VE Day - 75 years on

Danny M - if you haven't already, I would highly recommend doing some research on the role of Polish airmen during WW2, particularly the pilots of 303 Squadron. Quite inspirational and eye-opening for the recorded fact that the highest scoring fighter Squadron in the Battle of Britain was, by far, 303. They were exceptional pilots, highly motivated and individualistic. They ignored the RAF's gunnery tactics of firing at 400 yards range, instead, closing to the highly dangerous, but more successful, 100 yds before opening fire. Their role as a major factor in winning the battle of air supremacy was given the most disgraceful treatment at war's end with Churchill giving way to Stalin's demands on Poland's future. Ther was NO Polish contingent allowed in the Victory parade and their sacrifices on our, and their, behalf have been almost entirely ignored.

rgds

Bill

None of mine ever spoke about it, except once

I changed channel and hit a war film by accident which we had to avoid watching when grandad2 was there

"see that gun son, that'll cut your mates in half"

I had to do a bit of googling to find the places mentioned In that entry because many of the places are now renamed, it looked a long day with about 2750 miles and 17 hours flying, comparing with other entries for that trip they had stopovers so I wonder if he missed some dates from the entry. Racecourse was a temporary airfield in Columbo Ceylon or Sri Lanka for the youngsters.

Mike

Edited By Mike Poole on 08/05/2020 23:00:11

I was born in 47. Playing in the bomb sites was great fun until Dad pointed out that a bomb site had been someone's house. I remember going into a big shop in the centre of Southampton, with Mum. It must have been around Festival of Britain time (1951 ish??) as there were flags and bunting all over the place. My main memory is of the large hole in the roof, and floor where according to Mum a bomb landed... still covered in tarpaulins.

Neill, my Dad who was an Engine Fitter in the RAF, made a small Spitfire out of two pennies and a halfpenny, I still have it on the mantelpiece. Mum used to say that he had a guardian angel looking after him. The first time was being attached to the BEF in 39/40. His transfer to a squadron was cancelled at the last moment, the ground crew of "his" squadron spent the war in a POW camp. He nearly had to go to either North Africa or India, but that was cancelled because of ill health. Finally his squadron was scheduled for Tiger Force, but that was cancelled when the A bomb was dropped.

Bill

I saw the Queen's VE Day speech today and found it very inspirational and uplifting.

This speech shall go down in the history books.

I grabbed a copy from YouTube Queen's VE Day Speech 2020 using this handy tool 4K Video Downloader

Cornish Jack, I already have researched my late father's service records. I agree it was disgraceful that their service to Britain was not recognised due to politics.

Time to move on

* Danny M *

"Sadly there some individuals that are so bigoted that listening to what they say you could be forgiven for thinking that conflict had never ended."

For some it never did Brian.

Sheet metal shop manager was one of the construction "Gang" on the NBR and Never forgave the Japanese, and wasn't bigotry. Caused a bit of consternation when one of the lads was looking at buying a Yamaha Cornet, He was player in the Black Dyke Mills Band.

Regards Ian.

Edited By Circlip on 09/05/2020 10:08:52

267 Sqdn Transport Command 1942, North Africa, aerodrome being strafed by Luftwaffe.

The young corporal Hancock ( my Dad ) tries to jump out of the slit trench with an extinguisher to put out a petrol bowser on fire. A big hand grabs his belt and pulls him back in the trench, " Let it burn, there's plenty of that". Closest he ever came to being a hero, he says.