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Post by PB on Mar 4, 2024 7:28:34 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 04/03/24Well dear POTD'ers today's the day - big nose day! The stitches have to be extracted from one's recent event with gravity and an obstacle made of very solid concrete whence it was my face that took the full force of the unplanned trajectory. Oh well, must crack on the appointment is early and I'm so looking forward to it...
It was on this day in 1954 that the Lockheed Starfighter first flew, famed as a widow maker it caused more than a few bent noses..
If we go back to 1945, this was the day 4th March that the last Nazi aircraft crashed on UK soil during WW2! A Ju88 attacking RAF Elvington got it a bit wrong as the trees he hit were too much for his aircraft, all four onboard lost their lives. Never knew their fame. This was at 01.51 hrs, two other Ju88s also crashed in separate incidents one at 0137 the other 0145. And that was that, Adolf achieved nothing but grief, pain, destruction and nations on the brink of bankruptcy. And with that I'm calling today 'big nose day', and we'll leave it at that!!
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 5, 2024 8:03:35 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 05/03/24Oh, they were well embedded!! As mentioned yesterday the stitches that were hoped to return the big flap of skin, lifted from the top of my nose as a result of the recent prang, all came out after some significant tugging and they seem to have done an excellent job. One's nose is more or less its original shape, but associated internal problems look possible. Time will tell!! Does it hurt, hell yes....
Moving on and away from such nonsense...
Looking into the POTD crystal ball that manages to predict the past, what do we see?
On this day in 1943 the Gloster Meteor made its first flight..The Meteor was quite a regular site at Blackbushe in the fifties, but Doug Arnold purchased this one that added to the variety of his warbird collection! It eventually went to static display up north, hopefully somebody is looking after her?I did discuss with Martin Baker the possibility of their Meteors appearing at the Blackbushe 75th back in 2017. They were very interested but had to decline due to Blackbushe's short runway and the Meteor's aged braking system.This was a tragic day at BOAC in 1966, Flight BA911.. Mt Fuji.
On a happier note, this day in 2005 witnessed Steve Fossett non-stop complete the first solo-navigation of the planet. He was airborne for 67 hours and 2 minutes.
With that amazing achievement POTD closing with the thought of being airborne alone for so long making me wonder when I can't stay awake for even ten minutes of EastEnders...
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 6, 2024 7:17:29 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 06/03/24Do you own a drone? Whether you do or not, they've made a big difference to surveillance, photography, and TV news bulletins! The 'drone' story started a long while ago, seemingly on this day in 1918 when the Curtiss-Sperry heavier than air flying bomb made its first flight. Not a drone perhaps with today's VTOL capability but a first step toward unmanned aviation.
I wonder if it landed on its nose? Eleven days now since I landed on mine and the situation is now degrading somewhat. The nasty bit where the stitches came out a couple of days ago decided to reopen last evening, removing the dressings revealing it's also become badly infected despite taking the ultimate care keeping it sterile. That combined with a crushed septum whereby air now transits between nostrils, 'significant' pain, and a nose that often feels like my old socks have been stuffed up it indicates these problems are going to last a long time. So stupid, just a simple trip that lead the conk into unknown territory!
Now, do you own, operate, or know someone who owns an interesting/unusual/eye catching aeroplane? The numbers of aircraft already booked for this year's Air Day static park is already at a good level, but if we could pin down some more 'eye catching' entries we can but ask! If you do have a link in this direction please leave me a message on this Forum!!!
Now, with the 80th Anniversary of D-Day this coming June, this morning the first of our accounts as to life at RAF Hartford Bridge from January 1944 up until D-Day itself..."The New Year was seen in in the usual style and truly welcomed in! The 1st January 1944 saw the arrival of 2800 Squadron from RAF Ibsley, near Fordingbridge in Hampshire, with their anti-aircraft guns for the defense of the airfield. They took over from 2773 Squadron who moved out to RAF Kirton-in-Linsey, Lincolnshire. Also on the 3rd AVM B Embry of 2 Group made a further visit to the airfield.
The Bostons of 107 Squadron were airborne on the 4th for a 'circus' operation on the 'noball' target at Ligescourt in France, while 16 and 140 Squadrons continued their photography of the sea bed, coastal defenses and ports in the Normandy beaches area.
Yet another 'noball' target was attacked by 107 Squadron on the following day, each of their aircraft dropping 4x500LB bombs from 9000ft" As you see, our airfield was already well into the processes of war when 1944 commenced. Today it is hard to imagine the activity over the whole of the airfield area although maybe one can 'feel' the atmosphere of those days if you let your mind free to wander?
'Noball' operations were those connected with V1 flying bomb sites. 'Circus' operations were those bombing operations with fighter cover. Both will no doubt be referred to between now and June.Some images of the days....PB
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Post by PB on Mar 7, 2024 7:40:44 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 07/03/24A quick salute to history this morning.. this day in 1942 was a good day for the Maltese. The RAF committed 15 Spitfires to the defense of the island which was being murderously bombed by the Luftwaffe. The Spitfires made the journey aboard carriers HMS Argus and HMS Eagle before taking to the wing to complete the journey. The long journey to Malta was full of dangers, but they made it, a story in itself. It would seem that the carriers in 1942 were more reliable than the two new multi billion pound showpiece mega carriers that seem quite attached to Portsmouth?The Fleet Air Arm Historic Flight's Firefly attending a Barnstormers Air Show at Blackbushe in 1973, it also took part in the 1977 Air Festival.As with the Firefly above, the FAA Historic Flight's Sea Fury joined us in 1973 and 1977.A few years later we had our own home-based Sea Furies as they joined the Blackbushe warbird collection.Navy movements in the fifties were quite regular, this was a Farnborough Air Show visitor. Sea Venom XG666 07/09/59.Royal Netherlands NavyUS Navy, very much a part of Blackbushe in the fifties..French Navy Harpoon..Martin Mariner of the Netherlands...with a Royal Navy Fairey Gannet in the background.US Navy MercatorWhere better than Blackbushe in the fifties for catching the navies of various countries as they went about their business??
Time for a cup of tea having wallowed in nostalgia - there was just 'something' about Blackbushe that made it so special. Its semi wild location, ease of viewing thanks to the London-Southampton trunk road that ran through it, endless variety of aircraft, airline operations and the glamour that went with them, and always kept spick and span although her 'wild' heritage would soon grow back given the chance.
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 8, 2024 7:02:58 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 08/03/24For years "POTD" has referred to the history of Blackbushe Airport in all its various manifestations, from lonely heathland to wartime air base to major civil airport, and finally the long fight to remain and operate as a well equipped General Aviation airport. Thanks to its excellent location the airfield has proved its worth so many times, we've now moved to the next stage in the airfield's history as new runway lighting installation begins and hope upon hope the Planning Inspector will approve the Land Exchange plans and the "new" Blackbushe may at last emerge. If you want a quick reminder of Blackbushe's unique history why not check-out the history as written on the Blackbushe Airport website? It's here... www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/historyThat tarmac that was host to so many airlines and airliners.....the oh so many acres that witnessed the triumph and tragedy of war.....or the cold and devastated decades where hope flew on, and on...... to more recent times where history and 21st Century technology mingle... ...and history is restored in the shape of the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's Viking that will in due course stand on that tarmac where so many commercial operations were conducted in the fifties. Our salute to the past.Here's to the future!!
...and the making of more history!
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 9, 2024 6:01:29 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 09/03/24So, what do you do at 05.00 on Saturday morning? Well, sit here in front of the trusty PC and give Blackbushe an airing perhaps? Nature is having a joke with the 'editorial health' with a nose that continues to submit 'ughh' from the prang site two weeks ago today, a nose that refuses to let air enter and a consequent lack of sleep hours, the chest infection that refuses to lie down, and various other conditions that consume those sleep hours and here we are - wide awake!
Here we are ever optimistic of better sleep!! So, thinking of past days at the airfield is always a way to take the mind of things, and looking at where we are in March and our current cooling by those traditional March winds that slide in from the east chilling all in their way. Seems that March always has a few days of easterlies that carry their sting from places across the North Sea and beyond..I always remember one Saturday in March late sixties/early seventies when waiting for the staff bus in the northside staff car park at LHR. 06.30, grey and an Arctic blast from the east summed up the moment. Some things just stick in your memory, and that all consuming cold did wake you up! In Flight Ops it was best to be awake, one's calculations HAD to be correct!
Over at Blackbushe way back in March 1963 we were still in the grips of the winter from hell. Snow started on Boxing Day, 1962, and the country froze and snowed up until the following March. It just went on and on, the RAF flew regular supply drops to cut-off neighbourhoods and we got by as best as we could. The BBC today would make a great 'climate change' story no doubt, but it was just a freaky time when we had to grin and bear it! Couldn't keep away from Blackbushe - this was when I worked for AVM Bennett as the BB 'Ops' person and transport was my 49cc NSU. Somehow I always remained upright, weekends were partly spent at the airfield mingling with the Blackbushe Aero Club folk and running up frozen engines to keep their oil in circulation. That was fun, especially prop-swinging on icy tarmac. The Austers, Jackaroo, etc were not equipped with electric starters. Ahh happy memories of March's climatic capability!If ever a picture told a story it must be this one!One of the many Blackbushe (RAF Hartford Bridge) Bostons in flight..88 Squadron.As discussed recently, "POTD" will be bringing stories of life at RAF Hartford Bridge during 1944 and the build-up to D-Day. Here's the second report, taken from early in January, 1944..." Yet another 'noball' target was attacked by 107 Squadron on 5th January, 1944, each of their aircraft dropping 4x500LB bombs from 9,000ft
The following day was to prove a sad one for 107 Squadron when they lost Boston BZ387 (L) when it crashed on approach to land. The pilot, an American, Lt Art Truxler, was overflying Little Sandhurst when the aircraft for some unexplained reason (but believed to be due to engine failure) dived into the ground. Jim Moore of 88 Squadron was in Sandhurst at the time and recalled seeing the aircraft pass overhead. He said, "During the afternoon of the 6th we were in Sandhurst at the time when we saw a Boston fly over on its landing approach. Inexplicably it crashed about half a mile from us. A local airman who was on leave, together with two civilians, went to the crash scene in an attempt to rescue the crew, but the aircraft blew up, killing not only the crew but also the airman who was trying to help. The two civilians were badly injured in the explosion and when I cycled back to the airfield I was horrified to learn it was Art and his crew that had been killed."The accident was also witnessed by John Lowe who passed away recently. He gave a moving account of this day and was lucky as pieces of metal from the explosion passed just in front of him, his family home being in Little Sandhurst. A life long 'Blackbushe person' John is daily missed for his humour and deep knowledge of operations at Blackbushe through war and peace.
With that I'll say 'cheerio' until tomorrow!!
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 10, 2024 7:20:07 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 10/03/24Another week begins and with it another week closer to the D-Day 80th Anniversary events.
This morning on "POTD" it'll be more 'paragraph of the day' as we step back into history and revisit Blackbushe, or RAF Hartford Bridge as she was at the time, in our recall of life at the airfield in the weeks and months that lead to D-Day, a day when our airfield was very much in the forefront of wartime action.
Following our account of the Boston accident in early January, 1944, we continue in the first half of January of that year, the words are taken from Stuart Marshall's "The Wartime Years". Never published but I was fortunate to be given one of the few copies by Stuart. I know that he'd be happy to share his words amid those who hold Blackbushe and her history dear..
We go back to 6th January, the day of the Boston crash in Sandhurst... "Also on that day P/O Glynn made an emergency landing at RAF Friston in Sussex on return from operations.
Back at Hartford Bridge it was now quite common to see pyrotechnics being fired from aircraft as they made their approach, indication that there were injured aboard who would need medical attention on landing. The emergency crews were by now expert in the way that they dealt with emergencies they encountered and were quickly on the scene as the aircraft came to a halt. Their emergency drill was sadly called upon more and more regularly as the months passed. The base hospital was located at the bottom of Cricket Hill Lane near the junction with Reading Road. Many injured personnel had good cause to thank the hospital staff for their expert help and attention.
The airfield was visited on 7th/8th January by an unusual visitor - a Mr A Siniak, a Soviet technician who came to inspect the airfield lighting system, although there is no record to indicate why.
On 14th January HM King George VI approved the award of the DSO to F/O AH Riseley, RAFVR of 88 Squadron, in recognition of the gallantry shown in flying operations against the enemy. He was also graciously pleased to give orders for the publication of the name F/Sgt JP Walsh of 137 Wing Airfield HQ who had been mentioned in despatches by the Air Officer, Commanding in Chief. There had been many such honours conferred on personnel at Hartford Bridge.
During this period attacks were continuing to be made against targets in occupied France. As a result of meeting heavy flak over one such target, F/O Rozoy of 342 Squadron (the French Lorraine Squadron) in Boston BZ305 crashed into Pevensey Bay on the 14th. He and his crew were picked up and taken to hospital where they were to remain for the best part of a week before returning to the airfield. It was also the day that found 88 Squadron again attacking flying-bomb targets in the Cherbourg Peninsular area.
In the middle of the month members of of 34 and 137 Wings were able to visit a most interesting exhibition that was staged at the airfield of German aircraft equipment which attracted a great deal of attention. Following this event on the 18th of the month, approximately fifty of the aircrew from 88 Squadron and specialist officers of 137 Wing/Airfield HQ visited RAE Farnborough to see a demonstration of various ditching techniques. To assist them understand the characteristics to be expected when a ditching took place, a number of aircraft were catapulted across a large open-air water tank". Next time we'll look at the latter half of January, 1944 at RAF Hartford Bridge.M-DIVE & T7-SLXP by wokinghampaul, on Flickr G-HZRD by wokinghampaul, on Flickr T7-SLXP by wokinghampaul, on Flickr A couple of images from Paul Phillips of the air traffic typical of Blackbushe in modern times. Thanks Paul, classic shots once again!It would probably have been as hard for the personnel at RAF Hartford Bridge in 1944 to imagine the aircraft of today as it must be hard for us to imagine exactly how life was at the airfield in '44?
Wishing you a peaceful Sunday,
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 11, 2024 7:37:54 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 11/03/24Medical appointment this morning dictates (crushed nose and other things!) an early departure from the nest...To keep "Photo of the Day" to its obligation below are a couple of moments from a Barnstormers Air Show in the very early seventies.Just a couple of memories from the past six decades of memory making at Blackbushe!
See you tomorrow - hopefully!
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 13, 2024 6:49:46 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 13/03/24Yesterday "POTD" was all set to sprout its daily words and images to whoever should choose to soak 'em up. But, the best laid plans can go astray when technology put its boot in. The internet played hard to get, "POTD" went down the drain. One of limited technical prowess felt particularly helpless not enjoying being overruled by some unseen gremlin slithering through the wires and making merry with my motherboard.. T'was only last night that the logical thought arrived - reboot the wi-fi system that serves the house and feeds all the little electronic brains that send out their wi-fi signals without which I'd be having breakfast now rather than waffling...Updated the system's firmware, rebooted, and the world is once again a finger tip away! How it all works I have not a clue, but it's a good feeling to have reinstated the magic!
Health wise yesterday was not a good day, ongoing conditions especially a neurological one conspire with the injuries to my nose and its painful crushed septum to make life a little tedious, but "POTD" ain't gonna stop for that! Sometimes it gets a bit much, like last night, but the options are limited and hang around the NHS finding space in their obviously busy schedule..
So, yesterday's "POTD" referred to an RAF Lincoln that was shot-down en route to Berlin on 12 March, 1953, by a trigger happy Soviet Mig-15 pilot. All seven crew members of the Lincoln were lost. Our unstable world today combined with our depleted military and a run-down Air Force does not exude confidence should we meet Ivan in unfriendly 21st Century skies..
If we go back to 1952, it was on this day that the Airspeed Ambassador entered service with British European Airways.Few images of Ambassadors rest in the "POTD" vaults. Here's G-ALZX, arriving from Cambridge and delivered to Dan-Air 9 February, 1960, it was in service by April of that year wearing its Dan-Air colours Shell Aviation's G-AMAG was delivered to Blackbushe in February 1960 where she joined Shell's Blackbushe based operations. Sadly, just a few months later the Blackbushe story seemingly ended as the Airport was unceremoniously closed. 11/11/1952. BEA Ambasador G-ALZY demonstrating Blackbushe's FIDO system at work...Dan-Air's G-ALZO lives on at Duxford, let's hope she looks this good for years to come?The famous tail arrangement! Classic elegance..Restoration!The rigours of crew training before flight simulators were employed. This BEA Ambassador had a bumpy arrival and had to be road transported back to Heathrow where BEA eventually put her back in the air again.G-APCY, the Airlines Flying Group's Auster long time resident at Blackbushe from the early sixties. It's now for sale in Australia as VH-PCY wearing Eagle colours!!..and that's "POTD" for another day...
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 14, 2024 7:07:58 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 14/03/24Having been called for a chest X-ray yesterday afternoon I decided to boldly venture into the outside world and pay my first visit to Blackbushe since the 'prang'...Feeling a bit sheepish I nipped around the back of the Terminal, the nose is still not very pretty, just to get a look at the engineering work related to the Airport's massive lighting installation project. After so many years to see that such a large project had already started with earth movements and contractor activity was really uplifting in more ways than one!Welcome to Blackbushe!Work in progress!Blackbushe is transforming.. the perfect remedy when you're feeling a degree or two under!!One of numerous Lockheed L-749 Constellations to visit Blackbushe, today celebrates the first flight of the type on this day in 1947. The photo records a QANTAS Connie at Blackbushe during a crew training session. Imagine seeing a Connie 'circuit bashing' today!That's it for today, must attend to the crash damage that refuses to stop 'producing'...
PB
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