Messages

1171

Combat Warplanes / Re: RAF Reconnaissance During the 'Cold War'

« on: July 06, 2007, 03:23:22 PM »

I hope it is ok to display these images. They show a RAF reconnaissance unit deployment in Germany, I think it is during the early 80's

The first shot shows the photographers setting up the mobile processing center (the cabins on the backs of the lorries are the very same I took to the Gulf this year).

The second image shows the photo lab after all the netting has been placed over them.

And the last two show the recce aircraft - the Harrier GR3 from No. 4 Sqn. In the last shot you can just see the recce pod under the aircraft.

I was not on this reconnaissance squadron, at this time I was with No.2 Sqn (displayed as II(AC) Sqn), also in Germany.

This image is of one the processing machines within the photo lab cabins, it's called a Type 11 processor, not a great name, but easy to remember.
It was used to process 70mm Tac Recce imagery from the F95 aerial camera. We would process at a speed of approx 140 feet per minute. Great fun when within the film cassette (the large round item at top left of the machine) there could be film from 5 cameras only 20-40 feet long, it lenght of film had to be cut into it's right lengths and then was passed to another part of the lab.

And before anyone ask's, I'm not in the picture, but they are friends of mine. Again I think this was taken around 1980.

1172

Warplane Art / Re: Messerschmitt Bf 109 Drawings

« on: July 06, 2007, 02:31:56 PM »

 

1173

Warplane Art / Re: Messerschmitt Bf 109 Drawings

« on: July 06, 2007, 02:05:46 PM »

Glad to help all you profile artists out there in WWW land 

1174

Combat Warplanes / Re: USAAF & USAF Bombers join for fly pass

« on: July 06, 2007, 01:42:37 PM »

A couple more

1175

Warplane Art / Messerschmitt Bf 109 Drawings

« on: July 06, 2007, 10:15:28 AM »

If anyone is after some Messerschmitt Bf 109 line drawings, have a look here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109

Scroll down to the line drawings on the right-hand side, if you click on them you will get a med-res copy, if you than click on this image, you will get a high-res image

1176

Combat Warplanes / Re: Air Fighting Development Unit

« on: July 06, 2007, 09:37:03 AM »

Thank you Metar for you comments, my first love has always been aircraft of WW2. However, there is one jet that comes close and that is the Canberra.

1177

Combat Warplanes / Re: Air Fighting Development Unit

« on: July 05, 2007, 08:22:48 PM »

Three Spitfires that were under development at Duxford during this period

1178

Combat Warplanes / Re: Air Fighting Development Unit

« on: July 05, 2007, 07:33:06 PM »

Thanks for the information and image 

1179

Combat Warplanes / Re: Air Fighting Development Unit

« on: July 05, 2007, 07:06:32 PM »

Here are the Axis aircraft

Bf 109 (notice the tail, I think it's from a Hurricane)

Bf 109

Ju88

Sorry unknown to me

He 111

Me 110

Again He 111

Another shot of the He 111

I will post the Allied aircraft next

1180

Combat Warplanes / Re: PR9 Canberra on Ops

« on: July 05, 2007, 06:35:12 PM »

Just got this off ebay, I love it

1181

Combat Warplanes / Re: Air Fighting Development Unit

« on: July 05, 2007, 05:27:38 PM »

Results at not known to me, but as to captured aircraft tested, I have a number of photos, among them are Me 110, He 111, another Bf 109. It was not just Luftwaffe aircraft test, Allied aircraft were also sent to Duxford for testing.

I will go through my collection and post the examples I have.

1182

Combat Warplanes / Air Fighting Development Unit

« on: July 05, 2007, 04:52:32 PM »

The Air Fighting Development Unit (AFDU) ,RAF Duxford, who's main functions was to tour RAF and USAAF fields so base personnel could have the chance to view enemy aircraft at close range, for there were many unfortunate cases of aircraft being shot down by friendly fire. These visits gave the fliers an important chance to improve their often poor airplane-recognition skills and try their hands at the controls of enemy aircraft.

The image of the Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/U2 below, were given to me a number years ago my a dear friend, saddly who has now died. His father had been Stationed at Duxford during WW2 and had obtained these photos.

There was a letter with the photo (Now missing) that stated that the Bf 109 was shot down a number of days after these photo were taken, stating the attacking aircraft did not see the RAF markings.

1183

Combat Warplanes / Re: New Serbian markings

« on: July 05, 2007, 08:51:40 AM »

A set of great images 

1184

Warplane Art / Re: Challenge- Sabre

« on: July 05, 2007, 12:14:37 AM »

Drinking beer tutorial

That's one I can easily follow 

1185

Combat Warplanes / Re: Marines attempt daring Apache rescue

« on: July 04, 2007, 02:29:48 PM »

It shows that the Royal Marines like all true military Units around the world do not leave their people behind.