Britain, if not Europe, the selection of books on British military themes was very poor. Loads on German, Russian and American machinery, but virtually nothing on British vehicles or the British side of campaigns. Me being me I took loads of pics and only missed a few of the machines on view. They are all now on the musuems section of my website. The Tamiya Hall is really difficult to photograph well because of the massive windows down one side with vehicles backed up against it and virtually no overhead lighting. I've not put the pics on here as I am sure everyone knows what's there anyway, and also which ones to put up and which ones to leave out! So by seeing the site, you can get to see the whole lot! Here's the linky: http://www.simonsfotos.fpic.co.uk/ I'll be going back for Tankfest in June and will 'shoot' the new area then. As it stands at the moment, the next event I'll be attending where there will be a military connection will be the massive Fly-In, Aerojumble and vehicle rally at Popham on 4th May. If anyone on here is attending and wants pics of their vehicle, I'd be happy to do some shots for you guys. I just hope that it goes ahead this year having been washed out for the last couple of years.

Hi all First off a quick introduction. My main interest is actually aviation photography, but don't let that put you off! Living in Fleet as I have all my life, with Aldershot only 5 minutes away, Army vehicles have never been far away. I'm of the age where the Centurion was the tank and Land Rovers had their headlights inset and not on the mudguards! Attending the number of airshows that I do, both as a punter and also in an official photographice capacity, I often come across some of you guys and your vehicles, though I don;t pretend to know a huge amount about them. So, then what's my reason for joinging HMVF? Well I'm in the process of building a late '44 1/76 scale diorama. It's not going to be specific to a particular event but merely to portray examples of the vehicles (on the British side only) in a bit of a setting. I already have various Cromwells, Shermans and Churchills and have kits waiting in the wings (can't get away from the flying I'm afraid!)for the Matador & Gun; tank transporter; Jeep with Morris & gun; Monty's Caravan & Dingo. All of those come with the relevant markings. The two I am having a problem with are the Airfix kits of the Quad & 25 pdr which seems to just have 'generic' markings and the Bofors & Tractor which has markings for North Africa. Is there anyone out there who can point me to the units (or a unit)that used these. I already have tracked down a place where I can get the sheets of the correct decals and the Forces Of Valour site has an article which shows all the relevant TAC etc markings for the units. So if anyone can give me an example of a unit that used the Quad/25pdr & Morris/Bofors in late '44, I'd be really grateful. Many thanks Simon