tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post2889573453578681366..comments2024-03-28T03:23:50.609-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: The Hardest DayOldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-54234167304724596512016-12-02T17:39:04.816-08:002016-12-02T17:39:04.816-08:00The Spits in the black and white photo with the bu...The Spits in the black and white photo with the bubble canopy (clearview in RAF parlance), pointed rudder and four bladed prop are either late Mk IXs, (early Mk IXs had the old canopy and the rudder top was round) or Mk XVIs. <br />The two letters in front of the roundel are the squadron marking. The DV is for 129 Squadron which flew Mk IXs from June '43 to April '44.<br /><br />Al_in_Ottawa<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-2593750567319293312016-12-01T17:06:48.750-08:002016-12-01T17:06:48.750-08:00Love the pic of the Stuka & Hurricane side-by-...Love the pic of the Stuka & Hurricane side-by-side. Wonder if they taunted each other in plane language? Probably, like the dwindling number of remaining combatants, they just congratulated each other on still being outside the boneyard.<br />Odd thought (being odd, I have a lot of those)--when planes describe humans, do they make gestures with their wings?<br />--Tennessee BuddAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-1714840767031081772016-12-01T14:52:00.236-08:002016-12-01T14:52:00.236-08:00You know that within 3 minutes they would be doing...You know that within 3 minutes they would be doing that 'hand thingy' with each other.<br /><br />Saw it a lot growing up.<br /><br />Except from the Hustler pilot. He always sat back and laughed at everyone else.<br />Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-59598462608922087942016-11-30T22:34:52.514-08:002016-11-30T22:34:52.514-08:00One of the modern-photo Spits is actually a Seafir...One of the modern-photo Spits is actually a Seafire :)<br /><br />a bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07871505359143633270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-31243821641612407312016-11-30T19:16:00.212-08:002016-11-30T19:16:00.212-08:00Probably not total collapse, but there was conside...Probably not total collapse, but there was considerable opinion that they would have had to withdraw operating bases North out of Me-109 range. That would have been a severe disadvantage if Sea Lion had actually been mounted, though I believe that Britain would have committed every asset--regardless of cost--in that event.Captain Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17297301009511642108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-5980067422753295982016-11-30T19:12:20.696-08:002016-11-30T19:12:20.696-08:00Condors were finally countered by CAM/MAC ships (w...Condors were finally countered by CAM/MAC ships (with one way Hurricane launches--in the North Sea--talk about BALLS) and then Wildcats (Martlets) off escort Carriers.Captain Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17297301009511642108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-41800111233619731742016-11-30T19:08:42.725-08:002016-11-30T19:08:42.725-08:00One of the Spits also appears to be sporting RNZAF...One of the Spits also appears to be sporting RNZAF roundels. All right--picky picky.Captain Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17297301009511642108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-11157980787377645892016-11-30T18:22:20.301-08:002016-11-30T18:22:20.301-08:00Great post, thanks! That would have been something...Great post, thanks! That would have been something to see! Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-40809466781695366152016-11-30T14:05:22.147-08:002016-11-30T14:05:22.147-08:00Great post Tuna.
The RAF's role in the Battle...Great post Tuna.<br /><br />The RAF's role in the Battle of France isn't much talked about, but it was the first phase of the Battle of Britain, and offers some insight as to why things went they way they did for each side.PrairieAdventurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06466447251827774900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-42020542669369946032016-11-30T11:12:47.272-08:002016-11-30T11:12:47.272-08:00Yea, beat me to it. They look like MK XVIs to me, ...Yea, beat me to it. They look like MK XVIs to me, which are late 1944-onwards.<br /><br />(The stock photo bureau lists it as 1940, so I'm sure that's why it was used.)a bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07871505359143633270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-20601759225431560532016-11-30T10:11:07.907-08:002016-11-30T10:11:07.907-08:00Good catch. I modified the caption. Tuna is still ...Good catch. I modified the caption. Tuna is still learning.<br /><br />:)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-54909591121268366722016-11-30T08:48:28.326-08:002016-11-30T08:48:28.326-08:00Wouldn't you just love to take those six vets ...Wouldn't you just love to take those six vets in front of that Spit down to a local pub and just sit back and listen to them?Rivetjointnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-672948647280614022016-11-30T08:25:50.679-08:002016-11-30T08:25:50.679-08:00Right, the battle for the skies, didn't stop t...Right, the battle for the skies, didn't stop there. The battle extended extended to the middle of the Atlantic, South of Ireland, the British tried but could not stop the condors. Both sides were adamant on bombers, not aerial supremacy. I always wonder what if the leaders, thought of supremacy first then bombers. What would have happened then?Jim b.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06586320752813748542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-79512922924191104082016-11-30T07:48:50.013-08:002016-11-30T07:48:50.013-08:00Great post, great pics, minor quibble: Whoever is...Great post, great pics, minor quibble: Whoever is providing that photo of pilots running to Spitfires as an "actual photo from battle" is smoking something I fear. That model Spitfire (bubble canopy, 4 blade prop) did not arrive until well after the BoB. I cannot find an online reference just now but I believe the bubble canopy model Spitfire was only in widespread use about the time the V-1 came into service.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-53636302397136610622016-11-30T07:34:58.449-08:002016-11-30T07:34:58.449-08:00Very good. "The Battle of Britain" has a...Very good. "The Battle of Britain" has always been one of my favorite movies; and, of course as an amateur Military History type, the actual Battle a source of considerable study and analysis. I hasten to point out that however heroic (and it was very much so) the defensive air battle won by the RAF was neither the main reason Hitler chose not to invade(those would be the Royal Navy ,logistics and attacking the Soviet Union), nor did it turn the tide of war for Britain (That would be the winning of the Battle of the Atlantic). Still: All honor to the heroes, for that they undoubtedly were. P.S. Really neat airplane pix!Captain Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17297301009511642108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-67313224820026577032016-11-30T07:31:27.141-08:002016-11-30T07:31:27.141-08:00Very nice briefing Tuna. Great way to start the d...Very nice briefing Tuna. Great way to start the day. Was familiar with the BF-109, Stuka, Spitfire, Mustang as a kid- I do not remember anything about the Hurricane. Shows the importance of good PR!Ron Snyderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217389199007968254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-1356073019219505082016-11-30T06:23:41.965-08:002016-11-30T06:23:41.965-08:00Various commentators have said that Britain and th...Various commentators have said that Britain and the RAF was less than 72 hours from total collapse when the Lufrwaffe changed tactics from anti-air to city busting and morale targets. There is some dispute to it but looking at attrition numbers one can easily conclude 3 or 4 days in late August would have turned the RAF into a combat ineffective unit . . . Never give up comes to mind. You probably know mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01763947725406197372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-8197899372497277992016-11-30T05:36:12.082-08:002016-11-30T05:36:12.082-08:00Very Nice, Tuna! Just did my short Chant Pre-flig...Very Nice, Tuna! Just did my short Chant Pre-flight and am looking forward to the lunch time in-depth perusal (but that's redundant).juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-19813052178943739482016-11-30T05:13:30.160-08:002016-11-30T05:13:30.160-08:00Nicely done, we'll make an historian of you ye...Nicely done, we'll make an historian of you yet!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-74058924654523402002016-11-30T01:20:10.256-08:002016-11-30T01:20:10.256-08:00The Photo Interpreter WAF seems ready to do her jo...The Photo Interpreter WAF seems ready to do her job!SCOTTtheBADGERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12859188068159799373noreply@blogger.com