RAF Biggin Hill

[Doodledoo]

Hi all,

A few months back there was a discussion on the Wings of Victory pages about the Spitfire and Hurricane that sit outside the RAF chapel at Biggin Hill and how they were 'models' of the real thing.

Well a couple of months ago these model aircraft were removed, the local rag said that they were model planes that came from a movie set and that they were made from plywood and fibreglass/perspex. Being left out in the elelments they were rotting quite badly and were finally scrapped.

Now the good news, being a proud resident of Biggin Hill I can report in that the two new arrivals have been installed and take pride of place outside the chapel just in time for the International Airfair this coming weekend. These planes ARE the real McCoy this time, actual planes that flew in WW2 and they look fantastic.

The Spitfire will be based on the aircraft flown by Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC and will be from 92 Squadron, the highest scoring squadron in Fighter Command but also the squadron who suffered the most losses, 33 of their 92 pilots died whilst flying out of Biggin Hill. The Spitfire will be marked. After the war Geoffrey Wellum became a test pilot and an instructor.

The Hurricane will be based on one from 32 Squadron and will be one flown by Air Commodore Pete Brothers CBE DSO DFC and Bar. Pete Brothers died in 2009 at the age of 90.

The full story can be read by following this link...http://www.guide2bromley.com/news/101/B ... -Guardians

And.....http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/45938 ... guardians/

Best regards,

Doodle

[Killratio]

Thanks for the heads up.


An interview with Sqn Ldr Wellum is here:

http://www.secondworldwarforum.com/my-o ... ey-wellum/

[Lewis - A2A]

Great stuff

I still need to get Scott across the pond so I can take him on a good day out around the real history sites and sniff in that proper good no nonsense english air, atmosphere and history.

[Doodledoo]

Hi,

Scott would love our airfields and museums, even to take in the International Air Fair which is this weekend, the planes are rehearsing their displays over my house as I type this and it really sets the scene and atmosphere for the whole weekend. Last years highlight was the flypast of the recently rebuilt Vulcan bomber, boy that was something else, but my favourites are always the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight of the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane, it sends shivers down your spine to watch and to hear those Rolls Royce Merlins roaring overhead. And do you know what? It makes me feel so very proud to be English.

Doodle

[svaughn01]

Any B17's ? They have to have a B17

[Doodledoo]

The Flying Fortress, yes the fully flying 'Sally B' has just flown in, she's now parked up on the airfield. She does both the static display and an aerial display. It always amazes me how quiet her engines sound for such a big plane.

Again that is another sight to see, the B17 escorted by two P51 Mustangs.

Doodle

[swarovski]

We were hoping the Sally-B would be at the Bentwaters airshow the other day but apparently she was socked in by weather in Holland or Denmark somewhere.
Next day in my house I hear engines overhead, grabbed the camera and ran outside, and there she was, flew right over my village on the way back to Duxford.

Made my day.

[Doodledoo]

Fantastic! You just know it's her cos those engines just purr!

I just went to pick my daughters up and drove past the airfield and there she was parked up right by the perimeter fence, lovely sight.

There has been plenty of aerial activity today with pilots practising their parts in the show, there is such a wonderful 'buzz' up here this time of year and I love it.

Here in the UK we have a program called 'Most Haunted', I wonder if they would ever visit Biggin Hill and its outbuildings to do a 24 hour vigil, that would be amazing!

[philip.ed]

The old ones were scrapped! I'd have had them!

[Doodledoo]

Me too