Firstly , this is train related because a large railway station is adjacent to Birmingham Airport .
Secondly , I hope you have a sense of humour .
http://home.bt.com/news/uknews/pilot-lost-false-arm-during-landing-11363926840507
Mike Brit
Well at least the passengers were un’armed!
Ain’t got nuttin on Group Captain Douglas Bader. Train related because Group Captain Bader shot up several trains in France during WW II
Met Bader during my Air Traffic career…
A very arrogant man…extremely self opinionated…He was not universally liked in UK aviation circles despite the “heroics” entirely brought about by his own fault on ignoring low flying orders…
Oddly enough he was shot down, supposedly by a Canadian fighter pilot who mistook the Spitfire for an ME 109…It was said that particular pilot never had to buy another round of beer in his service career during WW2.
“Tally Ho chaps…”
Tak ataka ataka ataka ataka
Ohhhhh ****"
Well, like “Pappy” Boyington said, “Scratch a hero, and you will find a bum,”
I see someone else following the modern trend of knocking the people to whom they owe a lot .
Not clever . Best not done , Ross .
Mike Brit
I find this topic disarming
I met Douglas Bader when he visited the squadron in Sek Kong .
He walked down the line of fighters smoking his pipe . When he got to the one I was working on , I asked him to put his pipe out (regulations). The C-in-C said “Didn’t you know this is Douglas Bader ?” so I said “Yes , but the aircraft doesn’t” . Bader apologised and put his pipe away . He was in the habit of leading his squadron with his pipe blowing sparks . So he thought it harmless , I didn’t . Anyway , he slapped me on the shoulder and said “quite right young man, quite right” . The C-in-c had my name taken but I heard no more about it .
Bader’s reputation of being a right bastard was equalled by Guy Gibson’s (Dam Buster Leader).
When I got told this , I asked “what did they do to you then ?” and was told the ratbags had given them 7 days jankers for indiscipline . So why were they bastards for handing out normal punishment ?
Ginger Lacey was an Air Traffic Controller at Topcliffe when I was there ; he flew with Bader and didn’t have a bad word to say about him except that as Sergeant Lacey he shot down more a/c than Bader . Bader could not have an NCO beating him so made him an officer . Snobbery I suppose .
Mike Brit