U-7 The story

Many years ago I bought this novelty teapot in a charity shop. It has been displayed ever since on a shelf in my house. I have often wondered about U7, did it exist? Well, it certainly did Stanley and here is the story. Every bit of its story is off the internet. German submarine U-7  A

Shoreham’s BF109

Messerschmitt BF109E-1 Werke/Nr.5068 flown by Oberleutenant Paul Temme, Gruppe Adjutant of I/JG 2 Richtofen. Aircraft was brought down at 0710am on the 13th August 1940. He belly landed his aircraft on New Salts Farm just to the south of Shoreham Airfield in Sussex.Records now show that it was claimed by Sgt Jack Percival Mills of

Ancestors from WW1 & WW2

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month we shall remember. These notes along with attached photos are in remembrance of my ancestors who participated in those wars and in one case lost his life. Private: George William Short. I have written many times about my great uncle George W Short,

Waking a sleeping Tiger

There’s an old saying that goes “Never wake a sleeping tiger.” which is an analogy that means don’t create problems that you can’t handle. It might also mean don’t bring up memories that might still get you into trouble. V E Day 8th May 1945 a date that holds such significance in many memories. Every year

Emily and James Short

First of all before I start this piece it contains a new look into the history of the ‘Short’ side of our family and an insight into something I was unaware of. The detail that has come to light is regarding, ‘Emily Strutt Short’ and ‘James Albert Short’ her son. Here are a few dates

‘Marines’ story, an update

Maxence Druelle Fourniez, tells the story of his great aunt ‘Marine Fourniez’ The French resistance called her ‘Agnes’ My young French friend ‘Maxence Druelle Fourniez’ is the great-nephew of resistance member ‘Marine Fourniez’ Maxence achieved his ambition on 22nd February 2021 to have ‘Marine Fourniez’s work with the resistance recognized, he has particularly concentrated his

Two Stories from Chicago

I obtained the basic story lines from a post sent to me in an E-mail. They both intrigued me so I researched the story lines and developed them into what you are about to read here. STORY NUMBER ONE Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. But Capone wasn’t famous for anything heroic. He

They called her ‘Agnes’

  My young French friend ‘Maxence Druelle Fourniez’ is the great-nephew of resistance member ‘Marine Fourniez’ Maxence achieved his ambition on 22nd February 2021 to have ‘Marine Fourniez’s work with the resistance recognized, he has particularly concentrated his efforts towards a street in her name. It was on that same day she received a decoration

The bravery of Therese

I recently posted a story on Facebook about ‘Marine Fourniez’, a very brave young lady who operated with the French resistance in WW2. It was shortly after I made that posting, that I was told of another brave young lady. ‘Therese Bourgignon’ A friend of mine in France (Pierrick Meron) has been working on a

Gremlins, Vortexes and Turbulence.

Gremlins are well documented throughout aviation circles and in the case of Shoreham Airport I firmly believe they hang out on the riverbank wall at the threshold of runway 25. The eastern end of Shoreham Airfield is bordered by the river Adur and an earth bank was built to prevent the high tides bursting the

I to Eye (a diversion)

The Piper Pawnee is a single seater crop spraying aircraft. Firstly I must say I have never operated as a crop sprayer pilot, but I did do ground handling for Jim Pearce’s crop spraying company out of Shoreham Airfield in the 1980’s. Mainly loading the hopper as he operated around Sussex, but also flying the

Rex and Brendon’s bike shops

I left Middle Road secondary modern school in Shoreham, Sussex in 1964, at the age of 15. In some disgrace I might add, as I had given up on schooling after being told I could not stay on for a GCE in art as I (in their opinion) would have no chance in taking Maths

A short research inspired by a photograph

The first photograph in this piece is of an operational flight board for 609 Squadron during the height of the Battle of Britain in 1940. It is dated 13th August 1940 and contains the names of 13 duty pilots for that day. On that date 609 Squadron was based at Middle Wallop and some interesting

Tangmere Commonwealth War Graves for Battle of Britain Day 15th September 80 years on.

Battle of Britain Day 15th September The churchyard of St. Andrew in Tangmere is situated to the west of the R.A.F. Aerodrome at Tangmere. It is in Church Lane and has been used for the burial of airmen from this station both before and since the 1939-1945 War. There are 39 Commonwealth burials of the

The White horse in a field and an old soldier over the fence.

The 1980’s brought me into contact with some great people in the aviation fraternity and led me into flying some really interesting aircraft types. It also saw me flying into some interesting places as well. This particular story I am about to tell saw me flying an old Army Auster 6, G-ATDN, better known in

A light bulb on vacation.

Back in the mid-nineties, when I was working for American Airlines as a Flight Operations Agent, planning flights, briefing crews, and coordinating everything to ensure flights arrived and departed on time. The flight operations room had very few windows and was lit with harsh fluorescent lights, which are difficult to work with due to their

Departing Flight Ops

Some eighteen years ago I left a job, not just any job. It was a job I loved and enjoyed. I had been working for American Airlines for twelve years, most of that time within American Flight Operations at Heathrow. The job had become more of a vocation than a career. I had raised my

Musings from my mum

My Mum (Marie Doreen Pook) passed away on the 11th October 2017. My sister Janette and I were looking in her cupboards for some wishes that she wanted us to carry out regarding her funeral, this had been written out some time before and was supposed to be in the cabinet in the lounge. We

Two Canadian heroes of WW2

Pilot Officer Robert Dunlop Davidson, 401 Squadron(Royal Canadian Air Force) Service number J/88096. Whilst driving around the district of Orne in France, I found the grave of a young Canadian Airman. He lies within the beautiful church and cemetery of Notre-Dame de Lignou, near Couterne. His resting place is in the corner of the cemetery,

Two followers of Dame Vera.

On the 18th June 2020 we mourned the loss of Our Forces sweetheart (Vera Lynn). It brought together two meetings in my past when I was fortunate enough to meet Dame Vera. Both memories involved ex-servicemen from World War 2. The first was after meeting a man in Oklahoma who landed on Omaha Beach on