NZFF

Went over to check on my folks tonight, and when i got there an old friend of my dads was there...92 years old, and as sharp as a tack. Turns out the old chap flew Spitfires with 603 Sqn up in scotland....and was later" loaned" to the USAAF and flew P-51's in europe. I wish i had , had a tape recorder or something ......i got on to the subject of flight sim, and he was aware of combat sim! and X plane! via his great grand sons.....amazing.

Anyway, Im going to see him again, he has photos and other stuff he wants to show me.....these guys are treasures, and so humble....
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I didnt have a lot of time to get into details with him, but did manage to ask..."what was it like to fly the P-51".....response..."a joy"...BUT..."gave you no warning at all of a stall," and he would rather have been in a dog fight over Germany in a spitfire , but the spitfire wouldnt get him home (range)

He told me he almost "cooked" 2 P-51's early on.....evidently the coolant heats up much faster than the oil....so in certain conditions you can have your coolant temps in the red, and the oil below min(same with the spit).......i love all those little things.



When i catch up with him again, I'll ask if i can borrow (to copy) his pics etc........I get all ....i dont know ,......... when i meet these guys, we really owe them a lot......more than a lot.

To be continued

Marty , i recently started a thread , The People , link .. http://nzff.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13850 .. This should be Pinned following your recent meet , not for latest cameras but the old school and memories , the not forgotten !

Ian Warren wrote:

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Feb 14 2011, 11:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Marty , i recently started a thread , The People , link .. http://nzff.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13850 .. This should be Pinned following your recent meet , not for latest cameras but the old school and memories , the not forgotten !

exactly right Ian....all this stuff will just disappear otherwise, as i said, these guys are treasures and should be respected as such.

603 (City of Edinburgh) squadron - thought I recognized that number. My home town from birth through 14, then lookout USA. They were undoubtedly stationed at RAF Turnhouse, now the Edinburgh city airport. I remember in the early post-war years, riding my bike over to watch the first Gloster Meteors taking off and landing. My Grandfather told me of watching the Turnhouse Spits running off some Luftwaffe bombers attempting to bomb the Forth Rail Bridge - all they hit was water.

Olderndirt wrote:

QUOTE (Olderndirt @ Feb 15 2011, 04:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

603 (City of Edinburgh) squadron - thought I recognized that number. My home town from birth through 14, then lookout USA. They were undoubtedly stationed at RAF Turnhouse, now the Edinburgh city airport. I remember in the early post-war years, riding my bike over to watch the first Gloster Meteors taking off and landing. My Grandfather told me of watching the Turnhouse Spits running off some Luftwaffe bombers attempting to bomb the Forth Rail Bridge - all they hit was water.

OD....what a small world....so your a scot...hoots mon,