Always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Elie Wiesel. Romanian born Jewish writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, Holocaust survivor. 1928 - 2016.
Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. C.S. Lewis, 1898 - 1963.
There was only 16 squadrons of RAF fighters that used 100 octane during the BoB. The Fw190A could not fly with the outer cannon removed. There was no Fw190A-8s flying with the JGs in 1945.
That was terrific. I've always been fascinated by photo recon units. I have a great book about the 8th Air Force's 7th photo recon group, that he belonged to. "Eyes Of The Eighth." Three squadrons of F-5's (P-38's) and one with Spitfire Mk XI's. Funny thing is, the book makes no mention of the fact that Blyth caught his radio wire on that lever and locked the wheels down. It simply states that his gear wouldn't come down and that this was "a very unusual thing with a very reliable aircraft..." It went on to say that the engineering officers and mechanics all got on the radio to him with various ideas on what the problem might be. As he says, he finally had to belly in because of low fuel. Maybe that film is the first time he's ever admitted that to anybody! Good find. Loved that.
"From our orbital vantage point, we observe an earth without borders, full of peace, beauty and magnificence, and we pray that humanity as a whole can imagine a borderless world as we see it, and strive to live as one in peace." Astronaut William C. McCool RIP, January 29, 2003 - Space Shuttle Columbia
That was AWESOME! What's really amazing is his recall so many years later. Places, names, people, dates... Even atmospheric conditions. Amazing. I have trouble remembering the names of a lot of the guys I served with, but I have always been really bad with names. This guys mind is like an iron trap... And his balls are made of brass.
Thanks for sharing!
-Skater
"As Iron Sharpens Iron, so does a friend sharpen a friend." Proverbs 27:17 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28 Never, ever, underestimate the ability of people to discount Occam's Razor. - Dart "I don't want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub." - Grover Norquist