Snapper

1409 Flight were Bomber Command's Meteorological unit based at RAF Oakington. On the RAF history website: 2 April 1943 The only Bomber Command operation on this day was the first sortie of the newly formed No 1409 (Meteorological) Flight, based at Oakington. One Mosquito, crewed by Flight Lieutenant P Cunliffe-Lister and Sergeant I Doyle, made a weather reconnaissance flight to Brittany in preparation for the Bomber Command raids to be carried out in the coming night. The Flight operated until the end of the war, flying 1,364 sorties and losing only 3 Mosquitos. Neither Cunliffe-Lister or Doyle appear to show up on the CWGC database. So I checked a PoW website, which now I've found it looks fascinating and......on it we find..... Michael Cunliffe-Lister is seeking information on his late father Sqdn Ldr Philip Ingram Cunliffe-Lister, DSO. He served in 1409 (Met) Flight of which he became CO in June 1943. On 18th July 1943 he made a forced landing in Germany after his Mosquito ran out of fuel following a navigational error. He and his navigator, P/O Pat Kernon evaded capture for 4 days but were rounded up and sent to Dulag Luft and thence to Stalag Luft 3 at Sagan where he remained until the end of the war. He died in 1956 when Michael was 7 years old. http://www.prisonerofwar.org.uk/ This has been interesting....

Amazing. Very interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing it with us, John. Got any more stuff like this??? :-D

Not wrong, Degsy, not wrong. :rofl:What do have to do to knock some sense into him. One of my teachers used to have a line "What you lack in sense, you make up in stupidity". Mr Pallister the Maths teacher from Alnwick. Cheerful sod he was.

Amazing. A bonkers vehicle. Would love to see a repro, presuming none survive. You would have fun in the snow in one of those Nick, but I don't think the Royal Parks Constabulary would be as friendly as last time, eh! :stop:

Good call...I may even get up there. Nightshift tonight and tmrw means lack of day time to play. I had the MUTT going for a while last weekend - ticking over only, no time for a run out. So might spend time with it instead this time round. Depends on the boss. M

Anyone got one to review for us?

It's a bit difficult working out where it stops and the background starts. Is the Pagoda attached? and what about those blokes on the cherry picker, is that the observation lounge? Looks like it came from the film The Big Bus. "We're breaking wind at ninety". :-D

Looks like he's getting ready for Bonfire night in the back.:coffee:

Great idea. Brilliant snaps. Especially like the grave of Corporal Rollo. I've been to Fort George as well. The old Cameron Highlanders were in situ, since amalgamed away into the Highlanders and then the Royal Regiment of Scotland. Grimmer John and I risked life and limb visiting a heavy AA site in Essex recently. It was like an episode of Last of the Summer Wine, but the differences were a) we are funnier; b) there was no bath or sofa going down a hill and c) no ghost of Thora Hird. Just the thought of it makes me reach for my stairlift instruction manual. We'll post up our adventures shortly once Jack is back from making whoopee or whatever in an un-named location with un-named others. Keep going lads. And Catweazle, look out for those militants from Bryant and May.:captain:

Head down to Rye and Winchelsea along the A259. Rye is stunning, mediaeval and has lots to look at. Park down the bottom on the ring road by the roundabout with the old Rover dealership on it (Skinners). You can then take the footpath from the crossing (by the bowling green) up into the town itself. Only minutes. Lots to look at there. Simon the Pieman is good for lemon meringue pie! (by the church - which is interesting). You'd pass thru Winchelsea first en route. It is much quieter. Spike Milligan is buried in the churchyard. His grave is a celtic cross and has 'I told you I was ill' inscribed in gaelic. Going on from Rye, if you want huge fish and chips head down to the Pilot at Dungeness. Glorious (after six is my usual calling time). The beach at Camber is stunning at low tide and you may see the shipwreck. They might even be firing on Lydd ranges. Off from Rye itself is Rye Harbour and the churchyard there, as you drive in, has a stunning Lychgate with the names of all the men who went from there to WW1 and those who did not come back. In the graveyard is the memorial to many of the survivors of the war who were subsequently lost in the 1928 Lifeboat disaster. A Gulf War friendly fire victim, Fusilier Stephen Satchell is buried behind the church. There is also a good walk along the harbour wall out to some impressive pillboxes. It can be blimmin windy, but if you're fortunate it is a grand spot. Normans Bay near Pevensey is interesting too. Martello tower and so on. As the name suggests, it is where they came ashore in 1066. The site of the battle, at Battle (obviously) is worth a look on a dry day. It's English Heritage I think. The town itself is a bit of a nightmare. Have fun.

Definitely. There is no question of IF. Post up at your own pace and we will all be grateful for your effort. Looking forward to it. MB

Great stuff. Who needs Strictly Come Brucie when you've got coreography like that? 10. M

Great to have you here Anthony. Welcome to the Friendly Forum. Always interested in your service stories. I have happy memories of days in Edmonton back in the early 1980s when a friend of mine lived there. Good memories of the Oilers and even the crazy Drillers from the old North American Soccer League. I remember being dazzled by the half time entertainment in the Commonwealth Stadium during a match between Edmonton and Chicago Sting. We were treated to half hour of a bloke throwing a frizbee to a black labrador. Both teams could have done with that dog up front. I've got friends in the Western Command Association MV group based around Vancouver and will be out there again in August. Can't wait. Maple Leaf Up! Cheers, Mark

Yes, Lovely trucks. Great to learn about your interest in MVs. I hope you enjoy your visits to the Friendly Forum. Mark

I think it's in the museum display at the Hop Farm. Great to have you here Serge. You are most welcome. Please say hello in the Introductions and welcomes board and tell us more about your vehicles and activities in France. MB

Hop over the county and get me a cheese sandwich. The punchline of one my dad's favourite jokes.

Is the middle one a Citroen? The one on the right looks American, maybe a Ford?? Or a German Ford ???? No clue of the one on the right.

Good to have you here Simon. We like planes too, so feel free to share some snaps with us of anything you like. MB

Still nice to see an original pic. I speak to many people who wouldn't touch a Champ with the very longest of barge poles, but I like them aesthetically. Being shallow I'd be happy with a decent version of the Dinky toy.

He needs all the time to eat biscuits...

This is another good thread you brains have got going. Very educational. I'm simple as well, so don't feel your on your own. M

My spelling will be wrong. It's a Flanders style of 'pizza' made without tomatoes and pretty much always with a base of thinly sliced potatoes and onions with creme freche on it. They then add bacon 'lardons' or a couple of other things. Very traditional and on a battlefield touring trip it is a real filler. Sleep in the car on the way home as long as you aren't driving... MB

Great looking truck mate. Something different...

I've got to say I always go for a flammerkirsch in northern France. Great with a beer or any cold drink if you do not imbibe. Frites and a salad optional. M - (making do with a tuna salad baguette and a packet of salt and vinegar crisps today).

Yep - I did and I knew I'd spelled it wrongly but couldn't for the life of me think how to correct it. I have got a CSE in French, y'know. I'm not telling you the grade. Mussels are Ok, and I have tried snails in Normandy..not to be repeated. Scallops and herrings will always do for me...and there is still nothing wrong with a dollop of prawn cocktail.