Triumphrat

Major Kong · 07-01-2008

I've got to say that that whole generation were really at a nexus of history. They had the agrairian roots that said, "I can figure out how to do this." They were also at the birth of so much new technology.

I've known a few aged aviators in my profession. They are always an inspiration. Like Saint-Exupery said, "What they have done, I can do."

BTW, Charles Lindberg owned and rode his Excelsior to college.

Hidesert, glider flying is cheap and fun. You should try it sometime.

Zip

mike T150 · 07-02-2008

Many years ago when I had just reached my teenage years my father took me to his place of work. He worked for Fairey's Aviation who were based at RAF White Waltham at Maidenhead Berkshire. This was a magical place full of aircraft both old and new I even got to get aboard a few. I got chatting to an old fellow who introduced himself as "Old Dogsbody" He told me lots of stories of flying and how great it was to be up there in the sky. On the way home that night my father asked me what "Old Dogsbody" was talking about and did I know who he was. Of course I didn't and my father didn't say. I found out years later when he passed away in 1982 it was Sir Douglas Bader.

tccox · 07-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike T150

Many years ago when I had just reached my teenage years my father took me to his place of work. He worked for Fairey's Aviation who were based at RAF White Waltham at Maidenhead Berkshire. This was a magical place full of aircraft both old and new I even got to get aboard a few. I got chatting to an old fellow who introduced himself as "Old Dogsbody" He told me lots of stories of flying and how great it was to be up there in the sky. On the way home that night my father asked me what "Old Dogsbody" was talking about and did I know who he was. Of course I didn't and my father didn't say. I found out years later when he passed away in 1982 it was Sir Douglas Bader.

Wow,,,,,,,,Douglas Bader has been a hero of mine since I was a wee lad and by chance picked up a book about him in my school library. In case anyones interested Douglas Bader was a double amputee who scored 22 kills flying Hurricanes and Spitfires. A GREAT man and I would have given my right you know what for the chance to meet him.

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

Major Kong · 07-02-2008

Wasn't Doug Bader injured before the war and lost both legs in a Bristol Bulldog? He went on to be an ace and was eventually shot down over France to be captured.

What a life!

jimballard · 07-04-2008

Kong, I believe you are correct. I read "Reach for the Sky", Bader's biography, many years ago and I'm sure it was a Bristol Bulldog that he was flying. After he was shot down and captured, the Germans allowed another "tin leg" to be dropped to him to replace the one he lost in the bailout which had gotten caught in the cockpit as he left the plane. He said it was very convenient to have "detachable legs" in a situation like that. After he got the replacement leg, he tried to escape a few times and the Germans threatened to take his legs away if he didn't stop it! When the Brits dropped the leg, they did it as part of a regular raid and not as a special mission, which the Germans would have allowed, oddly enough. "Stiff upper lip" and all that stuff, I guess.

.......from the endless bounty of useless knowledge: Jim

HiDesert · 07-07-2008

Jim, your knowledge honors their memory and their accomplishments. I don't call that useless.

Smoothlennie · 07-09-2008

mglemans86 - what a fantastic opportunity you and your friend took just a couple of weeks before Capt. Miller passed away. That nursing home certainly took away his will to live it seems and at that age it must be a fine line.

I would also love to have met Sir Douglas Bader.

I am an amateur pilot and defence scientist and have been lucky enough to fly on fighter training missions with our F/A-18 force. I am mightily impressed at anyone who can think tactically in a fluid environment and fight as well as fly.