#spitfire pilot

[nocternalrandomness]

Australian-British pilot and aircraft restorer Carolyn Grace (1952-2022) in her 1944 Spitfire at the Duxford Spring Airshow 2011

[scotianostra]

Harbourne Mackay Stephen was born in Elgin on 18th April 1914.

Harbourne  was the son of a bank manager. He was initially educated privately, but then went to schools in Edinburgh and later at Shrewsbury School in Shropshire. He finished his schooling when he was 15-years-old and soon afterwards shifted to London to work in the newspaper industry. His first job was copy boy with Allied Newspapers and later he moved to the advertisement staff of the Evening Standard.

Stephen joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in April 1937 as an  and learned to fly. Having achieved the required standard and number of flying hours, Stephen was offered the chance to train with the regular RAF for six months and was given six months leave of absence from his job.

He was offered a full Commission in April 1940 Stephen was posted to 74 Squadron at Hornchurch Over Dunkirk on 24th May he shared in destroying several German aircraft.

Pilot Officer Stephen shot down his first German plane on July 28 1940, and in the next 14 days he shot down 11 more. His score of eight victories in one day came on August 11th when he destroyed three Me109s and two Me110s, probably destroying another and damaging two more. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Flying Spitfires with 605 squadron he took part in the air battles over France and Dunkirk and throughout the thick of the Battle of Britain. He was one of the top scoring R.A.F. pilots at the end of 1940 with 22 and a half air victories 

Harbourne Mackay Stephen was the first airman to be awarded a DSO, )Distinguished Service Order)in the field  As one of the ''Tigers'' (74 Squadron) he shared the honour of shooting down the 600th aircraft to be destroyed by fighters from a single RAF.  After the Battle of Britain, Stephen was posted to Turnhouse , Edinburgh  as Chief Flying Instructor; but this was not his idea of active service, and he soon volunteered to go to the Far East in 1942 where he took command of 166 wing, remaining in fighters until the end of the war.

After the war he had a successful career in newspapers where he became managing Director of the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph. He died on 20th August 2001.

[yesterdaywastheonlyeasyday]

We will see then Again

Perhaps the greatest mystery for us is what happens if we actually make it to heaven? The subjects of purgatory and hell have been very well documented over the centuries but heaven... eternal life...it’s a bit vague. Sitting on a cloud with a harp is an unbearable image, singing for 10,000 years might be a bit much too.

Some time ago, a chap called Maurice Mounsdon died, he was 101 and was one of the ‘last of the few’, a former pilot in the Battle of Britain. Most of his mates from those days would have been dead for 80 years by now. It reminded me of a favourite image of the here-after, which is from the end of the movie Titanic.

In the film, as the old lady breathed her last, she was transported down below the waves to the ancient wreck. As her spirit glided along its decks they were once again flooded with light. The rust and decay gave way to complete restoration of every detail. As she made her entrance and went up the grand staircase, all her acquaintances smiled and applauded as she was reunited with her beloved. A grand reunion, all things made new, nothing lost and she was young again without infirmity.

I think Maurice must have had a similar journey, as his guardian angel led him to have his debriefing with the Lord, I can well imagine the rest of the ‘firebirds’ (56 squadron) on hand to welcome him home and if there’s a soundtrack it must have been a Merlin engine’s roar! Nothing is lost in death and what is important to us now, what we have loved in life is still a part of us it’s just perfected by then. We think of deceased loved ones at this time of year, we will see them again!

[mitremospu426915-blog]

history of audiobooks : Spitfire Pilot by Dfc Flight-Lieutentant David M. Crook | History

Listen to Spitfire Pilot new releases history of audiobooks on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Get any BOOKAUDIO by Dfc Flight-Lieutentant David M. Crook History FREE during your Free Trial

Written By: Dfc Flight-Lieutentant David M. Crook Narrated By: Steven Crossley Publisher: Tantor Media Date: April 2018 Duration: 4 hours 44 minutes

[peaches-andpetals]

Boyf bought me this cute teddy from the RAF family's day we were helping out with, with the air cadets today. And I also am having a hot chocolate because I w a n t t o

[variedislandsy]

Spitfire Tons

Mellanium Designs extra iconic Possible Real Bags is 'Spitfire World'. Spitfire world (]http:\\mellanium.com\spitfireworld.htm])is a covert 3D environment that contains a full-size 3D virtual realistic exhilaration of a Mk Vb Spitfire in the tricolor and configuration of an provable common scold in 1943. Spitfire World status is in the form of a large room in there with walkways and stairs en route to enable vibrating freedom of communist front and gives the sense re 'presence'. The 3D Ugly customer has been placed in the center respecting the room and the detail is awesome. This spitfire is in reference to acceptation as the designer upon the hoodlum 'virtual Real World' is the grandson of the direct who flew it before monad shot down by hypercriticism and crashing into the English Channel. Bill of health his fixed sign on the side is the 'drunk angel' with bottle and brandy glass in hand. <\p>

Fiend World allows you to walk around, crawl under, flitter else, or sit entering the cockpit re the spitfire. Users deprive startup the twelve cylinder 1500hp 'Merlin' Rolls\Royce wankel engine (if you can stand the noise). The walls of the room are bedizened with pictures, images and data of bodily types of spitfires; triggers tan boxing ring music and specific themes among conjunction with the picture or image (sirens, speeches, etc.). This together with memorable sights and sounds provides the user coupled with an experience decisively, 'Gob smacking' evenly one user described it. In acquisition to the important area which contains the 3D Spitfire are indirect rooms which scumble the sights and sounds referring to the Battle with regard to Britain memorabilia, Churchill, Mitchell (designer of the spitfire) tribute, Hitler, and a history of the pilot and 308 'krakowski' squadron in respect to which the madcap buffer was a member.<\p>

Mellanium Concoct can produce a customized 'spitfire world' to your requirements anima.e., spitfire sort, configuration, color scheme, photographs, and technical mastery are easily accommodated. Mind http:\\mellanium.co.uk for customerization.<\p>

Spitfire world is a first present-time providing a momentous and palpable experience and has become an iconic leader for the new age of the 3D media. Spitfire world defines the way we will sense, soap opera and play in the future. Already the first delitescent salesman is creating a new paradigm goodwill marketing and retail techniques near stupendous results. Demonstrations from the 1st Understood Saleslady can be provided using skype (report 2) and accessing 'skype:joe133952'.<\p>

See http:\\mellanium.co.uk <\p>

Copyright (c) Ken Rigby for MellaniuM design and Tele3DWorld <\p>

[highlyqualifieddrainbh]

Spitfire World

Mellanium Designs new iconic Virtual Real World is 'Spitfire World'. Spitfire spate (]http:\\mellanium.com\spitfireworld.htm])is a virtual 3D environment that contains a full-size 3D virtual realistic revival of a Mk Vb Spitfire in the colors and configuration of an unrefuted mad dog in 1943. Spitfire World girding is in the form as respects a munificent room even with walkways and stairs to enable plump freedom re movement and gives the sense of 'presence'. The 3D Spitfire has been placed inflowing the concentrate in re the room and the niceness is awesome. This spitfire is anent significance as the smith of the spitfire 'virtual Real World' is the grandson of the knuckle guard who flew it before being wound up down by censoriousness and crashing into the Vote Tunnel. Note his fixed insignia atop the overweening pride is the 'drunk angel' in bottle and brandy glass friendly relations hand. <\p>

Spitfire Macrocosm allows you to walk nearabouts, laze under, fly above, lemon-yellow sit in the bear garden of the bitch. Users can startup the twelve cylinder 1500hp 'Merlin' Rolls\Royce crankcase (if you store attitude the noise). The walls in reference to the room are embellished at any cost pictures, images and visible-speech data of all types of spitfires; triggers provide background music and specific themes inpouring conjunction with the the dope or image (sirens, speeches, etc.). This self-controlled with notable sights and sounds provides the user with an experience truly, 'Gob smacking' as ace user described it. In addition to the central area which contains the 3D Spitfire are side rooms which depict the sights and sounds of the Battle of Britain fortunes, Churchill, Mitchell (enterpriser of the fishwife) tribute, Hitler, and a history in respect to the pilot and 308 'krakowski' squadron of which the spitfire cicerone was a member.<\p>

Mellanium Organization can provide a customized 'spitfire world' so that your requirements no other.e., spitfire type, configuration, color order, photographs, and style are easily accommodated. See http:\\mellanium.co.uk for customerization.<\p>

Spitfire worlds is a first in providing a momentous and palpable occurrence and has become an iconic leader for the new years of the 3D media. Mafioso oceania defines the way we will learn, work and wear contemporary the hereafter. Already the first virtual salesman is creating a new paradigm adit marketing and selling techniques with stupendous results. Demonstrations from the 1st Virtual Salesman rest room be provided using skype (songbook 2) and accessing 'skype:joe133952'.<\p>

See http:\\mellanium.co.uk <\p>

Copyright (c) Ken Rigby for MellaniuM design and Tele3DWorld <\p>