Amazing the people you meet.
Discussion
Was at an aunt's drinks party today and found myself talking to an old chap in the corner, 86 years old.
Turned out he'd been at Rolls Royce before WW2 working on engines for the Schneider Trophy seaplanes. Joined the RAF as an engineer, got posted to Singapore, managed to escape just the Japs took it, spent 17 days in the jungle until they bumped into a Black Watch patrol, drove a truck full of detonators to the front line (they lost 4 of the 14 trucks to Jap planes), made it to the nearest friendly port and presented himself to a Sqn/Ldr, was told to get on the nearest ship home. Some time into the cruise, lying on a hatch cover with 3 mates, there was a loud bang and he found himself in the water watching the ship sink. After 4 days at sea a Dutch Dornier spotted them and directed a destroyer to pick them up. Back to port! Watched the Empire Star leave: http://www.bluestarline.org/empire2.html and come back shortly afterwards having been strafed by Jap planes. There was more but I can't remember it.
Makes you realise what safe, dull lives we lead now.
Turned out he'd been at Rolls Royce before WW2 working on engines for the Schneider Trophy seaplanes. Joined the RAF as an engineer, got posted to Singapore, managed to escape just the Japs took it, spent 17 days in the jungle until they bumped into a Black Watch patrol, drove a truck full of detonators to the front line (they lost 4 of the 14 trucks to Jap planes), made it to the nearest friendly port and presented himself to a Sqn/Ldr, was told to get on the nearest ship home. Some time into the cruise, lying on a hatch cover with 3 mates, there was a loud bang and he found himself in the water watching the ship sink. After 4 days at sea a Dutch Dornier spotted them and directed a destroyer to pick them up. Back to port! Watched the Empire Star leave: http://www.bluestarline.org/empire2.html and come back shortly afterwards having been strafed by Jap planes. There was more but I can't remember it.
Makes you realise what safe, dull lives we lead now.
simpo two said:What an absolute star! The plane that won the last Schneider Trophy before the war was a forerunner of the Spitfire with an early Merlin engine.
Was at an aunt's drinks party today and found myself talking to an old chap in the corner, 86 years old.
Turned out he'd been at Rolls Royce before WW2 working on engines for the Schneider Trophy seaplanes. Joined the RAF as an engineer, got posted to Singapore, managed to escape just the Japs took it, spent 17 days in the jungle until they bumped into a Black Watch patrol, drove a truck full of detonators to the front line (they lost 4 of the 14 trucks to Jap planes), made it to the nearest friendly port and presented himself to a Sqn/Ldr, was told to get on the nearest ship home. Some time into the cruise, lying on a hatch cover with 3 mates, there was a loud bang and he found himself in the water watching the ship sink. After 4 days at sea a Dutch Dornier spotted them and directed a destroyer to pick them up. Back to port! Watched the Empire Star leave: www.bluestarline.org/empire2.html and come back shortly afterwards having been strafed by Jap planes. There was more but I can't remember it.
Makes you realise what safe, dull lives we lead now.
Zod said:
What an absolute star! The plane that won the last Schneider Trophy before the war was a forerunner of the Spitfire with an early Merlin engine.
Yep, he knew the 'R' engine which developed 2000hp but was, like F1 engines, too highly stressed for operational use. I have a book called 'The Engines were Rolls Royce' by Ronnie Harker and he knew him, though not Hooker who was the supercharging expert. Supercharging was largely responsible for helping the Spitfire keep up with the Me109 and Fw190.
Great story Simpo ,i love listening to these old stories and hearing them makes me fell very cosseted and humble.
I went to visit my parents yesterday and listened as my old dad (81) speak about his times in the RAF,and my Grandads time in the RN(he wouldnt marry till he became a CPO).
I love to get my Fathers view on the world today and find those that have been there and done it give a more level headed view,i asked him about the Iraq situation,to which he replied a couple of the only people to keep control in Iraq were SH and Bomber Harris,
,but thats another story.
I went to visit my parents yesterday and listened as my old dad (81) speak about his times in the RAF,and my Grandads time in the RN(he wouldnt marry till he became a CPO).
I love to get my Fathers view on the world today and find those that have been there and done it give a more level headed view,i asked him about the Iraq situation,to which he replied a couple of the only people to keep control in Iraq were SH and Bomber Harris,
,but thats another story.Amazing! I didn't think anyone could survive for 4 days in the water?
I was working on my car a few weeks ago and this old timer who was walking by struck up a conversation as I was lying under the car, can't remember all the details of his story but it involved being in the forces and also launching one one of the big Japanese companies in the uk, hitachi I think it was.
When I get old, even if I have no real stories, I'm gonna invent some stunners! One of the perks of old age - you can say what you want and no-one is rude enough to question you
I was working on my car a few weeks ago and this old timer who was walking by struck up a conversation as I was lying under the car, can't remember all the details of his story but it involved being in the forces and also launching one one of the big Japanese companies in the uk, hitachi I think it was.
When I get old, even if I have no real stories, I'm gonna invent some stunners! One of the perks of old age - you can say what you want and no-one is rude enough to question you
jazzgirl said:
Amazing! I didn't think anyone could survive for 4 days in the water?
They had some kind of wreckage to sit/hang on to: he said they could see sharks circling and pulled their legs in when they came too close...
Actually, that gives me an idea for a 'celebrity TV' game...
Last one not eaten wins.
simpo two said:
Amazing! I didn't think anyone could survive for 4 days in the water?
They had some kind of wreckage to sit/hang on to: he said they could see sharks circling and pulled their legs in when they came too close...
Actually, that gives me an idea for a 'celebrity TV' game...
The only problem with that is that one of them survives, how about the last one eaten gets the honour of a posthumous victory?
Have so much respect for these guys, it's unreal. Very difficult to imagine, when you see this little old guy wondering around the streets, what exactly they did during these times, or the fact that they were once as yound/old as you or I!!
We all have a lot to thank them for, and may we never forget that.
Cheers.
We all have a lot to thank them for, and may we never forget that.
Cheers.
waynester said:
I have his log book. (treasured)
Priceless. There's a section dedicated to Bomber Command in Ely Cathedral; worth a visit if you'r nearby.
And the thing that draws wonder is that they were just ordinary people like you and I, but living in extraordinary times.
>> Edited by simpo two on Monday 31st October 13:17
Still goes on today of course...
My husband is a pilot in the RAF and some of our friends were killed recently when a hercules was shot down in Iraq. At the moment he is flying aid in and out of Pakistan (thank goodness it's not a war zone!).
We have great respect for the efforts of all people defending the country, past and present. When we think of those kids who were sent up to fly the planes in WW2 it doesn't bear thinking about.
My husband is a pilot in the RAF and some of our friends were killed recently when a hercules was shot down in Iraq. At the moment he is flying aid in and out of Pakistan (thank goodness it's not a war zone!).
We have great respect for the efforts of all people defending the country, past and present. When we think of those kids who were sent up to fly the planes in WW2 it doesn't bear thinking about.
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