Actually, I have , Rob. I think it is in #219.
On the 9th February 1944, Flt. Lt. Cox D.F.C. lined his Spitfire up for take off from R.A.F. Hibaldstowe in Lincolnshire. Unbeknown to him, he had W.A.A.F. L.A.C.W. Margaret Horton sat on his tailplane to steady it whilst taxiing.
Consequently Neil Cox and Margaret were soon at 800ft, she clinging on for dear life and him experiencing handling difficulties.
After returning to earth intact, Margaret, revived with a cup of NAAFI tea, returned to her duties and lived on into her 80's. Here's lookin' at you kid
For the RAF's 1948 annual stateside goodwill tour the U.S. Airforce asked if Britain would ship out a squadron of jetfighters.
The RAF decided, instead, to fly out six de Havilland Vampire fighters to make the first Atlantic crossing by jets. The U.S.A.F. hearing of this tried to beat them by flying in the opposite direction.
The Vampires left Stornoway and raced to Labrador in three stages beating the Yanks by one day before going on to fly aerobatic displays through Canada & USA to much acclaim.
In April 1969 the Harrier Jumpjet entered service with the Royal Airforce. This was the worlds first V/STOL aircraft and variants of this remarkable warbird have served for more than forty years with a final out of service date of 2018.
It was created by Hawkers' chief designer Sydney Camm, an engineer, who during his career, designed such notables as the Hurricane, Typhoon and Hunter to name just a few.
The picture shows Sidney Camm.
In explanation the brewers wrote," To blaze a trail for the transportation of livestock by air the Guernsey cow Nellie Jay and cowman Elsworth Bunce were flown over the crowd at the 1930 St. Louis International Air Exposition.
Nellie was the first cow to fly and Elsworth the first person to milk in flight. The milk was then poured into containers and parachuted down to the crowd so that even flying pioneer Charles Lindbergh could drink a glass in celebration.
As a publicity stunt, Elsworth certainly milked it for all it was worth. A truly mooooving experience."
Beautiful Mustang pictures in that video, Karl!
Today's drink honours one of the often forgotten 'crew members' of R.A.F. planes.
About this, the brewery wrote," Early February 1942 saw an R.A.F bomber crew ditching in the freezing North Sea off Norway. Stranded in their dinghy they released a homing pigeon called Winkie, which then flew 129 miles on oil clogged wings to George Ross's loft at Broughty Ferry near Dundee.
George contacted the R.A.F. immediately. Technicians then computed the flying times and wind speeds and were able to pinpoint the crew's position and so effect a successful rescue.
Winkie was awarded the ****en Medal for animal bravery and she was the 1st of 32 pigeons to be similarly honoured during World War II.
Talk about giving you wings."
I did not censor the name of the medal. It happened automatically.
Today a dramatic rescue:
The brewery wrote," Skydiver, Debbie Williams, jumped from 13,500 ft. with a group of others, including Gregory Robertson. Debbie collided with another jumper at 9,000 ft., was knocked out and started a 200m.p.h. drop.
Robertson, realising what had happened, dived after her and caught her up at 3,500 ft. He then righted her and deployed her parachute at 2,000 ft. before deploying his own and landing safely.
Debbie, however, still unconscious, landed badly and was severely injured. Nonetheless, she survived and eventually fully recovered.
Greg dived into the Guinness Book of Records."
A parachuting dog hero.
The brewery wrote," Brian, a German Shepherd/Collie cross was given up for war service by his Loughborough family at the start of WWII. Rechristened 'Brin' he parachuted into Europe with the 6th Airbourne Division and went on patrol with the 13th Battalion.
He had an incredible ability for sensing danger, warning the troops on many occasions of an enemy approach.
Although wounded he remained fearless and saved hundreds of soldier's lives.
After demob he returned to his family and was awarded the P.D.S.A. ****en Medal, the Animal V.C., for services to Britain."
The auto-censor has struck again.
And now I've found the perfect food to go along with that perfect beer:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...-35969778.html
No thanks Sam.
I prefer mine unadulterated in both cases.
Kyte.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
I have heard of pork and cider sausages but never gin and tonic.
Continuing on the parachute theme:
The brewery wrote," Jackie Smith began her skydiving career with the W.R.A.C. before joining the Red Devils free fall display team in 1971. In 1973 she was the first woman to be awarded the coveted Parachute Regiment red beret.
By 1978 she was competing in the World Parachuting Championships in Yugoslavia where she won a gold medal for accuracy by hitting the target dead centre 10 times out of 10, thus earning her a place in the Guinness Book of Records, as the only person, male or female to do so."
Today's drink honours the inventor of radar.
The brewers wrote," In early 1935 Robert Watson-Watt was asked to produce a 'death ray' capable of destroying intruding aircraft.
This he deemed impossible, but on the 25th February 1935 he proved that radio waves could detect incoming aeroplanes and by 1940 a chain of 19 radio towers was in place just in time to play an important part in the Battle of Britain.
It was later proclaimed that radar in all of its forms was fundamental to the Allies winning the war."
Today's drink celebrates the pioneer of cloud seeding.
The brewers wrote," Early 1950 saw New York in crisis. A long drought had left the city with no water, drying reservoirs and even 'Shaveless Fridays'
In desperation, in March the City chiefs hired meteorologist, Dr Wallace Howell to make rain.
His first attempt at cloud seeding by air on 28th March, failed, when his aircraft was grounded, ironically, due to fog. But from thereon he was successful, even creating 'Howells Snow' in April, followed by floods.
Our own Denis Howell (no relation) ended the UK's 1976 drought in days after becoming Minister for Drought only to be re-mustered as Minister for Floods."
Not an aircraft but this was powered by aircraft engines and driven by an R.A.F. pilot.
The brewers wrote." On October 15th 1997, R.A.F. Flight Lt. Andy Green shot to motoring fame by passing the ultimate speed milestone at 759.33 m.p.h. He drove the Thrust Super Sonic Car, powered by two jet fighter engines developing 110,000 horse power, through the sound barrier and into the record books.
This year Wing Commander Green returned to record breaking with the worlds fastest diesel car, the JCB Dieselmax."
Today we remember the Apollo 13 mission.
The brewers wrote,"Apollo 13 was intended to land on the moon, but two days into the mission, on April 14th, an oxygen tank exploded depriving the crew of heat, water & clean air.
Due to a German Measles scare Jack Swigert replaced Ken Mattingley at the last minute, and it was Swigert who broadcast that famous message "Houston, we have a problem!".
Swigert jury-rigged a scrubber from tubing, a box & duct tape, that purified the air and ensured their survival.
Jack, as a high school footballer, had the nickname, "Big Swig". "
Today we learn about the origin of the 'Mayday' distress call.
The brewers wrote," In 1923, Frederick Mockford, senior radio officer at Croydon Airport was asked to find a more suitable distress call than S-O-S because the letter 's' was difficult to hear over a radio or telephone.
As most of the traffic coming into Croydon was from Le Bourget, Paris he anglicised the French phrase m'aider, "help me" into mayday which is now the NATO international distress call. .
Tony Hancock injected humour into it in his programme 'The Radio Ham' with "Mayday Mayday Mayday" - "What's he talking about, that was three weeks ago, it's nearly June"."
A tribute to Howard Hughes unsuccessful plane. The concept of a strategic transport was correct but the materials to build it were not available.http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/the-spruce-goose
All these beers I'll never find to drink
Karl
It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus
Again from the Hopping Brewsters, we have this rare aircraft remembered.
No, it is not a Brewster Buffalo. However, the VL Humo was a Finnish design based on the Buffalo. Only one was ever produced.
It has been restored and may be seen in the Central Finnish Aviation Museum.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VL_Humu
Makes more sense than the Crusader does for a Finnish beer.
Next they need to make something with more body for the Mörkö-Morane
Karl
It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus
Last edited by BobP; 08-26-2017 at 16:04.
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