Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

Last night at RAF Conningsby the Battle of Britain Memorial flight were undergoing final test flights before the Display season starts.  The Big Wigs need to grant 'Public Display Approval' before the flight are allowed to display around the country.  I thought I'd pop over to have a look...

The old and the new...The Lancaster 'City of Lincoln' awaits her turn in the sky in front of the modern Typhoon fighter jets

One of the Hurricanes of the flight.  This one would wheel around the sky with one of the flights Spitfires

The Lanc, proudly displaying the City of Lincoln name badge

Waiting to go...and from this airfield 70 years ago flew many many Lancasters just like her..

Three of the flight waiting ..

Up and away...a regular BBMF formation...from L to R Hurricane, Lancaster and Spitfire

All those Merlins........

On a partly leaden sky the Lanc is catching the sun..

Another pass...notice the bomb bay doors are open

One of Avro's finest..

Next stop the Fatherland

The Spitfire, Hurricane and Lanc 

Digger digger digger digger digger!

Looking down the main runway...shes just taken off and the wheels are already up

An evening mission..

"Oh i have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the Earth on laughter silvered wings..

...put out my hands and touched the face of God"

Right at ya!

Bringing her home..

"Smoke me a kipper I'll be back for breakfast"

Waiting her turn as the Dakota roars down the runway

Last light

'two degrees of seperation'

This is what a Hurricane looks like when it wants you!

Back at base....


LEST WE FORGET

On Monday we swung by the Crich Tramway museum in Derbyshire as they were holding a 1940's event.  We'd arranged to meet some friends and have a few drinks in the Red Lion Pub.  The pub was selling 1940's beer and Orange Chocolate flavoured Stout.  This was all helped down with some Chivas Regal from a hip flask that all good Airborne soldiers carried...or so I believe :)

Crich Tramway village is excellent.  A real feel for the past.  Spent most of the day in this pub, the Red Lion!
Note the mini me on the right of the pic 

The trams were free to ride and went 'down' the line for about a mile

On the tram...yes, i look like Uncle Geoff ok

Helmet off!

The tram rides were free and you can ride them as often as you like.  There is still a lot of snow in Derbyshire!

The 101st Airborne that I represent are known as the Screaming Eagles...

Not one of mine but is from Crich

Finally, the end of Easter and time to relax in the garden under blue skies..

The Eagle has Landed - Mapledurham part 5 - The Battle

At the end of each day of the two day event, a battle was fought between Allies and Axis forces.  The Germans won on the Saturday and the Allies won on the Monday!

A few scenes from the 'battle', which the public enjoyed immensely.

Americans get ready with some armour..

Final communications..

Germans arriving on scene..

American advance is halted as it's hit by German mortar and the guy in the back is blown out of the jeep

Americans advance..

Advance halted with casualties littering the battlefield..

The Germans push the Americans back..you can see the muzzle flash from the Germans gun

The Germans call on artillery support

American mortars pin down the Germans

A bazooka team fire on the Germans

Aim..Fire!

The Germans outgun and out flank the Americans

American position captured and prisoners taken

roll call, congratulations then back to camp for medals and tea!

Victorious Germans trooping back to camp

"Don't worry lads, it's our turn to win tomorrow"!

The Eagle has landed - Mapledurham part 4 General scenes

Here's some general shots from around the village, the house and the camps...

Mapledurham House - Elizabethan

Some of the 'Allies' camp, in the grounds of Mapledurham house which sits on the banks of the Thames

The Allies camp - a hive of activity

There was quite a lot of equipment down for the weekend!

Some of the re-enactors have 'dug in'

The Screaming Eagles patches on their arms show these are 101st Airborne

Just a part of the camp of the North West 101 Airborne group

The British Tommy was in attendance too - here, 3 of them are manning a machine gun emplacement

Another 101 Airborne camp

The Krauts had some equipment of their own!

Civilians were present too...

The house was open to visitors.
Inside they had still shots from all the TV and FIlms that have taken place here and in the village

American MP's patrolling the streets

This makeshift Police station even had cells!

"Read all about it, Read all about it!"

So, how many buses can you jump on that?

Not something you see everyday driving around the country lanes of England
Glad to see they are driving on the left!

Churchill, Monty, Ike and me!
The sign on the left states "Due to bomb damage, More open than usual"!