RAFMT

Borgward. http://www.borgward.co.za/index.php/club-members/laurrie-claassen/

This one frequently crops up, but it makes me laugh that very people actually read the document. It basically says that an Argentinian living (i believe illegally) in Los Angeles wanted to trade a big secret in exchange for being allowed to stay in the USA. The big secret (for which he had no proof) was that Hitler was living in Argentina. Perhaps it's the sceptic historian in me, but i'd need more corroborating evidence rather than just, some random bloke off the street told me so.

I looked at the pictures, and it's not R C Bass it's just Bass and he's a Roman Catholic. No initials should be put on tags at this time. The Service Number is from those allocated for Cardington entries early war, as you say, although he did not necessarily serve there.

LAA batteries had 2 15cwt FFWs, one belonging to them and one attached from the Regiment HQ. Both were fitted with No 22 sets. At least the theory, and what happened in most cases, but exceptions do occur.

He was a Padgate entrant. But you're in that catch 22 situation of not being able to get his records until you know more details, and the easiest way to get ore details is from his service record!

The US Submarine service was badly mismanaged for much of the war, especially the earlier period with many captains complaining they weren't given enough freedom to take the war to the enemy. But one of the jobs they didn't mind doing was being directed to the bombing route so they were on station in case a bomber came down.

^^^ This. Certainly not an engine cowling, and doesn't look like any of the containers carried on an aircraft of the time.

That's not all the influence he and his companies have. There is a girl at the RAF Museum who's job is sponsored by him, TVAL (who build the planes) paid for a HUGE scanner, and her job is to make headway into making digital copies of the WW1 aircraft plans and providing TVAL with copies of them all. So going by the plans she's been sending we could possibly be seeing some interesting types coming out of their hangers.

Not bad prop for a plastic one, although when you do it in metal would it be possible to make the fluted type barrel jacket? As these seem to be more common than the flat type. Do you have the plans to make a Boys rifle? I'm sure I had a basic diagram lying around somewhere otherwise I can measure one up for you. Likewise the Scarff ring for mounting the Lewis on (or if you'd prefer, twin Vickers K guns to give the police something to really worry about!) there must be diagrams for knocking those up.

Tim- I was reading my copy at work yesterday and Andrew Cormack, keeper of uniforms, found the picture on the middle of page 12 interesting. While my attention was focused more on the Leyland, he pointed out the RFC Sergeant is wearing the first pattern uniform introduced in 1912 and discontinued when replaced by the second pattern in 1913. Which makes it even more likely the photograph was taken in 1912/13.

Mine arrived late yesterday, and it's impressive. Well done Tim, of course the ratio of RFC/RNAS kit to the rest should be 2:1, but i'll let you off :-D More seriously, a very good book and already recommended to a number of colleagues and friends.

Placing my order now, can't wait to read it!

Yep, it's officially called the reserve collection, and if you ever visit, the lads there really know their stuff and can often identify the most random bit of aircraft. The treasures hidden in there are amazing, stuff that doesn't survive anywhere else!

I wouldn't listen to what anyone at Hendon says, they're notorious for making it up as they go along But yes, unless it's fairly modern flying clothing and equipment, the museum isn't interested. Anything from the last, maybe 15-20 years, then they might take an interest because the RAFs policy is that they do not want time expired gear getting back into circulation (either military or civvie) they dump it in big containers to be taken of and destroyed and they don't offer any to other organisations. As for uniforms, unless it was worn by someone special or related to a special event then, yes the museum has more uniforms than the current RAF!

I've already got your request on my work desk through other channels Suffice to say, as they have minimal solid frontage on which to put things, Jeeps tend to be a law unto themselves. I was hoping to get an email out to you later today assuming nobody else put all the info up on here beforehand.

Only that it was being delivered (I believe to Netheravon) and it is believed to have lost sight of the tug in the darkness and made a forced landing.

Ah, so a sensible man- none of that commissioning rubbish for us, eh? They're the closest thing out there (not to say the only thing out there!) and they're good, as long as your willing to pay the $48 for them. TBH, if anyone is going to nitpick over the minor differences they deserve, nay they're asking, for impromptu dental surgery;) A friend of mine, who's quite an experienced chap when it comes to uniforms, considers the WPG shirts to be an essential, and despairs over the number of people who just by a vaguely raf blue coloured shirt from M&S or similar!

I was referring to your previous post, only I meant to say the first one was January but for some reason my phone corrected it to June :??? However, I have once again fallen into the pitfall of using poor sources! The list I originally looked at listed it as "Near Basingstoke" so I have just checked in Colin Cummings book Though Without Anger and he gives the location Downward Farm. The only problem is I can find no record of such a farm! (perhaps the person who compiled the thought there was one near Basingstoke?) So I checked the original loss card, and that gives the location of Queenwood Farm. Which as far as i can tell was situated somewhere near East Tytherly, so nowhere near Basingstoke, so I apologise for the confusion.

The short answer is no. The long answer is nobody does them. If you're looking to do an officers uniform then if you can track down a light blue end-on-end shirt that should be passable. I found a period shirt of the correct colour that just about fitted me (thankfully!) on ebay a number of years back. It's mostly a case of just keeping your eyes peeled, particularly in vintage clothing stores (Camden is where i've found a lot of surprises)

The first was Horsa LG722 which crashed on the 23rd June, and both pilots died from their injuries. The second was Yank crate so I can't help with that one.

The RAF used CCKWs with 51 MT in North Africa/Middle East during the war, but not as far as I am aware within the UK. I'm not entire;y sure how Article XV squadron were handled in terms of the supply chain, but as they were under RAF operational control, one assumes they used the same supply channels as the rest of the RAF.

Hendon can indeed get copies made- there are a number of different editions so it depends on what you're after.

A true work of art, glad to see you got it finished. Although you're missing the Albatros!

The bridge plates were in full use with vehicles of the AASF of the BEF but i hadn't come across evidence of widespread use after that until AMO A143/44 which cancels the AM letters previously. But i bow to my learned friend's experience and stand by his word.

On further inspection, I'm almost certain the aircraft on the trailer is not a Spitfire as the fuselage is too rounded. The Spitfires cross section at the firewall was more flat sided