"Where are you, you barstewards!!!!!" My voice rings loud inthe mess as Leroy (loyal as always) produces his best coffee as he recognizes the blind fury of a pilot who, 30 minutes ago, was embroiled in a life and death struggle. "Where the hell's the Squadron?" My question fires from my lips like a 303 round from a Browning. "Umm i believe they are still up Sir......." is poor Leroys answer. I immediately pull back on my anger as the poor chap has done nothing to deserve my rage. "Thank you Leroy, i need this!" I explain as i drink the heavenly brew that only wartime coffee can be described as. "May i enquire as to whats happened sir?" Leroy offers from the safety of the mess bar. " Grab a coffee and join me by the fire old chap" I offer one of the high backed comfy chairs "Here we go........"

0800 that morning....."Morning flight, is she ready?" I greet my ground crew warmly as the poor sods have been up most of the night patching up other aircraft. " Shes good to go Sir" F/Sgt Smythe smiles wearily and stands aside allowing me access to my aircraft. "Here, something to warm you and the boys up, but keep it quiet" I stealthily pass across a bottle of Brandy "Should keep the cold out eh Flight?" The crews faces light up "Thank you sir" A quick smile and thumbs up and i'm settled inthe cockpit. Switches on, contact, wave the chocks and crew away and i'm trundling down the field ready for take off. "Red leader this is Cowslip control" The R/T crackles in my ears " Head SSW Angels 20 we have Blenheims in need of assistance near the coast, your squadron is already onthe way over" Canopy pushed shut, throttle open and i'm flying down the field and up into the air. Landing gear away with a thunk, safety checked and i'm ready for buisness. "Cowslip this is Red leader, message understood, on way" Minutes later i am near the coast but no sign of my Squadron or of the Blenhe.......oh wait there they are! Just below me are two Blenheims who are not having a good morning. Both are being attacked by Me 109's, four in total two appear normal but the others have a blue nose and a red nose. "Cowslip be advised Blenheims under attack, assisting now!" Stick pushed down and the dogfight seems to float up to meet me.....I take a standard coloured ME in my sights and thanks to my speed and surprise his port wing divorces itsself from his fuselage which begind spinning on its length towards the sea. I pull back, loop and see the other Me take hits inthe engine from the tewo Blenheims gunners. "Good show!" i shout into the R/T "Cowslip, Red leader where the bloody hell is my Squadron!!!" They should be with you by now" comes the reply, i roll my Spit as the Red nosed git opens fire but misses me narrowly. I just manage to see the ME pilot exit his AC as the engine pops into flames. "Now i'm guessing you colourful butterflies think your something do you?" I pull back completing an inverted half loop which throws Red nose off me. The blue devil is having a pop at a Blenheim which spits black smoke out of the starboard engine. " Swine!" I curse throwing my faithful steed at him. Red nose is forgotten as i throw myself at blue with the full intention of ramming him should the need arise, he rolls right obviously begging for help from his friend to get rid of this English madman who wants to chew his tail up with his prop. The silly chap however loses vital airspeed and a 2 second burst turns his tail into a sieve. His canopy opens and out for a walk he goes. Red nose has by now witnessed the end of his jolly little outing and quickly puts his nose SE and heads for home. I scan the sky and seeing all is clear takes position onthe injured Blenheims starboard side. "Cowslip, Red leader, bandits have buggered off, three destroyed both Blenheims ok but one slightly damaged" I wave at the crews and get waves and thumbs up in reply " Red leader, Cowslip, well done, did your chaps turn up?" I shake my head angrily " NO they bloody well did'nt and you can tell them to expect my boot up their arses the second i get back!!!!" I escort the Blenheims back to their base and after watching them both land safetly and present themselves to the emergengy crews, wiggle my wings in a flypast and head back to my field. After landing and handing over my Spit to my ground crew, my smile turns to rage as i head towards the mess............

Chaps,

DK,

A rousing tale of tumult in the clouds and one which JRT will be delighted to read upon his return.

Olga had an extended leave pass which became valid on the very day that JRT went on flight testing the new prototype PR Spit. Perhaps the only PR on his mind was a cosy, discreet hotel 'somewhere in England'...

God help him if that was the case.

God help him indeed, i find myself resting inthe arms of my good lady. Apparently she was the only one who could calm me after yesterdays outburst

Chaps,

Hail and snow here. Happy Easter.

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter. We missed the rain, just had high winds last week.
But whatever crud or flu was around got us down in the bunkers for over a week here.

Folks,

A bit too quiet around here if you ask me.... Ok no one did ask. And yet it is so quiet in this hall that if a mouse tippy toed by right now the racket would be frightful.

All pilots seem to be missing and unaccounted for. While this would not be all that unusual on a Monday perhaps I have consulted the HWH calendar and to my surprise apparently today is Friday.

Report in if you are able. Dux don't you dare claim you are not able..... Hail and snow at Easter? Haven't you Brits been told about global warming? OK then, when the ice and snow melted did you find your Easter eggs?

Unseasonably cool here in eastern North Carolina right now but everything is green and flowery just the same. The grass has needed cutting twice already and we've had plenty of April showers.

Welcome back Roger,

Spring won't quite yet establish itself here, maybe around mid week next week, if the met men are right.

I'm a bit busy with real life at the moment so that accounts for my scarcity in the HWH halls during the last couple of months, and hopefully it won't be too long before I can post more regularly.

Welcome back, JRT!
I have enjoyed the relative coolness here, but not the fury of two periods of hail a week apart which pummeled the area for over 10 minutes each along with high winds and rain every other day.

The white stuff came down hard and fast in pieces exceeding 1 1/2 inches the second time and bigger chunks the first. Much damage in the area and there isn't a rental car available for a hundred miles for those who's vehicles have broken windshields.
A few homes had the added pleasure of the hail and rain coming through windows and skylights after breaking the glass.

While I haven't been to the airport to appreciate the work done to repair hangars and aircraft wings, I have done slight damage to a few virtual airplanes safely tucked in my computer. Unfortunately, none qualify for BOB operations.

Folks,

I am glad to be back though it may only be temporary. I'm pleased you two are OK. I know that recent events have put quite a bit of stress upon you MG. The renewal of growth and new life with the coming of spring may help and the passage of time heals as well.

Such inclement weather bringing such damage and destruction reminds us all that climatic change is upon us and that may well mean even greater and more destructive weather patterns. It has been predicted that this hurricane season may be a good deal more active than recent ones for us.

Hopefully the other pilots will also check in soon and before I must make myself temporarily scarce again. Or perhaps they may wisely wish to wait until after that. We expect temps to warm into the mid 80s F. by mid week here. Spring is indeed moving into high gear. By Memorial Day summer weather may have arrived bringing humidity as well as heat to the Carolinas.

I'm not doing any flying at the moment but hope to resume flight opps before long. I'm wondering how the newest patch is working out? How lucky it is to continue to enjoy new improvements for this elderly simm thanks to PV1 and the BDG.

Not much to report from down south. I was surrounded at a restaurant by a bunch of vociferous folks from Quebec at breakfast Friday morning. All were speaking French of course as most people from that region of Canada seem to be prone to do. Frankly, as they were traveling far south into English speaking territory I thought that a tad unsociable so, using my very poor high school French naturally I tried to eavesdrop.

It seems that the tour group had recently visited Washington, DC and were underwhelmed by the experience. To be honest, due to my poor French they may have just visited the small town of Washington, NC instead. If so, then I cannot understand why they were underwhelmed by it. The traffic flow is way better then in DC and there are far fewer marble monuments to visit and few pontificating politicians practicing there. I like the town.

Morning all, checking in, still alive, still well, still too quiet around here.

Folks,
DK:

One more has come home to the fold. Glad you're OK. I wonder where Dux is? Ever since he had that cast iron frying pan welded behind his seat we've all felt he was safer up there battling the Hun. I do not think he has been shot down. Ditto for PV1 for he's far too experienced a pilot. No card carrying member of the BDG has ever been shot down as far as I can recall these many years. He's OK.

I don't like these long if unavoidable absences of mine because when I return it always takes some time rounding everyone up for some reason. One would think my being gone would be conducive to far more activity on this long lived thread. Or more likely, there is no connection between the two at all.

I'm down at Atlantic Beach, NC at the moment visiting an old retired psychologist friend at his rambling beach house. The sea has been beautiful and the air unusually lacking in humidity for the past few days. We are nestled in the high dunes and leafy trees on the sound side. We are still close enough to hear the crashing of the waves and view the ocean from the observation deck. It is very relaxing. I have never visited here at this time of the year when the tourist level is low and most folks are year-rounders.

I've always come down to the coast in the heat of the summer season when it is crowded and the humidity is high. The Atlantic has been amazingly quite and peacefully calm. The skies have been a lovely blue though we are expecting storms tonight and half of Saturday. I'm hoping my son and grand kids can join us soon for the weekend.

The air is warm but the water remains chilly. There are a few surfers I've seen but not many. The water is still relatively cold and the surf not all that high. Perhaps as the storms approach this will change? I am not a surfer though I love to swim. My son and grandson are the accomplished surfers in the family. I float pretty well however I have always found it difficult, in fact impossible to stand up on water. Dux may be able to walk on water however I have never actually seen him demonstrate that useful ability. Due to past experience, I would think Dux would be far more comfortable in hot water than any other. He has been in that medium so often you see.

We have a few more weeks of quiet before the arrival of the majority of the great unwashed multitudes. They'll come on weekends and then arrive en mass around Memorial Day and stay until Labor Day. Naturally the indigenous denizens of "The Crystal Coast" eagerly look forward to the sun, sea and sand cravers arrival and all hope for a great summer season with no hurricanes.

I understand that the meteorological prognosticators, armed with their tables, graphs and Ouija boards are expecting a very active Atlantic hurricane season this year. Their forecast for such last year was mercifully off the mark. I hope it will be the same this year. I have met some very nice people here who depend upon good weather for their livelihood. Having said that, everyone knows that it is only a matter of time before the "Big One" comes along and that is a sobering thought indeed. People living close to the sea certainly are very aware of the power of nature.

If no one has seen Olga for some time that may indicate why Dux is away. He is a wary old dude indeed however now and then she catches him unaware. Though I happen not to be a Catholic myself, I will light a candle for him, then carefully cross all my fingers and toes, kiss a lucky horse shoe, touch a rabbit's foot and swing a dead black cat around my head by its tail at midnight in the local graveyard. After all that I'll just read the obits every morning and if neither of our names appear there I'll just relax on the beach and hope for the best.

Jolly,
These one man patrols are getting rather tedious and dangerous, i do believe the hun is upping his game. Sooner the Sqn is at full strength the better!

Greetings, chaps and welcome back Rog.

At this very moment, our hardiest carrier pigeon is battling against the prevailing winds on a more or less fixed course to NC and should be alighting on your bat-infested mailbox within a few months.

For security reasons I was unable to inform you chaps of the special assignment to Farnborough where I was detailed to flight test a captured 109. The modifications recently introduced to the sub-type fighter bomber E7 included some ground-breaking additions such as the bratwurst dispenser and Galland patent cigar holder.
DK has every reason to be concerned about the surge in quality opposition coming in from the Channel.
More 'ground-breaking', was encountered when I flew through the WAAF clothes line on a beat-up while they were doing their sports field gymnastics. The reinforced, spliced wire, Air Ministry issue cable immediately seized the engine and I ploughed into the Pioneer Corps field latrine near the AA battery.
My only injury was writers' cramp sustained from signing autographs for the eager airwomen and after a prolonged shower in the WAAF block was feted at dinner by the Station Commander, The Right Honourable Oswald Butte-Bender CBE.

Still...it's good to be back.

Folks,
Dux:

Great to have you check in mate. I've definitely missed being here. Your carrier pigeon landed on the observation deck this morning somewhat winded but still clutching your message. We scrambled to find some birdseed whil my son gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. So well fed was he that he had great difficulty lifting off the deck. After several abortive attempts, the last one augmented by the arrival of a fake owl, he managed to take off into a light breeze and should even now be casting his little shadow upon the choppy mid-Atlantic. We wish him a safe return.

You've bothering those lovely uniformed ladies again you say. Didn't matron send them a warning pamphlet to tack on their infirmary bulletin board after your last visit? I was under the impression that this was in response to several of our girls complaints about some unusual rashes and Olga's helpful if not unbiased complaint that you might have contracted a particularly debilitating and itchy condition that, according to her, no one this side of the Volga had the slightest resistance to. If so, where might you have contacted that anyway?

The ladies latrine was an unfortunate landing spot surely. However it may well have been inordinately better than your usual place of emergency landings. That would of course be Farmer Drubbins' pig sty. I understand that it has been long enough now between crashes that his pigs no longer run madly around in circles losing many valuable pounds every time a plane flies over the sty. Hmmmm. I wonder if that same affliction will now be visited upon the girls? If so, you could become their hero for sure as they will shed many pounds running about and never have to diet again.

Chaps,
JRT,

Thanks for your second email

Yesterday we had driving snow at 2:00PM with thunder but it only lasted for about ten minutes. This morning we have clear skies and ground frost.

In four days time we are expected to be dancing around the maypole.

Nobody will ever convince we people of the High Peak about the reality of so-called global warming.

Folks,

Dux:

We have had snows in April here. The white stuff never stays around long and is quickly melted. Unusual weather of any kind could be a sign of a warming trend. I doubt you are following the political races in the US however I am and I have every reason to believe that all the hot air being produced by both sides is more than enough to warm the climate around here...

Many things can have a part in climate change both local and world-wide of course. It was said that Olga used to wash her Trotsky brand red star emblazoned corduroy and burlap undies once a month whether they needed it or not. Considering her most unusual methane producing diet of cabbage, offal and other stinky things, and the resulting wear and tear this must have caused over a full month on those garments one can easily accept the rumors that wash days around Olga's place were truly fragrant affairs.

I've heard that once she had that big, black, cast iron cauldron a boiling most of the neighbors took to their heels and made themselves scarce. One neighbor who stayed too long swore that after an hour of soaking her unmentionables the air became thick and un-breathable, the sky grew dark, the wind began to howl, birds fell from the air and various pets and wild critters staggered about as if poisoned before eventually passing out.

The icy metal May Pole may be too cold to risk touching it with your tongue this year my friend. Why would you do that anyway?

Chaps,

Rog,

I am expecting M to message T through your good self in the fullness of time, complete with up-to-date pics.

We will just have to wait until this comes to fruition. You know what they can be like...

Yes indeed, we are following the political events occurring in the US with rather more interest than anything which is likely to happen in our own political sphere of activity...or lack of it.

Obama's visit is seen by many, well maybe a few, alright then just by me as a rather more than tentative pre-tense to a far greater purpose. No less than the UK and Eire jointly becoming the 51st State with all the many advantages this would offer.

Most Americans would love to absorb our Royal Family f'rinstance. They could correct all those blatant mis-spellings of our language which have crept in almost un-noticed over the past generations. In the forthcoming street battles which we will be obliged to participate in as we fight to preserve our indigenous culture the doughboys will be already be on hand to pull us out of the crap for the third time in 100 years.

But far more importantly, we will be able to import Fender, Gibson, Gretsch and Guild guitars without having to stump up the pernicious 22% import duty.

Our fairly unpopular national anthem dirge which we discussed some time ago would be replaced by the far more rousing 'Star Spangled Banner' of Fort McHenry fame.

Although it is a purely personal view, I strongly feel that our relationship which was soured by a humiliating defeat, nay, thrashing in the War of Independence can be quickly and permanently cemented in a spirit of enduring good will and mutual understanding within such a union.

Folks,

Dux:

Send it on my friend and I'll try to see that T gets it in good condition.

Naturally the war of independence from Georgie 3 is now but a distant memory for all but the remaining veterans living in tattered tents around Washington DC waiting for their back pay. So all is forgiven and our own government is now far more frowned upon. All the rest of the people are avid anglophiles anyway.

So my dear fellow let me be the first to welcome you Brits into the fold. It may take you a few ticks to manage the refinements of the language we have instituted. In time you'll accept those for the improvements they really are. In no time at all you lot will drop that silly accent of yours as well and speak as lyrically as we do. Feel free to affect a southern drawl like mine if you wish.

The Royals may find it a bit more difficult to get used to the changes than most commoners. Take it easy at first. Finding the stars and stripes flying over Buck House might be a bit of a shock for HM the Queen unless you ease into it. Being called "Liz" to her face by other well meaning Americans born over here as they slap her affectionately on her back could cause her some discomfort. We'll work it out. Uh, Parliament will have to go of course but many Brits seem to have come to that conclusion some time ago.

Welcome brothers. Kindly send me all those useless pound notes and gold sovereigns for my collection. It is the least I can do to help all you new additions to our US tax base.

Chaps,

Rog,

Having been raised on a diet of Hollywood westerns and war films we are already there, ready and waiting to enjoy the carefree culture of our transatlantic cousins.

We had to give up our dear old pound notes quite a long time ago. Even the indomitable Maggie couldn't save it after expressing a wish that it should remain. It was certainly handier than the pocket stretching weight of coins which we accumulate like so much unwanted ballast and the sooner they cease minting the archaic penny and tuppence pieces the better.

The Russian server has opened up the Sphere III to Europe server pve and yesterday our almost dead game was unbelievably rejuvenated my a mass invasion from the RU pvp side. Hordes of players are pouring in which has transformed the game. Mind you...they have started stealing our castles and molesting our woman rather like your chaps in WWII. I am having to beat them off with my trusty sword as they are momentarily distracted by my ample bosom. I am expecting with some trepidation a Russian player named Olga. It can only be a matter of time...

Folks,

Dux:

The Russians are invading British games you say? Well no wonder you are looking West for relief. Have no fear, we'll sit back, gird our loins, mobilize our armed forces, get our manufacturing back from Mexico and all the other countries NAFTA took it to and watch the Bear and the Bulldog fight it out for a year or so. Then we'll rush in, send the already mortally wounded Bear packing and take credit for the whole job. Yes, you can always rely on us.

So you are being hit on by randy Ivan these days. I dunno Pal but it seems to me that you were just asking for trouble when you picked that rather buxom avatar in the first place. It has taken Olga much longer than I expected to sort you out. I wonder what avatar she'll choose? A demur little forest sprite or dainty faerie perhaps or perhaps a giant bruin wearing flashy armor and a shield emblazoned with a big, red star. Don't worry too much about finding her....she'll find you. Good luck. I'm already observing a moment of silence..........