Feature Article – Page 3

December 26, 2018April 13, 2020

F/O Les Clisby’s Hawker Hurricane Mk.I of No.1 Squadron RAF, France May 1940

I present my first previously unpublished Feature Article. The subject is F/O Les Clisby and his Hawker Hurricane Mk.1. This remarkable Australian fighter pilot was noted for his aggression, both in the air and on the ground... "Remarkably, Clisby landed nearby, drew his service sidearm and chased the German crewmen across the field as they tried to escape! He captured one in a rugby tackle..." I hope you enjoy the article.

December 12, 2018December 12, 2018

Flt. Sgt. George “Grumpy” Unwin’s Supermarine Spitfire Mk IA

While Tamiya's new tool Spitfire gets all the attention, here's one of the old tool version...

"In late May, 1940 the BEF was forced from continental Europe by the Germans at Dunkirk. The now famous retreat was covered in part by Spitfires of No.19 Squadron. Flight Sergeant George Unwin was already an experienced Spitfire pilot by this stage of the war..."

December 2, 2018December 3, 2018

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team “Red Arrows” Folland Gnat T.1

Ray Hanna served as Red Leader for three consecutive years until 1968 and was recalled to supersede Squadron Leader Timothy Nelson for the 1969 display season, a record four seasons as Leader, which still stands.

November 16, 2018

Flying Officer Ted Kosh’s Hawker Tempest V of No.3 Squadron, RAF July 1944

While it wasn't a very glamorous job, taking on the V1’s pounding southern England almost every day was still very dangerous. Tipping could damage...

November 6, 2018

Lt. Bill Wisner’s USAAF North American P-51B-10-NA S/N 42-106449

Lt. William "Bill" Whisner DSC, USAAF Only one Air Force pilot was both an ace in two wars and a three-time winner of the DSC. Lt. William Whisner joined the 352d Fighter Group's 487th Squadron at Bodney, England, in the fall of 1943. He had the great good fortune to study air combat …

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November 3, 2018November 4, 2018

F/O Chet Popplewell’s Douglas Boston MkIII, March 1943

"This airman is a sound pupil, though inclined to be cautious, learns quickly and has made good progress in all departments of his flying training. Shows exceptional ability at night flying, and will develop into a sound, safe pilot."

November 1, 2018November 4, 2018

Major Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld’s MESSERSCHMITT BF 110G-4 March, 1944

...it was because Weissenfeld had been marked for elimination, that the aircraft was destroyed over the Ardennes Forest in Belgium...

October 30, 2018August 30, 2020

CV-9 USS Essex & AVG-83, March-August 1945

"I often think of 409 at the bottom of the Pacific with some of my personal gear aboard. After all this time there is probably nothing left..."

October 26, 2018October 29, 2018

Flying Officer Ian Keltie’s Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc

"August 24, 1942 was a particularly hot day, as I recall. It was to be a hot day in more ways than one..."

October 21, 2018October 21, 2018

Wing Commander Peter Mallan Brothers’ Spitfire HF.Mk.VIIc

Air Commodore Peter Mallan Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC Born in 1917, Pete Brothers learnt to fly at age 16. He joined the RAF in 1936, trained as a pilot and joined No 32 Squadron at the end of the year to fly Gauntlet biplane fighters. By 1940 he was a Flight Commander flying Hurricanes …

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