Simviation Forum - Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes

Jan 17^th, 2012 at 12:09pm

Flying Trucker Offline
Colonel
An Old Retired Rocking
Chair Flying Geezer

Gender:
Posts: 11425

Having a little fun...old girl is out... Grin

Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes were just part of what saved Merry Old England, The World and my Fathers Favourite Drinking Establishment during the Battle of Britain during World War Two.

Here is who and what else turned the tide for the RAF...Real Air Force...OOPs...did I type that...sorry...I meant Royal Air Force...how foolish of me... Grin

Sir Robert Alexander Watson-Watt KCB, FRS, FRAeS
One of the two men mentioned on the below plaque

Now if you were to ask the sheep in the background they would probably tell you they saved Merry Old England during the Battle of Britain... Grin

The Plaque

Handley Page Heyford....the first aircraft to show up on radar over England...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handley_Page_Heyford

Comments and advice most welcome... Wink

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #1 - Jan 17^th, 2012 at 1:17pm

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159

The Biter Bit

On one occasion, late in life, Watson-Watt reportedly was pulled over in Canada for speeding by a radar-gun toting policeman. His remark was, "Had I known what you were going to do with it I would never have invented it!" He wrote an ironic poem ("Rough Justice") afterwards:

Pity Sir Robert Watson-Watt,

  strange target of this radar plot

And thus, with others I can mention,

  the victim of his own invention.

His magical all-seeing eye

  enabled cloud-bound planes to fly

but now by some ironic twist

  it spots the speeding motorist

and bites, no doubt with legal wit,

  the hand that once created it.

by Sir Robert Watson-Watt 1892 - 1973 http://www.watsonwatt.org/

« Last Edit: Jan 17^th, 2012 at 2:38pm by Hagar »

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #2 - Jan 17^th, 2012 at 2:27pm

Flying Trucker Offline
Colonel
An Old Retired Rocking
Chair Flying Geezer

Gender:
Posts: 11425

That is a wonderful Link Doug...thanks for posting it... Wink

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #3 - Jan 17^th, 2012 at 3:56pm

jetprop Offline
Colonel
A freeware addict!
a chair infront of a monitor.

Posts: 1523

i remember that i saw a ducomentry about the radar.

the germans where wondering why the british knew their aicraft where coming from such a distance.
then the british found out about that and they spread the rumour that carrots improved there eyesight,a mith nowadays.
so another interesting piece of history. Cheesy

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #4 - Jan 17^th, 2012 at 4:39pm

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159

jetprop wrote on Jan 17^th, 2012 at 3:56pm:

i remember that i saw a ducomentry about the radar.

the germans where wondering why the british knew their aicraft where coming from such a distance.
then the british found out about that and they spread the rumour that carrots improved there eyesight,a mith nowadays.
so another interesting piece of history. Cheesy

I suspect you're thinking of RAF night-fighter pilot John "Cat's Eyes" Cunningham. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2146171.stm

His success was explained in the British newspapers as being due to carrots improving his eyesight. This was a propaganda story dreamed up by the British Government to hide the truth that he was assisted by AI (Airborne Interception) Radar fitted to his aircraft. (The Germans weren't the only ones to use propaganda in WWII.) The story was believed by the British public at the time & some still believe it today. It certainly made the humble carrot popular amongst children. Wink

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #5 - Jan 17^th, 2012 at 4:47pm

jetprop Offline
Colonel
A freeware addict!
a chair infront of a monitor.

Posts: 1523

Hagar wrote on Jan 17^th, 2012 at 4:39pm:

jetprop wrote on Jan 17^th, 2012 at 3:56pm:

i remember that i saw a ducomentry about the radar.

the germans where wondering why the british knew their aicraft where coming from such a distance.
then the british found out about that and they spread the rumour that carrots improved there eyesight,a mith nowadays.
so another interesting piece of history. Cheesy

I suspect you're thinking of RAF night-fighter pilot John "Cat's Eyes" Cunningham. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2146171.stm

His success was explained in the British newspapers as being due to carrots improving his eyesight. This was a propaganda story dreamed up by the British Government to hide the truth that he was assisted by AI (Airborne Interception) Radar fitted to his aircraft. (The Germans weren't the only ones to use propaganda in WWII.) The story was believed by the British public at the time & some still believe it today. It certainly made the humble carrot popular amongst children. Wink

could be it,i knew it had something to do with radar,wasn't completely sure tough.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #6 - Jan 17^th, 2012 at 5:45pm

H Offline
Colonel
2003: the year NH couldn't
save face...
NH, USA

Gender:
Posts: 6837

Strange, I was just reworking the CFS1 Ventnor mission this week (making seperate Spitfire, Hurricane, Me109 and Stuka versions).
My military profession was in radar (I've called it my first video game); I remember going to sleep -- and seeing radar blips iinstead of sheep.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #7 - Jan 18^th, 2012 at 8:27am

Flying Trucker Offline
Colonel
An Old Retired Rocking
Chair Flying Geezer

Gender:
Posts: 11425

Thanks for the replies "jetprop and H"...much appreciated... Wink

Yes heard that story many a time as a child about eating carrots... Grin

What I do now is boil one carrot, one parsnip and one potatoe together in a pot of water.

Once they are done I mash in butter and cream cheese and use the back of a large spoon to make them creamy.

I can now fly higher, faster and see much better and if you all believe that I got a bridge to sell... Grin

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Back to top

IP Logged

	Search the archive: