WIX Archives

Re: Aims and focal points regarding warbirds

Posted by Tony C on Thu Jan 23, 2003 11:26:10 AM

In reply top Aims and focal points regarding warbirds posted by Cees Broere on Thu Jan 23, 2003 05:38:20 AM

Hi Cees,
My interest began when I was 11/12, when I started building Airfix/Revell kits. Didn't matter if it was a car, tank, ship or 'plane until after a visit to an Uncle who had my Gradfather's WW1 medals and can you believe this, was going to throw them away.

I then discovered the Commando war stories books (anybody else remember these) and my interest began to evolve, although was more to do with WW2 rather than a specific arm of that conflict. Over-time, I became more interested the RAF of that period, originally interested in the fighters before seeing the light and my main area of interest is now Bomber Command and especially that Queen of the Skies, the Lancaster.

What is interesting (to me anyway) is that although both my parents were in the armed services during '39-45 (my father being in the RN and was based at Scarborough with, I believe "Z Force" and was on duty, when the Bismarck was rediscovered. My mother was in the Army), is that my hobby has had no imput from anybody within my family and neither parent will discuss their experiences during 1939-45, in any great detail.

These days, I still build kits of aircraft flown by the RAF in 1/72, 1/48, 1/32 and 1/24 scales, although not to the standard of those see at shows. I also try and visit Duxford, Hendon, Elvington, Bruntingthorpe, Yeovilton, Brooklands and Cosford at least once a year. I have to go to Leeds on the 12th February for work, so guess where I am going after.

Also, while I prefer things to turn rather than burn, I always considered that I had a pretty wide and comprehensive appreciation of Warbirds. That was until I discovered (purely by accident) WIX, I now realise how little I know and enjoy this place, that I call home.

Is anybody still reading....

My aims/goals......simple...... to learn more and then pass on that knowledge to the next Generation.

I strongly believe that if mankind forgets the past, that the past has a habit of kicking mankind in the backside. However, this I find hard, certainly with my children, who do not understand my interest, unless school homework is involved, but I will continue trying.

Tony

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