Me, the wife and a Spitfire......

[spanner570]

We've just returned from 'Walkabout' and camping up the N.W. coast of England....big open beaches, huge sand dunes and hardly a soul to be seen.....

Anyway, we needed some supplies, so the wife found us a wooper market, opposite to which was a park with a classic car show, army display and stalls, the usual thing.

So, before shopping, we went in and as we were looking around my wife casually remarked...

"I wonder if there will be a Spitfire on show in here?"....... Fat chance, I thought!

Then there it was, Spitfire 1X. FY * F, it would cost a fiver to sit in it and have your picture taken......my wife passed me an envelope....Inside was a five pound note!

She added, "Climb aboard pilot, I found this show on the internet, that's why I asked we go to that particular supermarket, 'cos I knew the Spitfire would be here!"

The only downside was the fact that the person who was supposed to bring all the correct flying gear didn't show up, so hat and lifejacket was all the blokes could muster up! So let's pretend I'm in Malta, eh?

As the aircraft is transported around for purily fund raising purposes, the cockpit was devoid of most stuff except the dials, control stick and a few bits and bobs, but I couldn't have cared less....I have finally sat in a Spitfire!!!! (Allbeit on a cushion and not a parachute!)

So here are a few shots taken by the people of 'The Lytham St. Annes Spitfire Display Team' who are trying to raise the last of the money for a local Spitfire Memorial......Please take the time to go to..Spitfire for Hire - Fylde Lytham St. Annes Spitfire Memorial Fund W3644 - Supermarine Spitfires, Spitfire Model, Spitfire Replica on display or www.spitfiredisplayteam.co.uk

Some nice detailed cockpit views and I've also included a shot of our mode of transport during these wanderings of ours....small but cosy!!!!

Now I'm off to try and catch up on new threads......

Thanks missus, yet another item ticked off my 'Must do' list.....

Ron

[ATTACH]51550.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51551.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51552.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51553.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51554.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51555.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51556.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51557.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51558.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51559.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51560.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51561.IPB[/ATTACH]

[stona]

That's great Ron,what a wonderful surprise. You look like you would take it away if they fired it up!

Your travelling accomodation certainly does look cosy. Probably not for the very tall or very round

The original BS 435 first flew on 31-8-42 and went to 611 Squadron,coded FY-F on 2-9-42,which is very soon. It was shot down by a Fw 190 off Boulogne on 5-2-43,sadly S/Ldr H T Armstrong DFC was killed.

I've some nice photos of 611 Squadron taken on a "press day" at Biggin Hill. I'm not sure if this aircraft is in there,I'll take a look and maybe post some later.

Cheers

Steve

[BarryW]

What a treat.

I am up in the North West in a couple of weeks with my lady so I missed it, damnmit......

[Guest]

Aaaaa ! Biggles & Algy Ron.

Nice idea, nice wife. I would like a sit in a Harrier. Any one got one.

Laurie

[Guest]

Hi Ron nice pics mate by the way how did both of you fit in your caravan .....looks a bit snug to me.lol

scott

[Guest]

What a treat!! and what a great wife to surprise you like that too.

By the way, what scale did you build that caravan in 1/32nd ?

[Guest]

What a nice suprise mate !!! the present Mrs Ron must think a lot of you (or there's some cunning alteria motive abounds )

@ Laurie ..... just had a look in the back garden, sorry.... no harrier

[papa 695]

Looks like you had a great day Ron .And what a suprize.

[Guest]

you have more jam than hartleys awesome for the sit down in the most amazing flying machine ever(EVER) thnx for sharing

mobear

[Centurion3RTR]

By heck Ron, thats one nice suprise. So thats one from your 'things to do' list? That must be one hell of a bucket list mate lol. Don't know about the caravan Ron, looks a little too big for me. I'll stick with me tent mate.

@ Laurie, sorry was bidding for one on e-bay but missed out by a few quid. Just my luck.

Have fun, John

[spanner570]

That's great Ron,what a wonderful surprise. You look like you would take it away if they fired it up!Your travelling accomodation certainly does look cosy. Probably not for the very tall or very round

The original BS 435 first flew on 31-8-42 and went to 611 Squadron,coded FY-F on 2-9-42,which is very soon. It was shot down by a Fw 190 off Boulogne on 5-2-43,sadly S/Ldr H T Armstrong DFC was killed.

I've some nice photos of 611 Squadron taken on a "press day" at Biggin Hill. I'm not sure if this aircraft is in there,I'll take a look and maybe post some later.

Cheers

Steve

Steve, as an add-on to your info, I took away some 'bumph' on 611 Sq. and Sqn. Ldr. Armstrong.

As you wrote, he was shot down over the Channel when he was 'jumped' by eight Fw190's of II/JG 26....Ofv Heinz Gomann being given the credit. Armstrong has no known grave but is commemorated at the Runnymead Air forces Memorial. His name also appears on a plaque along with 21 other pilots of 611 squadron killed during WW2. The plaque is at St.Michaels church in Garston, Liverpool, nr. Speke airport, early home of 611 (Now John Lennon International Airport)

You probably have the picture I have in front of me showing eight Spitfires in formation over Biggin Hill with Armstrong leading in FY*F........."A spot of pansy formation over Biggin Hill, again for the benefit of the press who were being sick in a Hudson!"...Quote from Plt. Off. Minto. FY*V

The Spitfire which will feature on the new memorial is a Mark Vb. no W3644, which was purchased by the residents of Lytham St. Annes in 1941.

Thanks chaps for all the great and humorous comments on this thread.....

The display will be at the following:-

Lytham War W/end....18/19 August..............What about this Barry???

Southport Air Show....8/9 Sept.

RAF Cosford (Telford)....15/16 Sept.

Cheers,

Ron

[Guest]

nice to see you back ron, you look right at home in that cockpit. i may well have a go at southport. i try to get to the airshow most years., and what a wonderfull wife you have.

[BarryW]

Ron - The 19th is a definite possibility.... I will speak to the Mrs and see what she thinks. Having a day trip to Calais tomorrow and may get her in a good mood after a few glasses of wine at lunch!!!

Many thanks

[stona]

Hi Ron. There's also some taken on the ground that look a bit damp!

And this one which is also interesting for the hangar in the background.

Not much for the heavy weatherers here!

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

Well I hope that you splashed out of a first class fish n chips supper! What a nice lady.

That caravan is tiny. would it not be easier to sleep in the car?

Laurie: I hear the RAF has a few going cheap.

Thanks for sharing Ron.

Ian M