Remembering the Few

[GadgeS3C]

Just spotted that the Few have become one Fewer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20040676

On this page is Flt Lt William Walker reading a poem to the Few - quite emotional listening.

RIP

Edited by GadgeS3C on Tuesday 23 October 10:34

[Simpo Two]

Just spoiled by the footage the BBC chose which a B-17 and I think some P-47 Thunderbolts...

[GJB]

Noticed in The Telegraph newspaper on-line they said that after he was shot down he had a .303 bullet removed from his ankle. Sounds like another friendly fire incident.

"Within minutes, three Spitfires had been shot down. As Walker attacked a Bf 109 his Spitfire was hit from behind and he was wounded in the leg. The controls were shot away and Walker was forced to bail out at 20,000ft. He landed in the English Channel very close to a sandbank, which he was able to reach. Shortly afterwards, suffering from hypothermia, he was picked up by a fishing boat.

A large crowd cheered as he was landed at Ramsgate, but the badly damaged hospital there was unable to deal with his wound. He was taken instead to an RAF hospital where a .303 bullet was removed from his ankle, a souvenir he kept for the rest of his life."

[Simpo Two]

GJB said:

Noticed in The Telegraph newspaper on-line they said that after he was shot down he had a .303 bullet removed from his ankle. Sounds like another friendly fire incident.

Outrageous. Clearly the culprit committed GBH with intention to murder. The MoD should open an enquiry, trace the offender, and then, because he is dead, sue the descendants. That's how things seem to work these days.

The BBC had it as 'armour piercing'; .303 probably doesn't look much different from 7.62; the reporter wouldn't recognise a Spitfire if it parked next to him and probably thinks all guns are '303'. Move along I say.