Seeing that shiny plane reminded me of a bit of my great Uncles "Life and Times" story I wrote up shortly before his death:
"After a few flights I was seconded to take charge of a special Dakota commanded by the Group Captain. He made it his job to fly into most countries throughout the Far East. For this exercise we had to have his Dakota looking something very special which resulted in its wartime camouflage paint being stripped off and the fuselage made to shine like silver – R.A.F. Bull!! The first job was to obtain the paint remover.
With special permission from Airforce High Command we flew from Rangoon across thousands of miles of water to the Southern tip of India to a Naval base. The stripper was then loaded onto our aircraft and after a night’s rest, we set off back. They wouldn’t allow us to fly the direct route we came, so we had to fly south keeping our eyes on the East Coast of India before cutting across from Calcutta down to Rangoon. Once back to base the aircraft was kept in a hanger whilst dozens of ground crew were employed using the stripper we had fetched to remove all the green and brown camouflage paint. I wasn’t involved in this work and was temporary sent back to 62 Squadron.
At last the Dakota was transformed and what a beautiful job they had made of it. It was fitted with extra fuel tanks in line with the port and starboard wings, and we were ready for the ’Acceptance Flight’ to check all was OK. My Group Captain had to get reacquainted with his aircraft, and we did several circuits of the airfield with each engine in turn being switched off with the propellers fully ’feathered’. Before allowing the engines to get too cold they were started up again and we eventually landed well satisfied with our plane."
"Sadly, we had many losses and not just over enemy targets. One night a German Junkers 88 fighter/bomber followed a ‘straggler’ back to Dishforth, our base.
He had waited until the 4 aircraft were landing and swept across the runway with all guns blazing. The Whitley never had a chance. The rear gunner was killed and the rest of the crew badly injured. Those were very sad days and the price we were having to pay to hopefully win the war. That was only the beginning, and there was still many years to follow. "
ian brilliant work again my friend. love the images you have posted here for all to see.
this is why i love photography so much. well done mate.
the norwegian douglas C-53 skytrooper is an amazing looking plane.
Thanks for adding that Gary, always good to hear these stories. Tragic about the Whitley crew. Those rear gunners that survived learned to keep an eye out on landing for incidents like the one you describe with the Ju88. Crews early on in the war would relax as they came into land, and they made easy targets for waiting Luftwaffe pilots.
Hi, I am admin of the Rose Petal group and inviting you to share your great work with us Rose Petal ( Post 1 Award 3 )
please tag your photo as "rosepetal"
I have some B&W photos of the same aircraft from December 1944. At that time it was the aircraft of Maj. Gen. Ralph Royce, commander of the 1st TACAF (Prov.) headquartered in Vittel, France. Royce named the aircraft “Little Egypt.” My Father, then Capt. Wendell Buckhiester, was Royce’s pilot. I will be happy to share these photos. 1st TACAF supported Gen. Devers’ 6th Army Group on the contienent.
Incredible images, Ian, love the clarity and the wonderful clouds.
brilliant photos
Love this lovely shot Ian wonderful sky.
Theres something great about planes of that era in the way they sit and stare at the sky, I like it, nice shot!
Majestic shot! Really lovely capture! %-)
Great shot of a majestic aircraft, we see the BBMF Dakota regularly but this looks better.
The Dakota kicks ass! Nice one 🙂
Seeing that shiny plane reminded me of a bit of my great Uncles "Life and Times" story I wrote up shortly before his death:
"After a few flights I was seconded to take charge of a special Dakota commanded by the Group Captain. He made it his job to fly into most countries throughout the Far East. For this exercise we had to have his Dakota looking something very special which resulted in its wartime camouflage paint being stripped off and the fuselage made to shine like silver – R.A.F. Bull!! The first job was to obtain the paint remover.
With special permission from Airforce High Command we flew from Rangoon across thousands of miles of water to the Southern tip of India to a Naval base. The stripper was then loaded onto our aircraft and after a night’s rest, we set off back. They wouldn’t allow us to fly the direct route we came, so we had to fly south keeping our eyes on the East Coast of India before cutting across from Calcutta down to Rangoon. Once back to base the aircraft was kept in a hanger whilst dozens of ground crew were employed using the stripper we had fetched to remove all the green and brown camouflage paint. I wasn’t involved in this work and was temporary sent back to 62 Squadron.
At last the Dakota was transformed and what a beautiful job they had made of it. It was fitted with extra fuel tanks in line with the port and starboard wings, and we were ready for the ’Acceptance Flight’ to check all was OK. My Group Captain had to get reacquainted with his aircraft, and we did several circuits of the airfield with each engine in turn being switched off with the propellers fully ’feathered’. Before allowing the engines to get too cold they were started up again and we eventually landed well satisfied with our plane."
And of Junkers (albeit a different aircraft):
"Sadly, we had many losses and not just over enemy targets. One night a German Junkers 88 fighter/bomber followed a ‘straggler’ back to Dishforth, our base.
He had waited until the 4 aircraft were landing and swept across the runway with all guns blazing. The Whitley never had a chance. The rear gunner was killed and the rest of the crew badly injured. Those were very sad days and the price we were having to pay to hopefully win the war. That was only the beginning, and there was still many years to follow. "
ian brilliant work again my friend. love the images you have posted here for all to see.
this is why i love photography so much. well done mate.
the norwegian douglas C-53 skytrooper is an amazing looking plane.
really grand shots Ian
A nice series Ian – lovely machine and very much an icon of its time
many thanks everyone.
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/38832602@N00]
Thanks for adding that Gary, always good to hear these stories. Tragic about the Whitley crew. Those rear gunners that survived learned to keep an eye out on landing for incidents like the one you describe with the Ju88. Crews early on in the war would relax as they came into land, and they made easy targets for waiting Luftwaffe pilots.
Great photos Gary! When I was a boy I live in Malawi, Africa, I remember flying in DC3 to Rhodesia, a wonderful workhorse.
He he.. Not my photo Simon! It was Ian’s. I only added the story.
Ian – I have more of his story if you are interested. Drop me a message if you are..
Great perspective, makes it looks very dynamic, and that’s a wonderful sky!
I love the composition and perspective,
the plane looks awesome!
Fantastic sky – really great shot : )
I love how you shot this Ian, straight on with the sky and clouds, fabulous!
wow, its amazing
Hi, I am admin of the Rose Petal group and inviting you to share your great work with us
Rose Petal ( Post 1 Award 3 )
please tag your photo as "rosepetal"
Wonderful
Nice shots of the old Dak and Ju52 Ian …. I’m amazed that they manage to keep these flying without pranging them 🙂
Greeting from Bangkok, your image so inspire artwork and I love it:)
Happy to join my group;
SPLENDID IMAGE… YOUR IS THE BEST, BY AN ADMIN CONSIDERED.
INSPIRE Invite ONLY
You are INVITED to display this wonderful photo
in the INSPIRE Pool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmAyfYf1FFg&feature=related
Wow. A good shot made great by a fantastic sky. Very nicely done.
I have some B&W photos of the same aircraft from December 1944. At that time it was the aircraft of Maj. Gen. Ralph Royce, commander of the 1st TACAF (Prov.) headquartered in Vittel, France. Royce named the aircraft “Little Egypt.” My Father, then Capt. Wendell Buckhiester, was Royce’s pilot. I will be happy to share these photos. 1st TACAF supported Gen. Devers’ 6th Army Group on the contienent.