Jessie The Jeep

Last three Steve

Here's another six pics 'artified'

The planes were on their way to Southern France to film because the English summer wasn't as nice as in 1940 and they were loosing too much shooting time! All the scenes with loads of He111's were in Spain because the Spanish airforce wouldn't let them leave the country. Only two were allowed abroad which is why you only ever see two Heinkels over London. Steve

I won't need to chase them, they will come flocking towards me of their own free will ;-) Steve

Cheers. I was thinking about a x2 converter, but wondered if it would cut the light level too much. I used to have one on my 35mm SLR using a 135mm lens, with app wide open but the shutter speed sometimes stopped all the propellers. I have been thinking of a new lens, and wondered about a 400mm. Not sure as non-pro whether I can really justify image-stab lenses!! Steve

I'm still experimenting with the settings as I've only had the DSLR a year and only recently have I been to flying displays with good light. Most of my pics are taken with a Nikon 70-300mm lens:- ISO 400 Shutter 1/400 Auto Exposure Exposure Comp +0.7 Spot Metering Steve

How do you have the camera set up to take flying pics, ie shutter speed, app etc? Steve

It would seem since posting my 'Flying Legends' thread, I have gate-crashed this dubious band of dodgy '1 Grand' posters! Steve

Yep, that's mine! Steve

What a fantastic piece of advertising for this recovery service. I'm glad my insurance and recovery money is going elsewhere. Steve

The Mitchell is one of the most breathtaking displays seeing something that big being thrown around like a fighter!

Nice looking Dodge there! ;-) Steve

Last three, Spitfires and Yak 11 Steve

Back from work so here's the last few.... Spitfire collection.

Back briefly to the US Navy is the Consolidated PBY5 Catalina flying boat. It was used for long range Atlantic and Pacific patrols hunting and destroying U-Boats, as well as picking up downed aircrews. A potent little Russian bi-plane fighter is the Polikarpov I-15 Bis. Very loud for its size, it is very manouverable and surprisingly fast. Last in this section is a fairly newly restored fighter, the Seafire making a nice change from the usual Spitfire shape. Further pics will have to wait until I get back from work!

All P-51 Mustangs for this selection, including 78th Fighter Group P-51 'Big Beautiful Doll' that displayed for us at Parham, 'Ferocious Frankie', 'Old Crow' and flying with 'Miss Velma' is another 78th FG aircraft, 'Twilight Tear'.

Here is the Bell P-39 Airacobra, an unusual mid engined layout with the prop shaft running between the pilots legs. No very popular with US pilots, the Russians used them to great effect on the Eastern Front. Unfortunately the P-40B wasn't certified to fly in the show, having only recently arriving in the UK. However, we were treated to its test flight prior to the show which was just as impressive. This P-40 is said to be the sole survivor of the raid on Pear Harbor, having been in a hangar for repairs during the attack and avoiding destruction. Others probably survived the attack only to be scrapped in later years. Amazingly, this aircraft survived. P-51 'Miss Velma' is a two seat Mustang, and was half of the partly sucessful 'Operation Bolero II' mission to fly two warbirds across the Atlantic via the Northern Ferry Route used during WW2. The other aircraft, P-38 'Glacier Girl' had engine trouble part way through the trip and could not continue.

Next comes two British, and two French schemes, but one American design. Firstly is the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Avro Lancaster 'Phantom of the Rhur'. Next is the Westland Lysander, the aircraft most famous for its role in SOE, dropping and collecting agents from occupied Europe. Third is the Morane Saulnier MS406, a French Fighter from the early part of the war. Also part of the French forces at the start of WW2 was the Curtis P-36. After the fall of France, a number from the French order were taken over by the RAF.

The two Hurricanes in flight, and the two Junkers Ju52's which are also license built versions as both Spain and France used the type after the war. One in German military colours and the other in Lufthansa airline colours.

The show began with the 'Heritage Flight' of two P-51D Mustang's, P-39 Airacobra and F-15E Strike Eagle. The remaining pictures are all Hawker aircraft. The all silver bi-plane is the Hawker Hind, a bomber from the 1930's. Flying with the Hind is the Hawker Nimrod, a Navy Fighter version of the Fury fighter. The Nimrod is one of only two survivors, and the only flyable example. Lastly is probably the most famous Hawker design, the Hurricane, responsible for 3/5th's of all enemy aircraft brought down during the Battle of Britain; more than all the other defences together.

Probably the last US propeller driven carrier fighter was the Grumman F8F Bearcat. It is powered by a 2300HP P&W 18 cylinder radial and was capable of out performing most of the early jet fighters. Airworthy, but not allowed to fly yet is this 'New Build' Fw190A. It was seen taxiing only. Because this aircraft is completely new build, and not a restoration, there is a great deal of paperwork and testing to be done before it is granted an airworthiness certificate, but it will be a fantastic day when this potent German warbird takes to the sky again. Heading back to the between the war years is the Gloster Gladiator, the last of the RAF Bi-plane fighters. I particularly like the first picture with the sunlight reflecting off the lower wing to illuminate the upper wings.

Next comes the US Navy fighter designs, all of which were used by UK forces. First the smallest, the Grumman FM2 Wildcat. Next is the Chance-Vought Corsair, which I believe was the heaviest and fastest WW2 Navy fighter. Lastly the Grumman F6F Hellcat which accounted for 75% of all US Carrier based victories. This aircraft wears the colours and kill markings that it actually wore during WW2.

Next is the Spanish license built Bf109, call the 'Buchon' in Spanish service, which was fitted with the RR 'Merlin' rather than the Daimler-Benz. This was the type of aircraft used in the 1968 Battle of Britain film. Also a couple of C-47/DC-3 Skytrain/Dakota's.

I'm not going to make a habit of posting aircraft pictures here, even though these are MV's of a kind, but for anyone with a slight interest in Warbirds, you should really try at least once to visit the 'Flying Legends' airshow at Duxford in Cambridge. Duxford is home to part of the Imperial War Museum, and in addition to the aircraft on display, it also boasts an impressive Land Warfare Hall with many military vehicles. Once more, within the space of a few days of my last trip, I was heading down south yet again for the largest warbird meet in Europe. I took almost 2000 photos across the two days, so I've had to thin them down just a little, but with lighting and sky just right, I got some excellent pics. Here's the first four, B-17 Fortress 'Sally B' with P-51 'Ferocious Frankie', and B-25 Mitchell 'Sarinah' Steve

Great Show wasn't it!! Steve