WIX Archives
Re: Spitfire SL721 in Ottawa
Posted by Pat Murphy on Sat Aug 09, 2003 11:19:55 AM
In reply top Spitfire SL721 in Ottawa posted by Bob Swaddling on Sat Aug 09, 2003 09:21:16 AM
: Hi Boffins
: It was a great trip to Ottawa, especially meeting with Hyp
: erScalers Bruce Archer and Steve Sauve and their wives, Da
: na Archer, and Cathy Sauve, who along with Charlene are no
: w all founding members of the "Spitfire Widows Association
: ".
: The gathering at the National Air Museum was expected to b
: e about 160 to 200 people and nobody was prepared for the
: 2000+ that showed up. Mike Potter was amazed and I told hi
: m "remember Mike, It's a SPITFIRE". I gave my speech at th
: e presentation but was a bit emotional about it I guess. Y
: ou would be too if you were up there in front of so many o
: f these veterans. When I explained that the paint scheme w
: as to comemorate the everyday Spitfire pilot, rather than
: the more well known aces, and that they were just as brave
: , but were never heard of, had it not been for Robert Bra
: cken's books, I saw all of their wives wiping back tears a
: nd nodding their heads in agreement. Charlene was deeply t
: ouched when they asked that all the veterans please stand
: and a gentleman near her, in a wheel chair struggled to hi
: s feet to be counted. After the appluase died down, one of
: the vets yelled out "lets see the Spitfire pilots now" an
: d 25 of them stood up. Emotional? You bet.
: Mike was nervous about flying his Spit in front of such an
: experienced bunch. He did fine, making two passes and a b
: eautiful landing in a slight crosswind.
: One of the old Spitfire pilots wanted to get his photo tak
: en in the cockpit. Mike said it would be fine and when he
: got in there he just broke down into tears. Then they all
: wanted to get in and nobody was turned away. One was lifte
: d from a wheelchair and sat in the cockpit. There were a l
: ot of their families with them and the smiles and tears we
: re all there at the same time. After the event, Mikes engi
: neer reported that there were some scuffs and scrapes on t
: he new paint from the vets getting in and out, but they co
: uld be buffed out or touched up. Mike said that they were
: honourable scuffs and scrapes and to leave them in the pai
: nt.
: That night Bruce, Dana, Charlene and I went to Steve Sauve
: 's house for a barbecue and some great tasting beer. It is
: great to put faces and personalities to people you have t
: yped to for so long.
: Next day Charlene and I went flying with Mike in his D-H B
: eaver on floats. Charlene was a bit nervous, especially wh
: en I did the take-off from land and flew it all the way up
: the Gatineau river to a lake where Mike took over and did
: the water landing and take-off. I then flew her back. I h
: ave always loved the Beaver (get your mind out of the gutt
: er you guys) and had never flown in a float plane before.
:
: We went south of Ottawa to a grass strip at Kars where we
: landed. Mike's chief pilot had flown Mike's 1929 Waco Tape
: rwing there and we switched a/c. Charlene went back in the
: Beaver with him and Mike and I flew the Waco. I was in th
: e front behind a Wright J-5 and the exhaust smelled like h
: eaven. Mike did some practice cicuits and then let me have
: her. She is like a sports car compared to the Beaver and
: I did some low and overs down the strip. There is only a s
: tick, the rudder pedals, and a throttle in the front. No g
: uages or instruments of any kind so I was flying strictly
: by the seat of my pants. I really love that a/c. I hadn't
: flown in an open cockpit bi-plane for over 30 years and ..
: .well everyone should try it at least once.
: Next day Charlene went shopping and I went to the National
: Air Museum where I had a personal tour with the curator.
: I was 5 1/2 hours and we didn't get to see everything. I w
: as disappointed in their Spitfire and how it is displayed.
: The paint scheme is wrong and she has a collapsed tailwhe
: el strut, no cannon barrels or radio mast. The Me 109 F-4
: beside it is much better. It is painted up properly. It ca
: me from Russia and when they restored it they left the bul
: let holes in place. She took one through the rad and that
: is what brought her down.
: Enough rambling. It was a trip I'll never forget.
: I spent a lot of time with Mike Potter and he is a great g
: uy who thinks like we do when it comes to a/c. I would tel
: l you more but I would be telling secrets. I'll just say t
: his.....More good things will be seen over Ottawa in the c
: oming years.
: I was really looking forward to the YAF show this weekend
: but I have a wedding to attend today and a music engagemen
: t tomorrow that I can't miss. Have a good time there you g
: uys.
: Cheers
: Bob S.
Great Posting Bob, the Spitfire story is indeed special. I shall hang this report in the Y2K-Hangar at Comox for all our supporters to enjoy.