Puzzle Corner Hi Kyt, Yes it is an Astro Globe, but it had a special WWII significance. Next. Cheers Keith
Puzzle Corner No replies yet ? It concerns the most extensive stretches of sandy beaches in the world. I'll pop in an answer tomorrow and it has nothing to do with the date. Then it's nomination time ! Cheers Keith
This has driven me mad - so many beaches on which actions occured, and yet I can't figure a connection
Puzzle Corner OK, It seems that there will not be a correct answer, plus tomorrow being the 1st April, I'll post the answer tonight. The Astro Globe was the emblem taken, aptly, by Lt.Col. Vladimir Peniakoff D.S.O. M.C. to be the cap badge of his Dessert Recce Group, known as " Popski's Private Army". See my post in Biographies under Lt.Col. Vladinir Peniakoff D.S.O. M.C. I nominate Adrian because he was the first on the list of members I recognised. Cheers Keith
Identify this father and son, both fighter pilots. I was going to post this sad but moving story as a thread in its own right, copying the link from theaerodrome.com. But for the quiz I've removed the names and details of nationality etc.- but there are still some hints! The father was born in 1895. During 1918, as a fighter pilot he scored six victories, making him an ace. In WW2, he re-enlisted as a [Squadron Leader - or equivalent rank]. He was promoted to [Wing Commander or equivalent] in late 1942 or early 1943, and became Chief of Staff to [a well-known Air Service commander] Among the personnel who crossed paths with him was his son, ****, who, by 1944, had finished his training as a fighter pilot. The younger **** was assigned - whether with or without his father's help is unknown - to the ****of the elite ****. At Christmas in 1944, father and son met for dinner in ****. Though details are sketchy, the father later told family members that the pair wound up the evening sitting on the front steps of a hotel singing "Silent Night". On New Year's Eve, 1944, the son was killed. His patrol engaged seven **** in an action during which his plane was hit by fire from one of his fellow pilots, a not uncommon occurrence in a dogfight. He bailed out but was too close to the ground to allow his parachute to open. The Father was visiting the *****base in **** on the day his son was killed. An officer of the **** in an interview, recalls telling **** as the group's pilots called him, of the younger ****'s death. "He cried, and then he asked to have the pilot who'd shot him down sent to see him. He told him, 'Son, whatever you do, don't blame yourself for what happened, and don't accept any blame.'" Only a father who had experienced the murderous chaos of a dogfight could have said those words. The father died in 1970
Puzzle Corner Hi Adrian, Haven't had a chance to do much delving, but using four stars seemed to signify to me that it might have been Keith Park, Dowding's right hand man, then I remembered he was knighted and was promoted to A.M. Will try more research areas, when I have sorted this beast of a computer out. Doing a complete format and rebuild, due to its lethargic attitude. :frusty: Cheers Keith
What? You're a ww2 vet,how cool is that(very cool). hey, did you shoot down any Germans bombers and fighters?
This is the quiz section, Heidi. Spidge answered the last question correctly so it's his turn, therefore...:becky: No apology just answer Spidge's question.
Sorry Heidi, I should have said here is the next quiz question! AVM is an Air Vice Marshall in the Air Force.
Spidge Do you mean the Atcherly brothers, David and Richard? Trouble is, they were twins and I'm not sure which was the eldest. Otherwise, there was Sir John Babington, and his younger brother Philip. But they became Air Marshals, not merely Air Vice Marshals. Marshal has one "l" by the way! Adrian
OK guys, this has had the required time limit. I believe that Adrian was correct in his answer so it is his go next. However, until he is on later, here is a quicky to pass the time. Q: During Operation Market Garden a female parachuted in with the troops at Arnhem. Sadly, she was killed in action. Who was she?
