Jessie The Jeep

Another girlies jacket. "Snow White" was a B-24 Liberator. The picture of the original artwork was too small to make out any detail so a picture of Snow White was found on the web and modified to resemble the original art. http://www.sacarr.co.uk/a2art/jackets/swhite.jpg[/img] ----- The "Thumper" artwork was from a B-29. The original featured the name inside a bomb which resembled a torpedo. The customer wanted a more conventional bomb which is shown here. The name was then moved to the shoulders. http://www.sacarr.co.uk/a2art/jackets/thump.jpg[/img] ----- "Flak Bait" was the most famous B-26 Marauder, operating with the 322nd Bomb Group. The aircraft flew 202 missions in Europe. The owner wanted the bomb changed to replicate a black & white picture he had showing the "200 Missions", and not just "200" as in another picture he had. The original aircraft is now at the Smithsonian Institute. http://www.sacarr.co.uk/a2art/jackets/fbait.jpg[/img]

"Spirit Of '76" is my own Eastman A-2 and features a fictional B-17 name first used during my B-17's test flight stage. The figure is showing some signs of ageing, but the jacket has been worn virtually every day for the past seven years. The figure was adapted from a B-17 named "Carolina Moon". 38 mission symbols have been added in different colours representing missions flown. http://www.sacarr.co.uk/a2art/jackets/spirit.jpg[/img] ----- "Hang The Expense" was a 100th Bomb Group B-17G and is painted on an Eastman AN-J-4 Jacket . The figure was copied exactly as it appeared on the aircraft, but that alone did not fill out the back panel. The aircraft's tail was added as a background to compliment what would have otherwise been a very tall thin image. This jacket was part exchanged when I got too fat! http://www.sacarr.co.uk/a2art/jackets/hte.jpg[/img] ----- My new Aero Leather B-3 jacket has another version of the "Hang The Expense" name. This time I have taken the text as on the original B-17, added the 48 star flag as a backdrop and then the a B-17 in "HTE" markings to complete the design. http://www.sacarr.co.uk/a2art/jackets/hte3.jpg[/img] ----- This is Lynne's A-2. "Woody's War" is a fictional artwork of Woody Woodpecker holding a .50 Cal Browning Machine Gun surrounded by Flak bursts. Although fictional, the Woody character made his first appearance in 1940, and so qualifies as a period character. http://www.sacarr.co.uk/a2art/jackets/woody.jpg[/img] More shortly.....

Sure, be right back!

I think that would have been better not shared! :shake:

A Wooden Jeep, with a Wooden engine, that Wooden Go??!!!!! :-D

You were holding the camera the wrong way round??? :whistle:

Here's the beginings of my new project ( see attached ), inspired by a photo Matt sent me. There will be more pics to follow, but for now, I thought I'd tease you with this....a few bits of 1/4 ply and some 1 1/2 x 3/4 PSE! Steve [attachment deleted by admin]

It seems unlikely at present. They are stuck with the same European insurance laws that almost grounded B-17 "Sally B". There are mixed views of what will happen. Quoted from http://www.thepinklady.fr/ ".....there is some speculation that the Pink Lady will be grounded (at least temporairly), just as the other flying B-17G in Europe, 'Sally B'. If this were the case, it would no doubt be related in part to rising insurance costs in Europe for this category of aircraft (ca. 500% rise, or an additional $1,890 per hour of flight). Considering the small scale of the support oranization of the Pink Lady in France (when compared to that of 'Aluminum Overcast', or 'Yankee Lady' in the USA), it is financially problematic for her present caretakers to keep her flying until international sponsors will be found. Should no sponsor be found, the Pink Lady will be maintained in flightworthy, but will remain grounded and it has been suggested that she would be put on static display at the AJBS museum at Ferté Alais, though a special hangar would need to first be built to accomodate her." The options as I see them are...... i) stump up the extra insurance money ( via sponsors, selling body parts, or what ever it takes ), which I was quoted at another £1000 per hour on top of the previous insurance and running costs. ii) ground the aircraft in France and keep it in a museum. iii) Sell the aircraft, probably to the USA. Steve

I know of him, but don't know him personally. If you are looking for someone to interview about classic aircraft, I have a friend down at Old Warden who has quite a large collection of rare aircraft. You might talk him into it, though it might cost you a pint! Steve

Quite interesting thoughts.... The truth according to Science is only correct at the time of understanding! The earth is flat, now it's round. The Earth is the centre of the universe, now it isn't! Atoms were the smallest particles, then quarks, now it's string theory and multi-verses!! The truth according to science is always fluid, but constantly expanding. :rtfm: And in Religion, we are asked to believe out of an act of faith. I don't think that means you should blindly accept what you are told, but just as in science; constantly question, to seek further understanding and enlightenment. :angel: You are correct that neither science nor religion can answer many of the unexplained events people witness, but in both cases, our science and our faith, is based on our understanding of the world and universe as we see it today. :banghead: How much has our understanding of the universe grown over the last 200 years, and how far will it grow in the next 200? Perhaps the understanding of ghosts/folds in time are just around the corner? perhaps not! It's an exciting universe isn't it!!! :banana: Steve

Do you recall which flight you saw? was it the good one or the one where I lost an engine on take off and almost lost the plane, struggling to gain height over the wood, turning towards the dead engine!! It was the longest most stressful circuit of my life! In the attached picture, you can see the dead engine, and full left rudder. I thought it was the crosswind causing the swing, until airborne, and could see the stationary prop against the sky. The other picture is my B-17 over the Debach tower on the previous flight. Don Brooks was one of the main guys involved with getting the P-38 "Glacier Girl" out of 260ft of Greenland Ice in the early 1990's. It had been an 8 year struggle to get that far, but financial or personal problems forced him to later sell his share in the P-38. He is also involved in the recovery and restoration of another B-17 from Labrador ( http://nwrain.net/~newtsuit/b17labrador/1998search.html ) This extract about Don is taken from that site..... "Don Brooks is a lifelong resident of Douglas, Georgia where he attended the public school system and two years at South Georgia College. In 1972 he graduated from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan with a Bachelors in Business Administration. He returned to Douglas to work in the family business, Brooks Auto Parts/Supply that was founded by his father, Elton Brooks, in 1937. After his fathers death in 1978 Don took over as President and CEO of the company. The business has continued to grow and is recognized as the largest group of privately owned NAPA stores in North America. Don has developed a deep interest in military aviation history due to his father's military service with the Army Air Corps during World War II. Elton Brooks served as a tail gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress and flew 37 combat missions with the 390th Bomb Group operating out of England during the war." Steve [attachment deleted by admin]

What??? a Genie will pop out?

21 plus VAT!! ;-)

Old ones are the best!!

Is it true that when Jack offers to buy a drink, a coldness decends over the room, and it becomes quite and erie??? :-D I've had a few interesting experiences at Thorpe Abbotts airfield, from hearing trucks driving in the Tech Site, to the distinctive screech of B-17 wheel brakes when taxiing. There have also been many unusual occurances at the museum. Overnight when the museum is locked and alarmed, pictures have been removed from the walls and placed on the floor and uniforms have been removed from mannequins, folded and layed on the floor. When camping in the museum grounds one reunion, the museum alarm went off at midnight. The staff member we called reset the alarm, but wouldn't go into the building. But even during the war, the was a ghost seen at Thorpe Abbotts. He was frequently observed, walking through barrack hut walls, spooking many airmen who took to sleeping with small arms under their pillows. It became so serious that the CO banned any mention of the ghost. There is also the question of "Are they really all ghosts?" People assume that some of these occurances are ghosts, which they may not be. There seems to be two types of ghostly incident, those that interact with present day surroundings, and those unaware. Is it possible that locations of great trauma may cause distortions in time. Sounds like Sci-Fi, but there have been many recorded incidents of people seeing ghosts that are completely unaware of the watcher. There's a story of a Roman soldiers marching along a road in the York area I think, but only visible from the knee upwards, since they are still marching on the original Roman road which was two feet lower. Is the location a window through time? Someone once posed the question.. "If Spitfires, Lancasters and B17's (and trucks) really do come back as ghosts, it blows the religious theories that only humans have souls, doesn't it? Hmmm" Science seems to think now that time and space is anything but linear, so perhaps these ghostly visions are actually folds in spacetime? Having a soul doesn't come into it. After all, your clothes don't have a soul do they?? and you don't see that many naked ghosts. Steve

If anyone is interested in a more in depth look around Thorpe Abbotts, I have a 55 page, 5MB PDF file with photos, maps, and captions. A few screen prints have been attached to give you an idea of what it is. If you want a copy, send me a PM with your email address. Steve [attachment deleted by admin]

Clive, I hope you don't mind me reworking one of your pictures, but after you said "You can almost hear the B-17 running its engine up against the chocks.", I had to do it. Here's a ghostly B-17, with the number 4 engine just kicking into life. Actually, it's my 1/6 scale aircraft, but the original picture was taken at Thorpe Abbotts, a bit further up the 351st perimeter track during the 2000 reunion. Steve [attachment deleted by admin]

Behind the two women and the pole, is the generator that I was talking about that was at Thorpe Abbotts in the mid 1990's. Unfortunately this is the best picture I have of it. I'm not sure where it went after removal, but I have a feeling it wasn't scrapped. You could try contacting the museum and see if they know what happened to it, or for any more info about the base generator. Thorpe Abbotts Museum Steve [attachment deleted by admin]

Tim.... :computerterror: OK, enough about the mottled look, what about the lack of a window in the side screen? Anyone seen that before or do you think it has been made in the field? Steve

I've two large photo albums of aerial pics from many of the 8th bases in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. I'll try and remember to bring them to Bolero for anyone interested. Steve

The pics with the scorched earth are the summer of 1997, the greener pics are summer 1999. Steve

I think you're fairly safe with the 91st BG and Bassingbourn. I don't know quite so much about the 1st Division Groups. I've had a long connection with Thorpe Abbotts and the 100th Museum starting in the early 90's. On honeymoon in the USA in July 2000, I stayed the 4th July weekend with the Dolores Lautman, sister of Frank E Valesh, the pilot of B-17 "Hang The Expense". As soon as I got my jeep, that was painted in 100th BG, 351st BS Markings. My first 1/10 scale R/C B-17 "Hang The Expense" is on display there, for which the 100th BG Foundation in the USA made me an Honorary member. I'd like to fly the 17 feet span version there too one day. It has already flown out of Debach and Seething. Steve

See above, I amended a post to say it was taken at noon. The shadow is pointing North. Picture taken from the balcony of the control tower at Thorpe Abbotts, looking towards the Night Flying Equipment Store. Steve

The dirt on the screen does look baked on though, and I can't see them being washed regularly.

My only thought against rain or dew is that the ground is dry, the strong shadow suggesting bright sun, the guy isn't wearing his jacket also suggesting warmth, and the shadow isn't long so the sun must have been up for several hours. Actually, it must be around mid-day as the shadow is pointing North. Steve