The Battle of Britain

Colin

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VOC Member
This afternoon (26th September 2020) I stood on an airfield in Kent, and watched a lone Spitfire chase a Messerschmitt Me109, through the skies. Thankfully no-one was killed or injured, in this mock battle. Some 80 years previously, and no more than 20 miles from where I stood today, I may have been watching the same thing, being fought out in anger, but, fortunately, I have no recollection of that.
After a few passes, two more Spitfires and a Hurricane joined in, and the watchers were treated to several passes of a "V" formation of three Spitfires escorting the ME109 with the Hurricane bringing up the rear, all accompanied by the fabulous roar of four Merlins and a Daimler-Benz .
What a sight, but thank God we are all friends now.
 

timetraveller

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We in the Kent and Sussex section of the VOC were lucky enough to know Bob and Beryl Peacham who were our hosts at their farmhouse for over fifty years. On one occasion Beryl told me that as a young girl she remembered the air fight going on above her as she went out to rescue her horse from the fields. The unfortunate animal was killed by a stray bullet as she made her way to it, and it could so easily have been Beryl. We were also lucky enough to have Joe Karasek as a member. He was on the other side during the war, taken prisoner and put to work on a farm in the South East where he settled and married an English woman. It was he who saved the Vincent three wheeler from almost certain destruction by buying it from Harpers when he heard of its existence. As a scientist who has worked with people from many parts of the world I have come to realise that it is not the people who are the problem but the self serving, lying politicians. The VOC is a very good example how people from many different backgrounds can share some of the joys of life without anyone having to be disadvantaged. We are lucky to live in the time that we do, covid not withstanding.
 

Mike 40M

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I thought the only still airworthy Me109s are the Spanish built with Merlin engines.
So maybe 5 Merlins and no DB?
 

oexing

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VOC Member
My guess, more DB engined Me109 flying than with Merlins - which were Spanish Buchons anyway. At least three Me 109 in my country , in a few places, some in restauration. The Hendon "Black Six" was powered by DB engine too , till damaged and locked down by your ministry.
And yes, people seldomly start wars but those in power do who use all sorts of propaganda to follow their plans. And all too often the people seem to be too stupid to see - or have no chance to prevent anything.

Vic
 

greg brillus

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The ME 109 started and finished it's life with Rolls Royce engines........Not hard to spot with the exhaust stubs exiting low on the cowl........A keen ear will pick the difference, as the DB engines much larger than the Merlin's, and therefor lower revving.
 

Little Honda

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Non-VOC Member
We in the Kent and Sussex section of the VOC were lucky enough to know Bob and Beryl Peacham who were our hosts at their farmhouse for over fifty years. On one occasion Beryl told me that as a young girl she remembered the air fight going on above her as she went out to rescue her horse from the fields. The unfortunate animal was killed by a stray bullet as she made her way to it, and it could so easily have been Beryl. We were also lucky enough to have Joe Karasek as a member. He was on the other side during the war, taken prisoner and put to work on a farm in the South East where he settled and married an English woman. It was he who saved the Vincent three wheeler from almost certain destruction by buying it from Harpers when he heard of its existence. As a scientist who has worked with people from many parts of the world I have come to realise that it is not the people who are the problem but the self serving, lying politicians. The VOC is a very good example how people from many different backgrounds can share some of the joys of life without anyone having to be disadvantaged. We are lucky to live in the time that we do, covid not withstanding.
Norman, how right you are! Some 25 years ago, I accompanied a friend to the airshow at Duxford in a Cessna
172, which was based at Porta Westfalica in Germany. We had to land in Southend, a coastal airfield near Dover
for our customs declaration. I remember the sound of the steel staircases up to the Tower Office like yesterday.
After a short chat with the officer there, having our duties completed, he asked: " Do you want to see 2 WW2-
fighters land and start again?" Of course, we did! We were allowed onto the gangway around the tower in
perfect sunshine, when a Spitfire and a Mustang appeared to land. Both pilots had to come to the tower officer,
as well and informed us, that they both were flying at the Royal Air Force, but flew these historical fighters for
their owners to a german air show for demonstration. After they had left again, the officer adressed us again:
"Wait, to see them leave, they might perform a low- pass." Which they did! Their cabins being in eye height of
us, app. 20yds away, leaving us with the marvellous sound of 24 Merlin cylinders on full song!
 

Colin

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VOC Member
Michael. Glad you enjoyed the Spitfire and Mustang, in Kent.I recall going to an airshow in Germany many, many years ago, probably on a ride out from Kurt Schupp's Rally to somewhere fairly close by. I have two recollections of it. First I gave a pillion ride to a young German lad who wanted a lift, but it was clear he had not ridden pillion before. He clutched at me and sat upright on every corner,making getting round such corner a hairy experience!! (He found another lift back! Good job or I would have found one for him!) Second was watching a Storch coming in to land into the wind, and practically stationary before dropping to the ground and stopping (seemingly) in a few feet.
Mike, Vic and Greg. I couldn't distinguish a D-B engine from four surrounding Merlins, even if I was close enough. There was also a strong wind blowing, which was making my eyes water a bit, (?) so detail was not always that clear, but it was some sight and some sound. Glad I saw and heard it.
 

vibrac

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VOC Member
Is the Storch the plane Hanna Reitsch dropped onto the Unter Den Linden or some temporary runway while the Ruskies were lobbing shells in ? I beleve she popped in to offer Hitler a ride out!
 
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