spike7451

Gentlemen, Please join me in paying respect to a true hero,one who we owe dearly. RIP Sir. SHOT DOWN FIVE TIMES, A PRISONER OF THE NAZIS, THE AMAZING LIFE OF A TRUE BRITISH HERO link BY TINA ROWE T.ROWE@BEPP.CO.UK 08:00 - 04 May 2007 As an RAF Spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain, Sergeant Pilot Iain Hutchinson was shot down five times, had to bail out twice, and destroyed at least three, and possibly six, enemy aircraft. During those terrible six weeks in the summer of 1940 an RAF pilot could expect to survive no more than 87 hours in the air, as Britain fought for its life against a German airforce that outnumbered the RAF by 4-1. But through skill, and luck, the young pilot beat the odds, even managing to bail out when his plane was shot down in flames following an action over south west London. He survived to fly reconnaissance missions over Norway, before being shot down again and spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft III, the prisoner of war camp famous for the Great Escape. Now, nearly 67 years later, Mr Hutchinson - retired Squadron Leader, and one of the last remaining links with the historic battle - has died, aged 88, at Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester. He died on the day and to the hour that the restored Battle of Britain Memorial Flight of a Lancaster bomber accompanied by a Hurricane and Spitfire took to the skies over London once again. Family and friends will gather in his home village of Charminster, near Dorchester, next Tuesday to celebrate his life. His funeral service will take place at 2.30pm at St Mary's Church. Speaking of his extraordinary escape when he was shot down in flames on September 30, 1940, he said: "Flames were coming out of the plane and I was being frizzled. The next thing I knew, I was floating free in the air. I couldn't see very well because my face had been burned. I pulled my ripcord - my parachute was there - but it was rather late and I hit the ground with a thud." He was treated for burns at RAF Hospital Uxbridge, where he was one of the last to receive tannic acid treatment. "The acid produced great scabs that covered my face and legs while the whites of my eyes turned red," he added. Born in Glasgow in 1918, Mr Hutchinson joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in May 1938 and, when war was declared in September 1939, was sent for advanced pilot training. He joined 222 Squadron at Duxford, initially flying Blenheim Mk 1s, and then, from May 1940, flying his beloved Spitfire ZD-W, he took part in defensive patrols over Dunkirk. In July the squadron moved to Hornchurch and into the thick of the battle. He recalled: "When we were moved south we had a lot to learn. On our first sortie we lost half the squadron." His official score for the Battle was three Messerschmidt 109s confirmed destroyed, one Heinkel 111, one Messerschmidt 109 and one Messerschmidt 110 probably destroyed, and one 109 damaged. He shot down German ace Oberleutenant Eckhardt Priebe, who survived and the pair were reunited at an 80th birthday lunch at the RAF Club in 1998. When finally captured by the Luftwaffe in Norway, an officer greeted Mr Hutchinson in perfect English with the words: "We've been waiting for you for a while and I'm afraid our coffee is cold but have some schnapps instead." Mr Hutchinson moved to Dorset because of his work for the Atomic Energy Authority at Winfrith. He specialised in site monitoring and inspection and was later seconded to the International Energy Agency in Vienna. He returned to Charminster on his retirement in 1982 and was active in the community and church life. A supporter of the Battle of Britain Association, his family say he was privileged to be counted "one of the few". Rest In Peace Sir, And thank you

Some bloke here in the UK bought a SHAR for £10K last month.Has it in his back yard! (bet his missus is pleased with that parked on her rockerey)

The RAF used two types of SNEB pods.Identical in evert way,just the internal gubbins was different.The only way to tell the difference was one was silver & the other green.

I seem to remember that the RAF TER's only carried 2x bombs per TER.Check out that link in resources to thunder & lightnings.Some excellent reference foto's there of the Toom! Merv

It is still in RAF service I believe.Used on Harriers & Jaguars.

Found this little gem today.Thought I'd share just in case... Thunder & Lightning

You see just that.The back plate is set back & a metalic gold colour.I think the are little wires or prongs there to hold the missiles in the tubes.The's also a little panel on the to at the back to set the firing sequence (salvo or ripple fire & for only part loads.You could tell when a pod had been fired from the holes in the frangible nose cap.I think it's 18 missiles.

This is all I could find on my PC.Lost a lot when my pc went tits up the other week. I have some photo's in a book I'll scan later. This pod does'nt have the frangible nose cover fitted,which is a sort of Bakalite Brown.This is fitted on first & then the black nose is put on & tightned with 4 screws. (Been over 15 years since I touched a SNEB pod) Merv

Well Bill..... I don t have a credit/debit card (new bank account) so..... If you'll bung me one if the back office (no smuty jokes Skii!) I'll send you a P/O whe the time arrives. Please...

Leave it with my.I think I may have some somewhere.

Recieved this from Hannants in my E-Mail.As someone was asking about it last week or so,I thought you'd like to see their official line, Merv "Message. Airfix Nimrod's. The only orders we have cancelled for this kit are the ones we have been asked to cancel. If you ordered this from us and have not cancelled it then it is still on order with us We will send it as soon as we receive it. We expect it towards the end of the year."

Welcome to the site. I'm a ex-RAF Tornado Armourer stationed at RAF Bruggen in Germany from 1987 to 1992. I posted loads of Tornado pics inc nose art from Granby & Telic in the resources thread.Skii made it a sticky.If you need anything,PM me & I'll see what I have. HOWEVER......I take it you make decals right? How about making the markings for the jet in my Sig block & the Pic below in 1/48? I'd love to do a 17F Sqn (The BEST Tornado Squadron in the RAF bar NONE!!!

Thought you might be interested in this article from the MoD Oracle; MOD Oracle

Found this,a short promo video to mark the USAF's 60th Anniversary celebratons. HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.... Murph,get the beers in! USAF 60th Video

The was once as when they came out,a few sets were sent to the Squadron & I got a set.But the wings on the one in my sig block are wrong.They were panelled white with black zig-zags from the leading edge to the flaps. like this;

How about we scan the painting guides from the models we make & post them in a reference section? Just a idea.

Very nice job indeed! The photo looks so real I'm imagining being back on the Squadron...

You've probably flown over my Gaff then on the way from Aldergrove to England.

I think it's what you have.The demarcation line on the intakes is level with the demarcation line following in line from the under wing line ,breaking along the first line under the wing. (Huh??)

Nice job there! btw,Wheel Wells are normally the same color as the landing gear,light grey.

How low can you go..... it says French but the nose looks like a RAF GR-3.

Mark my words.It's only going to be a matter of time before someone model's a RAF F-16 from the film Independance Day. I can feel it in me water.....

OK,Who bought the party pooper to Mike & Skii's party? I mean this is a BRITSH modelling site! I mean it's only been open a week or two & someone (Not naming names here) has already tarnished this glorious BRITISH modelling website by posting blasphemous images of those unspeakably dull & boring *_**'s! I mean come on,what's next? A topic about a *-** ****** !!!

Nice job John, Mine's not gonna come out as good as you're.(Buggered up the painting,useing Tamiya Acrylics & something went funny with the paint & it 'crazed' AND my moggie decided to have a scratch near my workbench & had nice raised cat hairs!) But doing mine in my old Squadrons colours,17f, with a black fin & spine.

Jake, As the Glasweigens say "Yoor cruusin forr a bruusin" with blashphemous talk like that!