so I was tasked with working at bbmf today (battle of Britain memorial flight), because we had a one in a lifetime event...the last 2 airworthy Lancasters in the world. I was fortunate that I got to work with the press so I got reasonable access to the aircraft. I only had my phone as having a DSLR hanging off my uniform would have looked very un-military, so please forgive some of the photos
Enjoy
first picture as is fitting the veterans, some of which had after 70 years just received their medals today
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/canaryworf/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0273_zpsyflt9gjv.jpg) (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/canaryworf/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0273_zpsyflt9gjv.jpg.html)
the 2 of them together after 50 odd years
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/canaryworf/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0235_zpskdjerpso.jpg) (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/canaryworf/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0235_zpskdjerpso.jpg.html)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/canaryworf/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0238_zpssntkrcc5.jpg) (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/canaryworf/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0238_zpssntkrcc5.jpg.html)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/canaryworf/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0263_zpspq8tsy6k.jpg) (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/canaryworf/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0263_zpspq8tsy6k.jpg.html)
the crew and the public
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/canaryworf/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0256_zpstdrcdfs2.jpg) (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/canaryworf/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0256_zpstdrcdfs2.jpg.html)
bombay
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/canaryworf/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0274_zpsos6pzan6.jpg) (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/canaryworf/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0274_zpsos6pzan6.jpg.html)
and one of the hanger
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/canaryworf/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0276_zpsin4rjrfi.jpg) (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/canaryworf/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0276_zpsin4rjrfi.jpg.html)
very f'n awesome man..
the 3rd photo.. what a magnificent craft
Thanks for sharing those Sulks. Amazing event that's soon never to be repeated.
Quote from: OldBloke;386893Thanks for sharing those Sulks. Amazing event that's soon never to be repeated.
+1
Thanks Sulky, awesome stuff. It's a damn shame the weather cancelled the flying, hopefully they'll get it done today.
Cheers for the pics. History.
What a privilege - they are sadly rarely seen these days.
wow! jealous much!!
Nice one Sulky great pics :) , especially the first one, hell of a lot of respect for those guys.
Great stuff.
Talking about respect for these guys, I recently did some pro bono work helping launch the Archibald McIndoe statue in East Grinstead in honour of his work with the 'Guinea Pigs' - pilots seriously burnt in WWII and also to the town itself which was proudly known as 'The Town that didn't stare'. Part of their rehabilitation was to go out in public to the bars and restaurants in the town and getting used to going out in public with such bad disfigurements.
It was most humbling meeting these incredible people. Scarred so badly, some with no fingers and others with complete facial reconstruction - a first in the 40's.
They founded the Guinea Pig Club and it's so amusing to read their 'club's committee and their black humour. For example they appointed a secretary with no hands to minimise the taking of notes and a chap with crushed legs so he couldn't 'walk off' with the funds. To be a member you have to have been a WWII pilot, cheated death and have a disfigurement to prove it.
These were some of the people there
http://www.theguardian.com/weekend/page/0,,1945108,00.html
One in particular was Dennis Neale. This is his story. He was nicknamed Isiash (eyes higher) as the reconstruction left him with one eye higher than the other...
http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2006/nov/11/weekend7.weekend4
General information here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea_Pig_Club