Jessie The Jeep

Great!!!!! I'm only 37 :-D

What's the age cut off point between young and old? I'm trying to work out which side of the fence I'm on!! Steve

Don't quote me, but I believe there is a dual Mustang is coming to the Fighter Collection at Duxford. Not sure if it is this one. Steve

Bovingdon is the airfield where "633 Squadron" & "The War Lover" were filmed, and is actually a little North West of London, near Berkhamstead! BovingTon is the location of the tank museum isn't it? Steve

Peaking into a plane can be very dangerous. If a tank stops working, it just sits there. Brian Lecomber was almost killed during an aerobatic display when someones biro pen jammed the controls in a dive. Fortunately he was able to free the column and land safely. Ever since then, he has been paranoid about people leaning in to have a look. I don't blame pilots for being a little over protective. Steve

I noticed the trailer for that too last night. Must get the DVD ready to record! There have been some great documentaries on UKTV history, particularly the one about Thompson, Churchills bodyguard. Steve

The Imperial War Museum at Duxford is a massive museum. If you went for a full weekend, you wouldn't be able to see everything in detail. There are about 10 hangars ( several built in pairs ), plus a hangar sized Land Warfare Hall, and then there are the workshops and admin/fighter control buildings over the road. Several of the hangars feature airworthy aircraft ( ie The Fighter Collection ) as well as those under restoration. http://duxford.iwm.org.uk/ Steve

Opening Times: The Museum is open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. From 10am to 5pm throughout the year. The Museum is closed Nov,Dec & Jan. From May to September the Museum is also open on Wednesdays. Museum Website http://www.100bgmus.org.uk/html/intro.html 100th BG Foundation Website http://www.100thbg.com/ I'm not sure on the engine in the Fw190. Someone said it is a Russian engine, but that is not confirmed. Steve

Thanks, it was either a 'Follow Me' jeep, or one that was frequently used on the live side of the airfield, and so made more visible for safety. Steve

I was down in the Cambridge and Norfolk area over the weekend, so popped into these two museums and took a few photos. Duxford first, the Blenheim ( Bolingbrook ) restoration and conversion is coming along well. The aircraft was damaged in a deadstick landing in 2003 after running out of fuel on final approach, and ended up on its belly. Having flown several years as a Mk4, it is now being converted to the short nosed Mk1 Recently sold and moved from Breighton in Yorkshire, the Buchon ( lisence built Bf109 ) is now at Duxford. I don't know if it is to be based there, or whether it is moving on. Another exciting visitor to Duxford is the Fw190 replica. The aircraft is one of several 'New-Build' Fw's, I think under construction in Germany. It is at Duxford for some work to be done before being shipped to the USA I believe. To conclude the trio of German aircraft, is another license build, the 'Cricket' I think it was called, a French copy of the German Fi 156 Storch. The French version had a radial engine fitted, but this has been converted back to the inline engine. Outside, the recent strong winds have mangled a fibreglass Spitfire replica. All is not lost, I'm sure a few tins of Isopon P38 filler can put it right!!! The final pics from Duxford are a couple of the trucks on display within the aircraft hangers. I didn't have time to get as far as the land warfare hall. The last two pictures were taken today, at the 100th BG Museum, Thorpe Abbotts, and feature this unusual airfield jeep. Steve

Here's me! Doing nothing! Steve

Got one already http://www.sacarr.co.uk/usaaf/b17/6.JPG[/img] I could quite fancy a checker "Flying Control" jeep. Steve

Everything is ok for me too, just slow page loading since the 'snow' started falling. Steve

Since the end of WW2, I believe 1968 is the only year where a British serviceman hasn't been killed on active duty somewhere in the world. Our armed forces are constantly employed in keeping the free, free. I don't have a problem with anyone doing what they can to remind people of the sacrifices made by our services from any era. If wearing a uniform and rank helps to portray the image, that's fine and prefered by me. Having a nice vehicle and diorama seems pointless if you sit in the middle of it in jeans and a T shirt. I do however draw the line at medal wearing. Medals are earned, not ornaments. Steve

This on screen snow seems to be slowing down my computer. It's fine on other sites! Roll on the spring. Steve

Here's my jeep a couple of days after Christmas last year. Steve [attachment deleted by admin]

I don't think that will keep the PW'ers happy! Anyway, aren't they all post war? ( Boar War ).

Didn't you know that all the original 2007 calenders were scrapped after the MVT saw the posts in this thread! :-D

Very interesting. I've taken quite a few then and now pictures myself, at several 8th Air Force bases, but unfortunately I can't reproduce then here as I don't have the copyright on the original images. Steve

November 19th 1942 'Operation Freshman' The British/Norwegian assault attempt on the 'Heavy Water' plant at Vermork, failed after after the assault team's gliders crashed. They were transported in two Horsa gliders towed by Halifax MK IIIs. This was the longest glider tow operation to date, but bad weather in the region of the release point caused icing of the tow planes, ropes and gliders. Both gliders and one tow plane crashed. Survivors were executed.

I'm now working as a self employed estate agent, working from home for 'Keith Pattinsons', the largest NE agent. Fortunately if I need to use the office phones or printer, it is only 5 mins drive from my house! Steve

Let me dig out some info for you and I'll get back to you. There are certain features to look out for to make it an accurate reproduction. If you want the best, you want to go to http://www.eastmanleather.com/ or http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com Cheap imitations can be found from £100 upwards Steve ps just started training for a new job so I might not be around during the day as much for a little while

and I just thought is was a bad case of steelworm!

During 2005, the NE MVT were invited to several VE Day celebration events. In most cases, Ken had his Champ there. I think there was one event at an art gallery where ONLY WW2 vehicles were requested, at the insistance of the organisers. In the main, it seems that the events we attend up here, only want 'something green'. At the DLI museum show, there are two display areas, one for WW2 and one for post war. I don't have a problem with the displays being themed in different areas. I prefer it as a photographer as it makes for better pictures. Why are there a lack of 'post war' events? Do organisers feel there isn't the interest amongst the paying public in later 20th century history? Is it the WW2 era that pulls the crowds? I don't know, I've only been in the MV movement for 18 months, but so far, I haven't found any 'them and us' attitude. Perhaps we're all just a little more laid back up North! Steve

I run the NE MVT website, and if you look through the members pages, you will see why there are virtually no post war vehicles in the gallery - almost everyone in the group has WW2 era vehicles. The only post war vehicles are the Champ, a DAF 66 and my M201 ( if you want to think of that as much different to a Willys in looks ). I can't post pictures of non-existant vehicles! Most of the events we attend are small local village fetes etc, involving only our group, hence the vehicles on display in the gallery. Occasionally we attend a larger local event, where there is a larger selection of vehicles to see, but not often. We haven't been able to have a large area show because of venue troubles, 'though we hope to have something for the end of summer 07. Perhaps some post war owners will be prepared to travel North to attend and show us some of these more modern vehicles. If they do, I'll see they go on the website. Until then, you're stuck with what we have. Steve ps I asked Ken for an article about his Champ for the website, when he has time, but I'm still waiting at present. I can only post information I am presented with.