Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request RAF

It was RAF Scopwick near Sleaford Lincs that the mix up was with. This was changed to RAF Digby (I was based there myself). The Canadians had a fighter squadron there during the war and in the Scopwick Village graveyard there is the last resting place of the Canadian who wrote "High Flight". He was killed in a flying accident. I did 23 in the RAF as well as 11 in the Andrew, glutton for punishment.

"High Flight"
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings:
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 Squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941

Bandy. Thought you were a submariner. My brother was RAF stationed in Limavady, but spent time on Christmas Island too as well as elsewhere. Dad also RAF during WW2. You're a man of many faces, aren't you? but a Brylcream boy ?????

He did say he was in the Andrew as well. That's the Royal Navy to those who didn't know.

Many faces but never 2 I hope. Just went where the work was at the time, was even on Army Reserve for a year when I was a civvy, come day - go day.

Was hoping "High Flight" might have struck a chord with someone, I love it.

Bandi just loves uniforms dont you son! He would of done the army as well, sadly he ran out of years.

Not really, I ran out of ears, I'm as deaf as a post.

Did with me; I love it too.
(you missed out "hand" in the last line; now corrected).

found out !

And m10694 on my own http://www.minwex.org/phpBB3/phpBB3/ !

A friend of mine was in the RAF and spent his whole service on boats!

Alot of local garages made 9mm Sten Guns, easily knocked up with a set of plans! Sometimes you can still pick up these plans and even some unfinished components! All legal to buy!!
You can still get the ready made mags still wrapped in grease paper.

heheheh... thought so... I recognised your Thurstaston decoy map

thanks for that Chris, get carried away with the typing some times and really should check before hitting the tit.

Why would somebody want to make a Sten gun????

I know, cudnt hit a barn door at 10 paces!!!
But the war effort required it as an easily manufactured/maintained close combat weapon!
Got one in my collection, VERY BASIC!
Make one meself if that way inclined (im an engineer!)