A Four Star Conversation
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A conversation with Sir Richard Johns KCB KCVO CBE and retired Chief of the Air Force about his love of military history.
Images by NickAndersonPhoto.co.uk
Gone for a Burton
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An explanation of some of the strange terms that we bandy about in aviation.
Image under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Raff.
In Flanders Fields
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The poppies were some of the first flowers to grow over the churned battlefields and freshly turned earth of war graves during the First World War and on 3 May 1915 they inspired the Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae after witnessing the death of his friend and fellow soldier the day before, to write the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae.
McCrae’s poem, In Flanders Fields.
The funeral of Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae who was buried with full military honours.
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to King W. L, MarnixR and the Guelph Museums.
He Flies East, Flies North, Flies West, Flies Undone!
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W E Johns wasn’t just a brave World War 1 pilot who survived being shot down over enemy territory but after the war he became an author who inspired generations of young people to become pilots. Under the pen name of Captain W E Johns he wrote over a hundred adventure books featuring a fearless pilot and his trusty crew. This is the story of Biggles and his creator!
Biggles fought in two world wars and several campaigns!
Like his author, he started off flying in WW1.
Perhaps his greatest success was on the radio in Australia!
Translated into many languages Biggles had world wide appeal except for the USA where he was thought to be too British!
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to those kind enough to supply them to Wikipedia and Wiki.
Here We Go, Hold ‘em Cowboy!
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The tragic story of Southern Airways flight 242, a DC9 that lost both engines flying through severe weather and then performed a dead stick landing onto a road in New Hope with tragic consequences for both those onboard and those on the ground.
The approximate ground track of the stricken aircraft.
The accident aircraft.
Aircraft wreckage amongst the houses of New Hope.
Images used through Creative Commons licence with thanks to the NTSB, Crum357 and Clipperartic.
The Wave Scrapers
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Its May 1942 and America has joined the Second World War, committing many of its combat resources to campaigns around the world. On the East coast of America, vital shipping are being sunk by German submarines. The losses had been so terrible that the figures were being withheld from the public and for a few humiliating weeks, all coastal vessels were ordered to stay in harbour until convoys could be organised. The stage was set for the creation of the Civil Air Patrol.
Two Oregon Wing CAP members walk towards their aircraft during a training exercise.
A Civil Air Patrol air search and rescue pilot.
Images displayed under Creative Commons licence with thanks to the US Gov, Fry1989, the CAP and U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey.
