This one is for you Judy…
Dean Black started this little quiz last year… the KH game. It was a way to find all the letters of the alphabet with the KH code.
Now we have someone who is sharing what he knows about Spitfires.
Pat Murphy wrote a comment on Easter Sunday and then the throttle on this blog opened wide.
I am used to this on this blog and on my others blogs. How it all started is quite interesting.
It started with the story of a Canadian destroyer sunk on April 29, 1944. I had never heard of it before even though I thought I was quite knowledgeable about WWII when I started getting interested in WWII in 1958 as a young boy coming from school. The blog Lest We Forget and its French version led me to meet Georges Stewart virtually and later in person.
While staying at a B&B in Hamilton I met a young man whose grandfather was a Spitfire pilot.
This is how this blog started in September 2011. Now, a new chapter opens up with Pat sharing what he knows about Spitfires and pilots who flew them.
Pat knows a lot.
He sent me lots of stuff since Easter Sunday. I did not know who Pat was before he wrote a comment.
Pierre, I very much enjoy your 403 Squadron information, do you have an email address so that I can provide some information to you. I have searched your website for your contact info/ email and can’t seem to find it. I have a Canadian Spitfire display in a museum here on Vancouver Island complete with some 403 Squadron Spitfires that you might find interesting. Recently I’ve included a Spitfire flown by Doug Lindsay of 403 Squadron to the display. I met Doug at his home in Red Deer Alberta a few ago when I was having him sign some limited edition aviation prints for the Y2-K Spitfire restoration project. Doug provided me with the details for his model Spitfire when I called him a few weeks ago. The display also features a model of George Aitkens Spitfire, George provided me with his details as well.
Pat Murphy Vancouver Island Military Museum Nanaimo B.C.
When you don’t know someone they in fact don’t exist.
Just like George Aitken and his Spitfire.
Just like this museum in Nanaimo.
Or this pilot’s Spitfire…
George Aitken is not a little known Spitfire pilot anymore.
He is not only a post on this blog that I wrote in March 2012.
George is much much more…
Much more…
And what about that model airplane of KH-L?
Pat wrote this…
Pierre,
I forgot to mention the details behind the reason George Aitken had roundels on his wheel covers. He was visiting an American bomber base at one time and he noticed that some of the bombers had a large star painted on the wheel covers of the bombers, George thought it looked good and when he returned to his own base he mentioned it to his ground crew. The next few days were very rainy and all operations had been cancelled. When opps went back on he noticed that his ground crew had painted the roundel on the wheel covers of his Spitfire, I believe it was the only RCAF Spitfire to wear such markings. When George saw the markings applied to his model he was most pleased.
A reblogué ceci sur Lest We Forget and commented:
The follow-up post about I will always remember
AITKEN, George Dennis
With heavy hearts, the family of George D. Aitken, AFC, announce his passing on January 11, 2012 at the age of 91.
Survived by his best friend and loving wife of 62 years, Daphne; his three daughters: Deborah Sprenger (Wolfgang), Heather Rawsthorne (Mike) and Dorothy Lowrie; his sister-in-law, Marjorie Aitken and many nieces and nephews.
George was predeceased by his parents, a brother and a number of life-long friends and family members.
A Spitfire pilot during WWII and an Air Force Cross recipient, George spent his retirement years working as an historian, documenting facts pertaining to his experiences during the war. It was his belief that if we do not learn from history, we will be forced to relive it one day.
At George’s request, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your charity of choice.
I added a link to my post I wrote when you told me about George last year.
This blog is now at a crossroad with Pat sharing his information on Spitfires and the pilots who flew them.
Pierre
I’m reworking a “Forces of Valour” 1/32 Spit Mk IX as KH-R, serial #MJ480.
My father, F/Sgt Leonard Weston, was a member of 403, and was commander of the Electrical Section of 127 Wing.
I’ve got a number of photos which I will try to send, including shots of 127’s Auster, as well as a 118 Squadron Kittyhawk, VW-H, crashed in Alaska in 1942.
Lorne Weston
Mount Forest, Ont.
I just wrote you an e-mail.
Pierre
Lorne’s photographs from his father’s time with 403 will be very exciting to see. Please post them soon!
As soon as he sends me things I will post them right away.
So, Pierre,a question. What is the status of the KH game right now?
Follow this link
https://rcaf403squadron.wordpress.com/tag/the-kh-game/
We have not found all the letters.
It’s just a pretext to find pilots and pay homage to them.
https://rcaf403squadron.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/more-than-just-a-game/
The JOY is in the quest and the baby steps in the process.
Fantastic story, you always find the best.
Readers find me and are willing to share… More is coming your way.
The story of two brothers. Pat is writing it for the blog.
Stay tuned.
You know I’ll be waiting.