Scotland 1940

[Olderndirt]

Many's the wartime trip over this bridge - I'd've been two at the time of this screen. My gandps told me of watching Turnhouse Spits attacking Luftwaffe bombers trying to hit the bridge.

[Ian Warren]

The Firth of Forth , very i have a recon the photo Germany Luftwaffe , i,m very sure it was pre strike but also may have post , hell off am impressive bridge , Great Screen Dave

[Samdaman]

Are you sure thats not real? great screenshot

[brad63]

That is one awesome screenie. Well done

[connor]

Wow, what a combination!

[steelsporran]

QUOTE (Olderndirt @ Jul 30 2011,2:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Many's the wartime trip over this bridge - I'd've been two at the time of this screen. My gandps told me of watching Turnhouse Spits attacking Luftwaffe bombers trying to hit the bridge.

Very nice shot looking south. Been over it a few times myself, cost me a fortune throwing pennies!

The Luftwaffe were actually attacking the adjacent Rosyth naval base and a spit of 602 sqn shot down the first enemy plane of the war. Read this.

[Rotordude]

AWESOME!!!

[Ian Warren]

Thanks Steel , have many great combat readings here , the German aircrew first contact with Spitfire .

[SgtPepper]

Great screan!

Good little history lesson too, cheers.

[Olderndirt]

QUOTE (steelsporran @ Jul 29 2011,9:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Very nice shot looking south. Been over it a few times myself, cost me a fortune throwing pennies!

The Luftwaffe were actually attacking the adjacent Rosyth naval base and a spit of 602 sqn shot down the first enemy plane of the war. Read this.

My 'out the window' contributions were never more than a halfpenny, sometimes just a farthing. Just lowering the window with that leather strap was pure excitement. When I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle in Inverkeithing, I could ride my bike to Rosyth and see some of the ships.

[steelsporran]

It would have been cheaper if we'd kept the window shut 

We also would have avoided a cinder in the eye. Most times the copper hit the girders, I wonder how much there is out there, why did we do it? 

[Olderndirt]

QUOTE (steelsporran @ Jul 30 2011,4:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It would have been cheaper if we'd kept the window shut 

We also would have avoided a cinder in the eye. Most times the copper hit the girders, I wonder how much there is out there, why did we do it? 

For luck - it worked. 2011 and we're on this forum still blethering away.

[Ian Warren]

I can't understand how they missed a target like that during WWII , there was something about the bridge 10 days on news , photos off construction , missed the lead story .

[Bugdani]

Good idea.

[bruce448]

I used to live in South Queensferry for nearly 10 years, the sight of the bridges evryday going to school, what do you expect with the name Bruce.

Cracking shots Dave



Bruce

[bruce448]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Jul 31 2011,5:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can't understand how they missed a target like that during WWII , there was something about the bridge 10 days on news , photos off construction , missed the lead story .

All down the River Forth are/were Anti aircraft fortresses both sides of the river and on the Islands in the middle aswell as picket ships sitting outside the river estuary

Inchmickery

Crammond

Inchgarvie

plus as stated Turnhouse (Edinburgh Airport) you also had HMS Condor (Arbroath), HMS Jackdaw II (Crail) and also RAF East Fortune.

Bruce

[steelsporran]

Also it wouldn't have been strategic enough, Ian. Trains could detour via Falkirk and Stirling.

[Ian Warren]

Extract from the book 'Spitfire at War' -
Horst von Riesen who,as a young Leutnant found confronted by Spitfires on the first day the new British fighter engaged the enemy : October 16th 1939

both 602 and 603 took off for the intercept the small force attacking shipping , Spitfire pilots identified attacker as He111s were they were actually Ju88s

[Olderndirt]

QUOTE (bruce448 @ Jul 31 2011,9:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I used to live in South Queensferry for nearly 10 years, the sight of the bridges evryday going to school, what do you expect with the name Bruce.

Cracking shots Dave



Bruce

Bruce - My Aunt and Uncle Ella and Charlie Wilson lived in South Queensferry. They had one of those little prefabs out on the Hopetoun Road, across from a little park with swings and such. Charlie worked for the butcher shop on the west end of the main street, at the bottom of the hill. Spent summers out there between '47 and '52 - swam in the old harbor, watched them climb the greasy pole and rode with Charlie in his butcher van - out to Hopetoun House and the Dundas Castle estates. My grandparents worked for Lord Dundas before the war. In my day, there was only the one bridge. Crossing the road bridge, that first time, was quite an experience.

[bruce448]

QUOTE (Olderndirt @ Aug 1 2011,1:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bruce - My Aunt and Uncle Ella and Charlie Wilson lived in South Queensferry. They had one of those little prefabs out on the Hopetoun Road, across from a little park with swings and such. Charlie worked for the butcher shop on the west end of the main street, at the bottom of the hill. Spent summers out there between '47 and '52 - swam in the old harbor, watched them climb the greasy pole and rode with Charlie in his butcher van - out to Hopetoun House and the Dundas Castle estates. My grandparents worked for Lord Dundas before the war. In my day, there was only the one bridge. Crossing the road bridge, that first time, was quite an experience.

Dave what a small world, I used to be a Ghillie on the Hopetoun Estate until I joined the Marines (Royal of course where I put my poaching skills to better use and lived on the Loan about 100 yards from your uncles butcher shop.

Bruce