Duxford VE Day airshow photos (Saturday)

Duxford VE Day airshow photos (Saturday)

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danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
Just thought I would share a few of my photos here smile

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Duxford VE Day airshow by Dan Jama, on Flickr

I hope they bring a small sense of the day to those who wanted to be there but couldn't smile

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
Very nice pictures - I was there yesterday with the family - really enjoyed it as usual. Great to see the Hawker Fury and Blenheim on their debuts too.

Eric Mc

121,784 posts

264 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
Lovely photos.

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
Cheers chaps, yes I was surprised how busy it was, just a shame the weather was drab until the end.

Seeing the two MK I Spits with the Blenheim was a real treat for me personally.

Gretchen

18,998 posts

215 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
I've been lurking to see if any photos would appear. Thanks for sharing. The B17 and Catalina flew over my house. This morning a Hercules and this evening I've heard the Red Arrows heading back to Scampton. Great photos.

aeropilot

34,302 posts

226 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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danjama said:
Lovely...... cloud9

ApOrbital

9,942 posts

117 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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Very good cheers for that dan bow

Waynester

6,324 posts

249 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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Superb photos! The Apache flew right over my house, I guess on route. Im only 30 minutes from Duxford.

Mutley

3,178 posts

258 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Great photos. Was also there Saturday, and those photos bring it nicely to life.

My favourites were the Meteor, the Blenheim and the Sally-B formation

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
Thanks everybody for your comments and for looking! I wish I lived close enough to Duxford to get some of their traffic overhead. We don't get anything out of the ordinary here in Romford.

The Blenheim was actually on its debut and has been a really long time under restoration. It looked mint! Looked very slow though, you can imagine why they were shot down in droves early in the war.

aeropilot

34,302 posts

226 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
danjama said:
The Blenheim was actually on its debut
Technically, it could be said, it's it 3rd 'debut'...... wink

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
danjama said:
The Blenheim was actually on its debut
Technically, it could be said, it's it 3rd 'debut'...... wink
Technically, it's not a Blenheim at all.

Eric Mc

121,784 posts

264 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
danjama said:
Thanks everybody for your comments and for looking! I wish I lived close enough to Duxford to get some of their traffic overhead. We don't get anything out of the ordinary here in Romford.

The Blenheim was actually on its debut and has been a really long time under restoration. It looked mint! Looked very slow though, you can imagine why they were shot down in droves early in the war.
I'm sure in full "military power" it was quite a bit faster. They aren't going to thrash it around for obvious reasons.

I saw it in its MkIV guise at Wroughton in 1993 when it performed a "aerial battle" with a Messerschmitt 108 masquerading as a 109. On a couple of occasions it had to pull up quite sharpish to avoid running into the back of the 108 as it was so much faster.

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
danjama said:
Thanks everybody for your comments and for looking! I wish I lived close enough to Duxford to get some of their traffic overhead. We don't get anything out of the ordinary here in Romford.

The Blenheim was actually on its debut and has been a really long time under restoration. It looked mint! Looked very slow though, you can imagine why they were shot down in droves early in the war.
I'm sure in full "military power" it was quite a bit faster. They aren't going to thrash it around for obvious reasons.

I saw it in its MkIV guise at Wroughton in 1993 when it performed a "aerial battle" with a Messerschmitt 108 masquerading as a 109. On a couple of occasions it had to pull up quite sharpish to avoid running into the back of the 108 as it was so much faster.
Not really a relevant comparison: An Me 108 is an unarmed light aircraft with inferior performance to the Blenheim (about 150-200mph slower than most adversaries the Blenheim would have faced).

Eric Mc

121,784 posts

264 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Perhaps - but in absolute terms the Blenheim was not that slow. Sure, against single engined fighter opposition it was certainly vulnerable but it was still a reasonably quick aeroplane for its time.

It had two 900 hp engines - which would have given it a bit of poke.

I think its main problem was lack of defensive firepower and armour. Of course, attempts to rectify these shortcomings made it heavier - and compromised its performance. But I still think it was a useful aeroplane - provided the 109s and 110s stayed away.

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Perhaps - but in absolute terms the Blenheim was not that slow. Sure, against single engined fighter opposition it was certainly vulnerable but it was still a reasonably quick aeroplane for its time.

It had two 900 hp engines - which would have given it a bit of poke.

I think its main problem was lack of defensive firepower and armour. Of course, attempts to rectify these shortcomings made it heavier - and compromised its performance. But I still think it was a useful aeroplane - provided the 109s and 110s stayed away.
Fair points smile

Regardless of it's drawbacks, it's still a desirable and compelling aircraft to me. There's a fantastic book of a Blenheim pilot's experiences during the war, including night ops. It's quite an endearing aircraft. The name of the book escapes me now, though i'm sure it's something simple like 'Night Fighter'.

I've seen an Me108 perform a couple of times - they're nimble but quite slow. Fair point that of course they weren't thrashing the Blenheim around Duxford smile

Eric Mc

121,784 posts

264 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
I fell in love with the Blenheim as a kid when I read the book "Night Fighter" which was the story of Bob Braham's night fighting experiences on Blenheims, Beaufighters and Mosquitoes.

aeropilot

34,302 posts

226 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
danjama said:
There's a fantastic book of a Blenheim pilot's experiences during the war, including night ops. It's quite an endearing aircraft. The name of the book escapes me now, though i'm sure it's something simple like 'Night Fighter'.
Was written by 'Jimmy' Rawnsley, who was a Radar Op rather than a pilot, and flew most of the time as Radar Op to John 'Cats Eyes' Cunningham, who was one of the RAF's top night fighter pilots (and became a renowned post war test pilot for de Havilland)

Yup, reading that book in junior school back in the early 70's sparked my interest in the RAF 'twins' of Blenheim, Beaufighter and Mosquito....much to the annoyance of my ultra-left wing, CND supporting teacher at the time laugh

Ali Chappussy

876 posts

144 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
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Danjama

You must have been standing/sitting right next to me as mine are almost identical to yours.......scary or what!

Mutley

3,178 posts

258 months

Friday 29th May 2015
quotequote all
dr_gn said:
Technically, it's not a Blenheim at all.
OK Doc, this has piqued my interest. If not a Blenheim, what is it?