67 new Spitfires anyone?

**Zedder** · 8th May 2012, 09:36

Originally Posted by 5150

Cool documentary. And a sad fact at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptijNcDanVw

My great great uncle use to be none other then Stanislaw Skalski. He made General and was one of the highest scorring Polish fighter pilots in the Polish Air Force during WW2. He was fighting in Battle of Britan, then fought in Turkey and Italy. Have a read about Skalski Circus on Wiki. The guy got equivelant of 2 Purple Hearts and numerous other medals for bravery. He died in 2004.

Great, but sad, documentary alright 5150 thanks.

I didn't know much about Stanislaw Skalski until now but he was obviously an amazing person. He and others like him from those war years were heros in the true sense of the word.

**5150** · 8th May 2012, 09:46

Originally Posted by Zedder

Great, but sad, documentary alright 5150 thanks.

I didn't know much about Stanislaw Skalski until now but he was obviously an amazing person. He and others like him from those war years were heros in the true sense of the word.

Here you are, some interesting reading

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanis%C5%82aw_Skalski

**Swoop** · 8th May 2012, 10:01

Originally Posted by 5150

Cool documentary. And a sad fact at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptijNcDanVw

Thanks for posting that. Very interesting!
Impressive results and shooting down a German squadron's worth of aircraft in 15 minutes is bloody good work in any squadron's books!

Have you read "Tummult in the Sky" by J. Goodson? The Poles who escaped to America went through training there and returned to England to fight.

**5150** · 8th May 2012, 10:14

Originally Posted by Swoop

Thanks for posting that. Very interesting!
Impressive results and shooting down a German squadron's worth of aircraft in 15 minutes is bloody good work in any squadron's books!

Have you read "Tummult in the Sky" by J. Goodson? The Poles who escaped to America went through training there and returned to England to fight.

No I haven't but thanks for the heads up. I will find the book and read it. There is also a book on the 303 Squadron written by Arkady Fiedler. There is a free translation of it (Ebook) on the web you can download in pdf form. It pretty much follows the 303 Squadron dairy.

The best and funniest "kill" I read about as far as 303 SQ goes was when one of the pilots was chasing a German Bf109 at treetop level. When he caught up to it he realised that he ran out of ammo. So instead of returning to base, he caught up and flew right above the Bf109, so close infact that the German pilot could touch the underside of the Hurracane. The German pilot fraked out and instinctively reduced altitude to avoid collision and crashed his Bf109 into the trees.

Now that stunt requires some big stones.

**oneofsix** · 8th May 2012, 11:36

Originally Posted by Zedder

Great, but sad, documentary alright 5150 thanks.

I didn't know much about Stanislaw Skalski until now but he was obviously an amazing person. He and others like him from those war years were heros in the true sense of the word.

+1.

Thanks for that 5150.

Whilst the Poles often get a mention in movies like The Battle of Britain the cinema tends towards an impression that the war started with the invasion of France, forgetting it was declared with the invasion of Poland. I guess this is in part because of the 'Allies' turned their backs on Poland at the end.

**Zedder** · 8th May 2012, 11:43

Originally Posted by 5150

Here you are, some interesting reading

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanis%C5%82aw_Skalski

Great stuff. I first heard of him when I was reading about RAF 501 squadron which was the last to leave France in 1940.

Incidently, I've come across a photo said to be of the crashed B-17 at Whenuapai in 1942. Check out this link (you'll have to type it in): http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi...ay&thread=6509

Also there's a C-87 Liberator shown.

The B-17 was loaded with four 500lb bombs, two of which blew up. Acccording to other info I've read, there was a Norden bomb sight on board as well but it was recovered.

The farmer whose paddock it crashed in (Mr Sinton) obtained souvenirs as did an RNZAF mechanic.

**5150** · 8th May 2012, 11:54

Originally Posted by Zedder

Great stuff. I first heard of him when I was reading about RAF 501 squadron which was the last to leave France in 1940.

Incidently, I've come across a photo said to be of the crashed B-17 at Whenuapai in 1942. Check out this link (you'll have to type it in): http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi...ay&thread=6509

Also there's a C-87 Liberator shown.

The B-17 was loaded with four 500lb bombs, two of which blew up. Acccording to other info I've read, there was a Norden bomb sight on board as well but it was recovered.

The farmer whose paddock it crashed in (Mr Sinton) obtained souvenirs as did an RNZAF mechanic.

Thanks for the link

**Zedder** · 8th May 2012, 12:54

Originally Posted by 5150

Thanks for the link

No problem. I see the link came up properly, it was saved to My Documents and didn't work first time.

Have you had a look at Aviation Archaeology.com? It's full of fascinating discoveries and info.

**5150** · 8th May 2012, 13:25

Originally Posted by Zedder

No problem. I see the link came up properly, it was saved to My Documents and didn't work first time.

Have you had a look at Aviation Archaeology.com? It's full of fascinating discoveries and info.

Yes, I had a look there few times. I also visit Airliners.net for great aviation related stories and photos.

**Zedder** · 8th May 2012, 13:49

Originally Posted by 5150

Yes, I had a look there few times. I also visit Airliners.net for great aviation related stories and photos.

Yep, Airliners.net is all good.

**5150** · 8th May 2012, 14:24

Originally Posted by Zedder

Yep, Airliners.net is all good.

I also visit The Aviation Herald on daily basis. Its up to date on current incidents and accidents in commercial aviation throughout the world. Pretty much up to minute updates as well.

**Zedder** · 8th May 2012, 15:16

Originally Posted by 5150

I also visit The Aviation Herald on daily basis. Its up to date and current incidents and accidents in commercial aviation throughout the world. Pretty much up to minute updates as well.

I just had my first look at it. Very interesting, thanks.

**Bass** · 8th May 2012, 18:00

For any who may be interested Avtech/Avspecs (I can never remember which is which - they're side by side out at Ardmore) have been building a Mossie from scratch. Absolutely superb workmanship and estimated test flights about October this year. I've been watching it come together for a couple of years now. It will go to the States soon after completion - Florida I think.
They have orders for six of them I believe
They don't mind visitors either, if you ask nicely and don't touch

**unstuck** · 8th May 2012, 18:08

I used to mow the grass at whenuapai air force base and the old bloke who I worked for was telling me something about that B-17 crash, damn I wish I would of paid more attention.