"The article, The Kenya Presentation Spitfires, triggered to me a latent point of attention with a low priority.

In the mid-sixties of the last century I started my professional career in Northern Nigeria.

Actually it was an alternative for National Service and with the blessings from the Dutch Ministery of Defence.

My experiences as a child during the war on the Continent kept me well-balanced during the Biafra war episode which started soon after our arrival but that's another story.

I had been posted in the town of Maiduguri, the Provincial Capital of the Bornu Province. The British Colonial Government had been far-sighted in West Africa and had left intact the existing "Native Authorities" after their arrival which kept the country, composed of many rival tribes, steady during the process of pacification. Subsequently progress went on well, up to and beyond Independency, untill the night when the military forces took over abruptly.

I do remember that I was invited once to visit the "palace" - largely made of mud - of the Head of the Native Authority which was an Emir but in view of tribal history and customs was called "Shehu". He was then 50 years on seat.

We, mostly ex-pats, had been gathered in a room in semi-darkness and waiting for the Shehu to see us and accept our sincere congratulations including a "couple of laffia's".

On the wall I discovered a black-and-white picture, neatly framed and not yet attacked by white ants, disclosing an early Spitfire, certainly not a Mk IX, with a description on the nacelle in white paint. I can't remember whether "BORNU" or "MAIDUGURI" had been an indication of the origin of the sponsor.

I have to confess that at such an ocassion your outfit doesn't include a camera, alas.

Can any of the readers confirm my observation or is able to disclose service details from this Spitfire or any other Spitfire donated from West Africa and Nigeria in particular.

Regards, Joop Thuring"

"Dear Editor,

This is from Hank Adlam. I have only just been shown a copy of your sensitive review of my book "On and Off the Flight Deck."

I am grateful, not only for a kind review, but for your grasping the essential point of my book that the great majority of us, so called fighter pilots,  were just ordinary blokes thrust by war into a very dangerous world.

Indeed, I originally entitled the book "Ordinary Naval Airman,"but the publishers wisely, I think now, made me change the title. But they tried in their publicity to portray me as a dashing sort of Errol Flynn character, and I would have none of it.

Incidentally, you should know (and you probably do) that fighter pilots dreaded ground straffing more than any other form of combat. This was true of those in WW1 as well as WW2. In the Pacific, our twice daily ground attacks on the Japanese-held airfields of the Sakashima Islands were horrific in casualty numbers and utterly dreaded. The Japs were waiting with guns pointing in our only direction of attack with fingers on triggers ... just waiting for us. 

Air combat with bombers etc was a piece of cake comparatively !

Also, as you would read from my first book, I hated the Seafire (Spitfire). Useless thing on a Carrier and killed so many young pilots. Useless thing except when flown from an airfield, then lovely just to fly. I cherish a deep loathing for the thing!

Never mind, all over now.

Hank

PS. My sequel auto-biography, "Life is a Yo-Yo," has just been launched by Arrowsmith Publishers. There is some aviation in it but not a lot. It reflects life in the thirties and the difficult post-war fifties. People say it is a damn good read."

Labels: history, reviews, webmaster

• The armament of the Spitfire has been covered in the Variants & Technology section before, but it just so happened that we have received one more article expanding on this subject. Read Cannon or Machine Gun? - The Second World War Aircraft Gun Controversy by By Anthony G. Williams.
   
• The Video Section features a new video clip released by Airfix, showing a dogfight between their two new kits announced for 2010: Spitfire Mk. I and Bf 109E.
   
• Today we have also a new item presented in Product News & Reviews:  British Built Aircraft, a series of books by Ron Smith.

Labels: history, modelling, reviews, site updates

• Fears about the future of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight started earlier this month, after Daily Mail's speculatory claim that the forthcoming £6 billion defence budget cuts could result in grounding the historic flight, or force it to rely on commercial sponsorship. BBMF's annual funding is in the region of £3 million.
  
  Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1243309/Defence-cuts-ground-Battle-Britain-flight.html
  [Daily Mail]
  
  The BBMF's initial reaction to the article published at their own site did little to settle the matter, and consequently, it kept causing considerable unrest at the various Internet forums, considering the fact that 2010 marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. These even resulted in a petition to the Prime Minister (http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/BBMFCuts/).
  
  Fortunately, the MoD has now moved to end the speculation, confirming that there is no plan to cut any funding from the BBMF.
  http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4854585.Battle_of_Britain_Memorial_Flight_will_not_be_axed/
  [Bournemouth Echo]
   
• Duxford makes preparation to mark Battle of Britain's 70th anniversary. It may be expected to be an exceptional airshow season.
  http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=479956
  [Cambridge News]
   
• Red Arrows may always be expected to raise to the challenge; as part of their display routine for the Anniversary, they devised a move in the shape of either the Spitfire or Hurricane.
  http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/Red-Arrows-new-formation-tribute-Battle-Britain/article-1761366-detail/article.html
  [This is Lincolnshire]
   
• Ron Smyth, aged 85, who is the oldest living Battle of Britain pilot, spoke recently about his memories to Shropshire Star.
  http://www.shropshirestar.com/2010/01/21/battle-of-britain-pilot-recalls-war/
  [Shropshire Star]
   
• Was your grandma a Spitfire pilot? Maidenhead Museum launches search for the veterans of Air Transport Auxiliary.
  http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/war+%2526+conflict/world+war+two/art75295
  [culture24]
   
• George Cowling, RAF meteorologist who became the first television weatherman and one of the most familiar faces on black-an-white BBC TV, passed away in December
  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/6896284/George-Cowling.html
  [Telegraph]
   
• Another sad farewell to Wing Commander Jack Rose, RAF pilot in the Battle of Britain and the veteran of British Expeditionary Force in France.
  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/air-force-obituaries/6539181/Wing-Commander-Jack-Rose.html
  [Telegraph]
   

Labels: history

• My new article in Variants & Technology is entitled Sorting Out the "E" - American Armament for the Spitfire Mk. IX/XVI. It elaborates on the use of Browning heavy machine gun as armament for the Spitfire, and the confusing designation mess that followed. By Martin Waligorski.
  
  
• New in the Scale Modelling section is a new 1/32 model from Finnish modeller Yrjo Knuuttila, who presents his PCM Spitfire Mk. IXC.

Labels: history, modelling, site updates

• A new addition in History Articles is devoted to Kenya Presentation Spitfires. The story of African Spitfire Funds and the donated aircraft is described by Kevin Patience.
  
  
• A new image has been added in Historic Photographs section. This item has been kindly donated by No. 602 Squadron Museum and documents that unit's Spitfires at the annual camp at Woodvale, 1946.
  
  
• In Video Section, Kent modeller Mark Lane presents his Parkzone Spitfire.
  

Labels: history, modelling, videos

• In Product News & Reviews, I present Flying Legends' massive 1/4 scale radio-controlled Spitfire kit.
  
  
• In Art & Memorabilia, a reader from Holland is asking for help in resolving a Propeller mystery
  
  
• There is also a photo of a Spitfire memorial installed in a local pub in Northolt, which brings memories of the Polish airmen who served with the RAF.

Labels: history, reviews, webmaster

Part of my work on Spitfire history is roaming various archives for interesting primary source material. It is surprising to see that there's something interesting to be found on the Spitfire in almost any major international archive, be it the State Library of Victoria, Birmingham City Archive, or, as in the case of one of today's updates, the Royal Danish Library. In these days when increasingly more archive searches can be performed directly on the web, research is only becoming more fun!

• New pair of images have been added in Historic Photographs section. The first today is Skagen Ind, a Danish presentation Spitfire Mk. VB.
  
  
• "On a flat piece of ground..." is another new photo discovery from Australia, but one that brings more questions than answers. Experts on Spitfire operations on that continent are requested for more information.
  
  
• Polish contributor Radek Jurczyk makes his premiere apperance today in our Art & Memorabilia gallery. This one is entitled "Safe Return".

Labels: history, site updates

• Tonight I review a new decal sheet aiming at providing a rather unusual and colourful choice of markings for the superb Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire - Dutch Decal Junkers Ju-88A-4, Spitfire F.Mk.V/IX l'Armée de l'Air. This review can be found in Product News & Reviews.
  
  
• We also have a few additions in our gallery of Historic Photographs. The first photo originates from RAF 50th Anniversary celebrations, 1968. Have fun guessing all the aircraft put on display at that time!
  
  
• The second item for today is entitled A flock of seagulls - a beautifully atmospheric photo of a Spitfire Mk. Vb of No. 317 Squadron.
  
  
• Captured and recaptured uis the title of our last photo for today. It is the testimony of the fate of many Allied aircraft which force-landed on German-held territory.
  

Labels: history, reviews, site updates

"During the war when food and luxuries were scarce, my mum wanted to give us a treat and bake us a Christmas cake. She had saved enough flour and sugar.

Eggs were not a problem because we had chickens, but she didn't have any dried fruit.

As luck would have it and by sheer coincidence when the midwife came to see my baby brother who had been born on the 13th December 1941, she brought some currants and raisins for us. This saved the day, and we had our cake. I can't remember what it was like, but I'm sure it tasted wonderful!"

Nancy Barnard
[WW2 People's War]

"My most vivid recollections are of the December 1940 Blitz over Manchester. I was 8 years old and looking forwards to Christmas. There had been many bombs exploding in our area in October 1940.

My parents John and Josephine Galway, decided to take my 76 year old Grandfather William Henry Corrigan and myself to stay with friends in Hayfield, Derbyshire. The friends, the Lavelle family, had a country cottage in Hayfield.

We left Stretford Rd, Old Trafford, in our little Morris 8 car. It was early evening just before Christmas 1940 as we travelled towards Hayfield that moonlit night. We could hear the planes over head. We had no luggage with us. We went as we were. On Christmas Eve my parents’ friends said my parents should go home and bring their Christmas presents and our little dog and spend Christmas with them. Grandfather and I waited for them to return.

When they did come back to Hayfield they had very sad news. My Grandfather’s house and our house which was next door had been hit by a land mine and there was just a big hole. The army were digging for us; they did not think there would be much hope of us all coming out alive. Our dog was killed, we had no furniture, no Christmas presents, no change of clothes, but we were all together and alive. My Grandfather never recovered from the shock, he caught pneumonia and died a month later. We went to live in Little Hayfield in a cottage until 1943 when we returned to Manchester."

Irene Barlow
[WW2 People's War]

"In September 1944 our WAAF unit was sent to Normandy. We were there about ten days and then flew (about five at a time) in an Anson of 85 Group Communication Flight from Carpiquet (an airstrip close by) to Ghent in Belgium.

Our first Christmas in Belgium was bitterly cold and we had very little heating. Frost formed on our hair as we marched to the office in the morning. Some WAAF went to bed wearing their seaboot stockings! We had a dance in the local casino to thank the people of Ghent for their hospitality and also a Christmas party for the children when we distributed clothes which had been sent over from the U.K. for them.

Our Christmas lunch was very good, one of the best I have ever enjoyed, even though everything came out of a tin."

Helena Noifeld
[WW2 People's War]

"I was three and a half years old when the war finished. I remember the Christmas after the war, my father - a staff sergeant and training officer - invited seven German prisoners to our home for Christmas dinner.

They all arrived in their uniforms and only one of them spoke English. I remember him trying to shoo me off to bed at 7pm, just like any other ordinary man. They were just the same as us really. I think after all those years of fighting my father felt sorry for them.

I was only three and a half but I remember it vividly. It shows it must have had quite an impact on me."

Dereck Lester
[WW2 People's War]

Labels: history

• A new addition in History Articles is entitled "I Used to Sit in a Tree and Pretend I was a Pilot". Steve McGregor tells the story of W/Cdr Don Andrews, one of the Australian Spitfire pilots serving in the UK.
  
  
• In Product News & Reviews, Magnus Fridsell brings us a book review of On and off the Flight Deck: Reflections of a Naval Fighter Pilot in World War II, personal memoir of Henry 'Hank' Adlam.

Work and family commitments tend to pile up this time of the year, so this is probably our final update before Christmas. I take this opportunity and wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[Card by waldopepper, via Flickr]

Labels: history, reviews, site updates

"It is not too much to say that research for the Schneider Trophy contest over the past two years is what our aero-engine department would otherwise have taken six to ten years to learn."

Labels: history

• The appearance of Airfix Spitfire as star prop of the recent BBC show Toy Stories has been mentioned here before. Our newest addition in Articles is called A "May" Day in Cosford - James May's Largest Ever Airfix Spitfire; it is a recollection of the record 1:1 Spitfire modelling project from the perspective of one of the participating teenagers.
  
  
• Also, we have a photo feature showing how the competed Airfix 1:1 Spitfire looks today. Glued with pride, it rests outside the Cosford Air Museum, Shropshire.

...in the meantime, James May's Toy Stories series and its message to promote traditional, old fashioned toys such as Airfix, Meccano, Lego or toy trains, has been well received in the UK. I you have missed the show, you can watch all episodes, including the Airfix one, online at the BBC site (a feature regrettably restricted to UK visitors only). Also, the show has now its own site jamesmaystoystories.com, which promises a book and a DVD to be issued soon.

• Back on the subject of Spitfires, we have two new exciting additions in the Historic Photographs section. The first one is called Landing the Seafire.
  
  
• The second photo, and the one which I haven't seen before, presents Don Andrews' Gremlin - A Spitfire Mk. IX in interesting markings.
  
  
• We have also two new additions in Art & Memorabilia. The first one is a small Memory of Alex Henshaw.
  
  
• Finally, Penny Spitfire is another interesting Spitfire-related relic of World War II.
  

Enjoy.

Labels: history, modelling, site updates

For Spitfire in his/her heart

Delphic Design has an entire range of Spitfire-related products which we have previously presented here.

For a modeller

You can find our review of the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire here.

Book tips

Our review of Swift to Battle is available here.

Kids

See also my review of Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Mk. IX.

Labels: history, modelling, reviews

• Today's addition in History Articles is An Alternative Battle of Britain - 3-part essay which shows by example how the aerial warfare of 1940 was understood by the general public of the time. Why wasn't the Bf 109 a flop that everyone understood it to be? By Brett Holman.
  
  
• The Art & Memorabilia gallery has been enriched with yet another stunning oil painting by Vladimir Urbanek, entitled "Evening Victory".
  

Labels: history, site updates

• Tonight I review a new book, and one that impressed me: Swift To Battle - 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action by Tom Doherty, a unit history written - differently.
  
  
• We have also a new addition to the Art & Memorabilia gallery, another fine pencil drawing by Pavel Rampir: Canadians with the 2nd TAF.

Enjoy.

Labels: history, reviews, site updates

Two updates have been posted today.

• Remeber the last week's video of an NitroPlanes RC Spitfire ARF kit that didn't want to fly properly? It left me anxious to see if and how the airframe could be fixed (shearing off the radiator... taping over the wheel wells... wondering what Joe Smith of Supermarine would say about that :). Today I'm glad to say that the second part of this video, including all the answers, has been posted on YouTube. I have inserted it at the bottom of the original article, so have a look: A Spitfire that didn't fly so well, now a two-part documentary feature!

• We also have a beautiful new piece in Art & Memorabilia gallery. Pavel Rampir has documented a tragic moment entitled Last Moment of Wing Commander in his newest pencil drawing.

That's all for this week; October has been a very good month in terms of updates with many sigificant new articles added to the site. Next week, I'll be preparing for departure to Telford for the IPMS UK Scale Modelworld show. I know I'll meet many of you - the readers and contributors - there, and I'm looking forward to it! Should you wish to make any particular arrangement, my email address is at the very bottom of this page.

Labels: history, modelling, site updates, videos

• A new addition among our Product News & Reviews is an impressive new book by Tom Docherty Swift To Battle: 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action.
  
  
• Continuing on the subject of books, a review of today is Spitfire - A Test Pilot's Story by Jeffrey Quill. This is one of the essential titles for any Spitfire nut.
  
  
• Lastly, a small new addition to the Scale Modelling section; Raul Hrubisko presents his 1/72 model of a Striped Spitfire Mk. I.

Click to enlarge image
[Neil Lanwarne, via Flickr]

Labels: history, modelling, site updates, warbirds

• Australian Debut is a new article in the History section, bringin some new light onto Spitfire's long and difficult deployment to Australia. By Peter Malone.
  
  
• We also have two new Photo Galleries. The first one shows a unique Royal British Legion Spitfire Replica - a remarkable full-size Spitfire replica built specifically to allow everyone to have a seat in the cockpit!
  
  
• Goodwood Revival is a traditional festival of historic motorsport, but the 2008 also had an impressive "air component". See the Goodwood Revival 2008 beautifully captured by Bill M.

Labels: history, site updates, warbirds

• A new addition in History Articles is entitled El Quequeisque - The Story of a Football Spitfire. It's a remarkable story behind a Spitfire which was named after a football team. By Rafael Ruiz and Martin Waligorski
  
  
• A new image has also been added to the Historic Photographs collection. Vince Neil from Florida shares memories of his encounter with a Spitfire in London, 1960, with a picture that asks for more information.

Labels: history, site updates

Click to enlarge image
[Der Bruzzla photo]

"In my experience, the Royal Air Force pilot was most aggressive and capable fighter pilot during the Second World War. This is nothing against the Americans, because they came in late and in such large numbers that we don't have an accurate comparison. We were totally outnumbered when the Americans engaged, whereas at the time of the Battle of Britain the fight was more even and you could compare. The British were extremely good."

"We fought for our country and to stay alive. We did not think about the personal nature of killing in the air. We were proud of every victory in the air, and particularly happy that we had not been hit ourselves. Of course, I tell myself in quiet moments today: 'You've killed. In order to protect others and not be killed yourself.' But in the end: for what? The Third Reich trained 30,000 pilots. Ten thousand survived the war. One-third."
Günther Rall

Labels: history

• We all know that radar was invented in Britain, right? How much truth lies in the the well publicized scenario of British radar superiority at the onset of World War II? Gregory C. Clark Deflates British Radar Myths of World War II in this new, four-part addition to History Articles.
  
  
• Shown before in the Scale Modelling section, but now expanded to full articles, is a pair of K5054 Spitfire prototype models built and finished by Mark Davies. The first is CMR 1/72 Spitfire Prototype K5054 at the time of its first flight.
  
  
• Mark Davies also presents a companion model of the same aircraft in its later blue-grey livery.

Labels: history, modelling, site updates

• The Very High-Flying Prince is a story of the record high-altitude fighter of the war and the extraordinary pilot who flew it. By Martin Waligorski.
  
  
• Nils Mathisrud presents Spitfire Mk. V - The Norwegians, a pair of colourful Spitfire Mk. V markings presented here courtesy of Vingtor Decals.

Enjoy.

Labels: history, reference, site updates

Your piece on the Battle of Britain movie has stirred my memories. After the movie people had finished filming most of the flying sequences at RAF Duxford (most of the air fleet support and maintenance was carried out at RAF Henlow), the fleet was moved to RAF Bovingdon in 1969 for dispersal. Luckily I was serving as an instructor on 617 Gliding School which was based there at the time. We actually shared our hangar with lots of Me 109 Buchons, Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Mosquito which was used for some of the air camera work.There were also the two Heinkel 111's parked at Bovingdon to film the scene in the movie where the He 111 is 'shot down' over central London. They erected a clever artificial 'skyline scenery' of the rooftops of London along the Northern taxiway and perimeter track at Bovingdon and filmed one of the Heinkels supposedly 'crashing' into the buildings. What he actually was doing was just diving behind the airfield into the valley behind Bluebell Wood at the edge of the airfield. They did the scene in a few takes so I bet the pilot was thoroughly enjoying himself.

We also had the two 'Prukas' in our hangar (the Proctor V's you mentioned) (elsewhere referred to as "Proctukas" - Ed.). They were not in what you would call 'mint showroom condition' and I doubt if they ever flew again (or at all). I would rather have taken my chances flying a real Stuka in the middle of a Squadron of Spitfires in 1940, than to have tried to get airborne in one of those Prukas in peacetime 1969.

After the majority of the film fleet had been returned to their original owners, they set about fitting dummy belly airscoops under the Buchons and repainted then in US Army Air Corps colours to act as P51's in the movie about General Patton, which was later filmed in Spain. In autumn 1969 I took a couple of photos of these Buchon/Mustang 'wolf in wolf's clothing' hybrids when they were leaving for RAF Manston to clear customs en route to Spain, and have attached them for you.

Click to enlarge images
[Barry Gillingwater]

Another pic I took shows the approach to Bovingdon on a sunny day. The main runway you see was also used to film a 'bouncing bomb' sequence for the movie 'Mosquito Squadron' a couple of years earlier. In fact Bovingdon was also used to film most of the sequences in the '633 Squadron' movie in the mid-60's. On one of these occasions they had dressed up the main gate and guardroom area to look like a Luftwaffe base, complete with a line of extras dressed up as German soldiers ready for inspection. One of our staff cadets was a bit cheeky and slowly walked along the line inspecting them, adjusting a helmet here, brushing off some lint on another, until the Director of the film yelled at him to go away as they were trying to film.

Click to enlarge image
[Barry Gillingwater]

Our Gliding School was transferred to RAF Manston in 1970 just before they closed RAF Bovingdon for all flying operations. Manston was steeped in history from the 1940's, with lots of the B of B bomb craters and damage clearly visible on the airfield even in the 70's. But that's another story as they say.

Labels: history

• Parades and services are held today throuhout the UK to commemorate the Battle of Britain [edp24]
  
  
• I have been contacted by some good people from BBC who pointed me to an interesting recent story on The One Show which fits the occasion prefectly. It's a meeting with John Freeborn, who was a 19 year old Spitfire pilot when war was declared on 3rd September 1939 and became a distinguished airman who flew more operational hours in the Battle of Britain than any other pilot and went on to attain the rank of Wing Commander. But he still thinks about his one deadly error over the Barking Creek every day.
  
  Watch Spitfire pilot John Freeborn's story - which regrettably is available to UK audience only [BBC]
  
  
• There is also a Farewell to another Spitfire pilot. Battle of Britain veteran John Pattison from New Zealand died at the age of 92. Pattison also commanded No. 485 (NZ) Spitfire Squadron late in the war.[Stuff.co.nz]

• A subject that raised heated controversy last year was the takeover of the Canadian Y2K Spitfire project by privately-owned Vintage Wings from Quebec. The debate took rather painful turns particularly as the partially restored aircraft, with $250,000 tax dollars invested in it and countless work hours put in by a broad group of volunteers was sold by Comox Air Force Museum for a symbolic sum of $1.
  
  Recent news updates on this subject include:
  - Warplane patron makes no apologies for military help [The Standard]
  - Still reaching for the sky: Work on Spitfire restoration comes to a halt for now, but on track to fly in 2012 [Canwest News]
  
  
• St George’s RAF Chapel of Remembrance in Biggin Hill starts a fundraising for a new replica Spitfire and Hurricane to replace its current gate guardians. [This is Local London]
  
  

Labels: history

• Today's addition in our Art & Memorabilia gallery comes from a reader in India. It is a trace of wartime aircraft fundraising campaigns which at the time reached the furthest corners of the World. An unexpected but mostly welcome addition to this site, thanks!
  
  
• The Video Section features two new new official video clips from Il-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey, a console game which I described yesterday. The first clip is the Birds of Prey Multiplayer Trailer, showing the multiplayer options of the game.
  
  
• The second video, perhaps even more interesting, is Birds of Prey movie showing the Battle of Britain scenery, which is most impressive indeed. Don't forget to turn on the HD switch for best visual experience.
  

Labels: history, site updates, videos

• A new addition in History Articles has nothing to do with aerial combats, campaigns, or aircraft, yet I hope that you will find this story as irresistable as I did. Read about The Amazing Career of Officer Billy de Goat - the memorable animal mascot of No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron.
  
  
• We have also a new book review - Spitfire in Combat by Alfred Price. First published in 2003, this book is of renewed interest as its paperback edition hit the bookstores this Summer.

Labels: history, reviews, site updates

I am speaking to you from the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street. This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final note stating that, unless we hear from them by 11 o'clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that, consequently, this country is at war with Germany. (...)

And then, only weeks and months after that, everything was thrown into chaos.

• Second World War: Why we delayed declaration of war from the Telegraph is an essay by leading historian Andrew Roberts explaining the circumstances behind Britain's declaration of war.
  
  
• Even more thought-provoking is Peter Hitchens' elaboration on what would have happened if we hadn't fought World War 2?, from Daily Mail.

Labels: history

Click on the image to enlarge
[via Spitfire Association]

Labels: history

• Wartime fighter pilot Squadron Leader Leonard Feltham passed away on June 4, 2009, aged 87. Volunteering for the RAF at the age of 17, Feltham was a Spitfire pilot throughout most of his wartime service.
  [Times]
  
  
• Another sad departure in June was the death of Rex Shilton, former test pilot at Rolls-Royce.
  [Telegraph]
  
  
• Captain John Fairey, son of Sir Richard Fairey who founded the Fairey Aviation Company in 1915, died in flying accident on July 8 aged 74. He was an experienced warbird pilot and a vice-president of the Historic Aircraft Association. His vintage Percival Provost crashed in a field in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire.
  [Times]
  
  
• Unexploded World War II 250 kg bomb from the German Blitz still found after all these years. [24dash.com]
  
  
• It is soon time for the next Duxford Air Show on 5-6 September. Red Arrows will be there. [The Royston Crow]
  
  
• With three double-seater Spitfires TR Mk. IX operating currently in the UK, journalist tours in this aircraft became very popular this season. British TV comedian and journalist Dom Joly was one of them, and here is his account of the event.
  [Times]
  
  
• In Telegraph's series Britain at War, read memories of Sgt Denchfield, a Spitfire pilot who was shot down over France by German Ace Walter Oesau.
  [Telegraph]
  
  
• In a newer additon to the same series, another Telegraph reader recalls wartime fundraising for Spitfires and Lancasters.
  [Telegraph]
  
  
• Lastly, on an entirely different note. Telegraphs finds out that Nazis were close to building stealth bomber that could have changed course of history. I have my doubts about it :)
  [Telegraph]
  

Labels: history, warbirds

"Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few."

"We few, we happy few,
we band of brothers...
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day"

Labels: history

Labels: history

Labels: history

• New pair of images have been added in Historic Photographs section. The first one comes from the 8th Air Force bomber base at Bovingdon, which once - however temporarily - hosted a full complement of No. 312 Squadron Spitfires.


• In defence of the Anzio beachhead is the title of the second photograph for today. It is a document of US Spitfires operating in support of operation Shingle.

Labels: history, site updates

• Friendly fire is a rather well-known photo of an American Spitfire which force-landed at the beaches of Salerno. Full story follows.
  
  
• There is a general opinion is that RAF and commonwealth aircraft were rather below par with regard to personal markings, but there certainly were many exceptions contradicting the rule. The Australian pilot Jack Newton and his personal Pegasus emblem is the subject of our second photograph for today.

Labels: history, site updates, webmaster

One more photograph has been added today.

• "Spitfires can take it" is an image originating from HMSO publications of the time, interesting because it shows typical effects of a belly landing in a Spitfire.

Labels: history, site updates

• Deployment to France is a document of one of the first airstrips used to transfer fighter squadrons into France after D-Day, B4 Bény-sur-Mer.
  


• Little is known about overseas volunteer pilots in the ranks of the RAF, pilots which often came from the least expected places. Such as Trinidad or Barbados, as documented by this photo.

Labels: history, site updates

• The hundredth posting in out collection is, fittingly, a photograph which to my knowledge hasn't previously been published. The last Spitfire from Exeter shows a curiously dressed Spitfire hauled from a repair workshop in this city. An intriguing photo which raises many questions.



• Also in this update is Seafire's combat debut - an evidence of the Seafire's first operational use during Operation Torch.
  


• Lastly, as mentioned above, check our previous mystery photos and see if you can help laying down the puzzles!

Labels: history, site updates

• A new addition in Camouflage and Markings is the article written with the indispensable help of Bjørnar Norås and Nils Mathisrud from Norway. A Question of Foreign Markings tells the full story behind one of the most unusual markings to be seen on a Spitfire in the closing months of World War II - PV181 of the Norwegian ace W/Cdr Rolf Arne Berg.
  
  
• We have also an interesting, if unusual new addition in our Art & Memorabilia gallery. Mecha Spitfire is one of those attractive Japanese toy-robot-anime-comic mashups. Have a look.

Labels: history, reference, site updates

• Spitfire Mk. Vc in Sicily is an intriguing photo, but the one in need of additional information to identify the aircraft, units and people. Added yesterday to the Historic Photographs collection.  

Labels: history, site updates

• New in the Reference section is Y2-K Spitfire of F/Lt Arnold Roseland - colour analysis of the Spitfire Mk. IX serving with No. 442 Squadron RCAF, now a subject of a restoration project.
  
  
• In Product News & Reviews, we present JAYS Models Line of 1/72 Spitfire Kits.


• Finally, in Art & Memorabilia gallery we have a commendable Tribute to Pete Brothers, a contribution by Dutch artist Herman Veltorp.
  

Labels: history, reviews, site updates

• New pair of images have been added in Historic Photographs section. The first one is a rather unique gun camera footage from the period of the Battle of Britain, documenting an attack of a Spitfire Mk. I of No. 609 Squadron RAF on a formation of Heinkel He 111s.
  
  
• The second image and a story that goes with it are dedicated to Diana Barnato-Walker, one of the most prominent "Spitfire women" of the ATA.

Labels: history, site updates

• Read Spitfire Pilot - Life Prematurely Ended, a story of F/O Russell Lyon.
  
  
• Also, don't forget to check out the latest topics of our discussion forum too - lots of interesting subjects arrived recently!

Labels: history, site updates

• First is the image of V-1 defender - the famous Spitfire Mk. XIV flown by Sqn/Ldr Richard Newbery.
  
  
• The second image comes with a request for more information. A rather ordinarily looking photo from a RAF airbase shows the handover ceremony upon USAAF arrival in Britain. We're looking for the name of the place and maybe some additional information about the circumstances.

Labels: history, site updates

• How about a pair of exclusive cufflinks made from nothing less than the metal from Al Deere's personal Spitfire? Read a preview of Spitfire Cufflinks from TMB Art Metal in the Product News & Reviews section.
  
  
• New in the Art & Memorabilia gallery is ML407 The Grace Spitfire - another airbrushed piece by Herman Veltrop.
  
  
• New pair of images has also been added in the Historic Photographs section. The first one shows a squadron of anonymous Australian Spitfires In their element, with request to all for some additional information.
  


• The second image should come as a surprise. I myself have never expected to see a Spitfire in a German concentration camp! Yet here it is, a crash-landed Mk. V brought by the Germans to the Vught camp in the Netherlands.
  

Labels: history, reviews, warbirds

• New image added in the Historic Photographs section is entitled Backing up the invasion. Enjoy.
  

Labels: history, site updates

Labels: history, site updates

Labels: history

• A full scale Spitfire in your garden? I would like to have one in mine, but is just seems like an overwhelming project. However, Mr. Hamish MacLeod in Moffat, Scotland has just inaugarated a full-size replica of this fighter in the front garden of his home. Inspiring. [BBC News]
  
  More about Mr. Lac Leod's Spitfire can be found in this article in the Scotsman.
  
  
• An airworthy two-seater Spitfire Mk. IX will be sold on acution at the RAF museum in Colindale, England, in April. The aircraft is expected to fetch £1.5 million and is the first of its kind to be on the UK auction block in more than 20 years. [Hendon & Finchley Times]
  
  
• We have also some news in the wake of the economical crisis in the UK. Savekers, a 106-year-old Birmingham family firm that produced components for Spitfire fighters and Lancaster bombers during World War II, collapsed recently. Other former supplier of aluminium plate for the Spitfires, Novelis (formerly Alcan) in South Wales closed their business at the beginning of the month. [Times Online & South Wales Argus]

Labels: history, warbirds

• Tactical reconnaissance with Spitfire Mk. XIV - this image shows Spitfire FR Mk. XIV, serial number RM795 of No. 414 Squadron RCAF at the time of VE-day
  


• The second photo, originating from the time of the Battle of Britain and entitled Under entirely wrong management does not show a Spitfire, yet I felt that it was interesting enough to be included here.
  

Labels: history, site updates

• In History Articles, we have a Pictorial feature on Eagle Day, 1940. The force opposed by RAF Hurricanes and Spitfires during the Battle of Britain is presented in the photographs of official German correspondents. Many wartime photographs were released recently by Bundesarchiv into the Creative Commons domain, and this is a selection of these.
  
  


• Another newly acquired asset is the photograph of No. 613 Squadron Spitfires F Mk. XIV at RAF Ringway in 1947, a new addition in our steadily growing gallery of Historic Photographs. It's good to see a photo of post-war Spitfires, we'd be glad to have more of them, so please keep them comin'!
  

Another editorial news is the arrival of my new drawing software. As mentioned previously, I intend to refresh my long-neglected computer graphics skills and try to produce some colour profiles of the Spitfire on my own, improving on the first effort published here. The package, Corel Draw X4, arrived in my mail last week. After some ten years of inactivity in the graphics field, the big question was which graphics software to select for this project. The choice was very much between only two options, Adobe Illustrator CS4 and Corel, both coupled with rather substantial outlay. I have evaluated voth and although many people say that the professionals prefer Adobe, Corel Draw still feels as familiar and straightforward as the last time when I used it. I hope that the learning curve is not not too steep as to prevent me from producing something useful in the foreseeable future. Wish me luck!

Labels: history, site updates, webmaster

• The first image shows one of the earliest Spitfires Mk. I placed on a compass swing
   
• The subject of our second image is wet winter in Italy, 1945
  
  

Labels: history, site updates

Labels: history, modelling, site updates