tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post622168323317378426..comments2023-03-31T08:26:17.996-07:00Comments on Hanging On My Word: Side OrdersLittle Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11862657943846727987noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-36566421001253795862014-02-17T02:21:04.875-08:002014-02-17T02:21:04.875-08:00my grand dad was also a flight mechanic although f...my grand dad was also a flight mechanic although from huntly aberdeenshire, came to work down in lincolnshire, looking at his vague records he went around a few of the camps. but swinderby was his main one. so i look at the picture thinking one could have been him. sadly he died when my nanny had just become pregnant for my dad so we know nothing more about him. but i would love to get something for my dad to know something about his dadAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402229649394267511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-78368399145195129622012-10-21T16:30:31.655-07:002012-10-21T16:30:31.655-07:00What an amazing time that was in all of Europe and...What an amazing time that was in all of Europe and of course had it not been for men like your dad, our lives would be quite different. Great photos and story.Stafford Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03048757515249725540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-31049229456590056502012-10-18T18:15:15.767-07:002012-10-18T18:15:15.767-07:00I love that picture of your Dad and his jaunty cap...I love that picture of your Dad and his jaunty cap. He looks so young and handsome!<br />BarbaraNorth County Film Clubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13683794164957833415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-58276246488902787932012-10-18T07:25:21.404-07:002012-10-18T07:25:21.404-07:00Yes! I Never Thought About It Before but your righ...Yes! I Never Thought About It Before but your right about the fashion for wearing caps at an angle I have photos of my Dad (Polish Free Airforce) & My Uncle (RAF) & they both wear them the same.The backdraught of the planes??!!:)tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03746435400444226665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-89456933789441718082012-10-17T07:18:54.587-07:002012-10-17T07:18:54.587-07:00What a wonderful photograph! The ground crew was ...What a wonderful photograph! The ground crew was kind of like the pit crew at today's car races but with a much more important task - to ensure the safety of the flight crew and help win the war! Very interesting back story, I really enjoyed it.<br /><br />TeresaTeresa Wilson Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07340825601857084302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-9650525763981098502012-10-16T19:00:49.504-07:002012-10-16T19:00:49.504-07:00Nice homage to the ground crew without whom,
none...Nice homage to the ground crew without whom, <br />none of it would have been possible [for long].<br />Judging from the angle of their hats, <br />do military men have a sense of humor?...<br />Hmmm...<br />:D~ <br />HUGZBruno Lalibertéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09607511642101907283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-48179007399886854062012-10-15T15:35:51.067-07:002012-10-15T15:35:51.067-07:00My husband, who was a helicopter pilot always talk...My husband, who was a helicopter pilot always talked about the importance of the mechanics who worked on his plane. He would always try to get the very best ones assigned to him. So your dad did a vitally important job for the country. I'll bet at 91, he's very proud and you are proud of him too.<br />NancyNorth County Film Clubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13683794164957833415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-43355692439917925622012-10-14T10:30:30.063-07:002012-10-14T10:30:30.063-07:00Really enjoyed your pictures and the stories behin...Really enjoyed your pictures and the stories behind them! And glad to hear that you still have your father with you!Kathyhttp://abbieandeveline.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-16425463409044307842012-10-14T10:14:22.395-07:002012-10-14T10:14:22.395-07:00They did a good job! Without them the war would ha...They did a good job! Without them the war would have turned out totally different ... Rob From Amersfoorthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126935681056217032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-35674026093222131282012-10-14T09:46:07.453-07:002012-10-14T09:46:07.453-07:00Every time I read one of your posts about your fat...Every time I read one of your posts about your father repairing aircraft in WWII, it reminds me of my Dad who also serviced aircraft in the US. By the time he was old enough to enlist, the airplanes were held together by bailing wire and whatever bits and pieces they could scrounge together to keep them going. To this day, my father avoids flying saying "They can't just pull off to the side of the road when they break down."Liz Strattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14355785887810653358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-82036014702944479812012-10-14T08:12:09.514-07:002012-10-14T08:12:09.514-07:00He is so young and so cute in these pictures! As ...He is so young and so cute in these pictures! As I was reading your description of what he did, it reminded me of what the pit-crew does in a NASCAR race. Except, of course, it wasn't a sport. Wonderful post, and I learned a lot. Thank you.<br /><br />Kathy M. Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07171271956883698673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-62450715661471635632012-10-13T19:56:37.798-07:002012-10-13T19:56:37.798-07:00It's neat that your dad still has his chip bag...It's neat that your dad still has his chip bag hat from so many years ago. I think it would be a fun idea to take his picture wearing it now to contrast with the photo of him wearing the hat as a young man.Queen Beehttp://www.beeskneesdaily.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-30840822922068297672012-10-13T16:33:50.726-07:002012-10-13T16:33:50.726-07:00What great photos these are! And I had the same q...What great photos these are! And I had the same question as Wendy (great minds you know). Just how did those chip bag hats stay on at that jaunty angle?<br /><br />Please thank your dad for me for his military service.Jana Iverson Lasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07687969613629975601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-62268059377786374532012-10-13T14:43:10.920-07:002012-10-13T14:43:10.920-07:00Chip bag hats, love it! I note some of them don...Chip bag hats, love it! I note some of them don't have their hats on, they'd be put into the brig for that wouldn't they? Or whatever the equivalent is in the Army :)courtneycotton01@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13800100799965404408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-90190747878605052032012-10-13T11:07:28.401-07:002012-10-13T11:07:28.401-07:00I have visited Swinderby and Coningsby many times ...I have visited Swinderby and Coningsby many times Our home is less than 10 miles from where Thornaby airfield use to be. I wrote about the Thornaby Spitfire in a Sepia post back in April and a book called Kipper Patrol (based on wartime flying from Thornaby) back in 2010.<br />The Swinderby group picture is superb with the plane behind the men. Keeping planes in the air was an essential for our success in the war - thanks to men like your father. The aircrew billeted with us were always singing their praises.Bob Scotneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662958579705940009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-32245756398930995202012-10-13T09:57:31.216-07:002012-10-13T09:57:31.216-07:00Those hats had a lot of names...my Dad called them...Those hats had a lot of names...my Dad called them "life boat" hats. I won't tell you what my husband called them.<br />Helen Killeen Bauch McHarguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07042488205276127209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-60155611541484792882012-10-13T09:55:52.008-07:002012-10-13T09:55:52.008-07:00Yes, I agree jaunty all the way. What a treasure, ...Yes, I agree jaunty all the way. What a treasure, your first photo is just remarkable. My mother did something with so many of my father's days in the Navy and I only hope to recover them all some day. I have to laugh too, did they use bobby pins to hold those hats on? Enjoy your weekend- any fun art museums planned for the weekend? I'm still forming my plans for today! This time of year there are so many festivals around, it's hard to pick where to go!21 Witshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00071361755673253230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-39582330522356492922012-10-13T05:04:15.840-07:002012-10-13T05:04:15.840-07:00Love this, Nell! That term "chip bag hat"...Love this, Nell! That term "chip bag hat" was so appropriate. I had never heard that before, and it made me smile.<br /><br />Did you ever see the series, "Spitfire Aces"? It was really amazing. The interviews with the pilots who actually flew them was the best part by far - brought a tear to my eye on more than one occasion.<br /><br />KatKat Mortensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877694888419628533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-4852510583243581212012-10-12T20:22:49.946-07:002012-10-12T20:22:49.946-07:00A fine post for this week's theme. A few years...A fine post for this week's theme. A few years ago I went on a tour of WW2 era planes that were still in flying condition and had come to our local airport. The spartan interiors and the complex arrangement of mechanical and hydraulics controls were amazing. The care and attention that men like your father gave these planes was every bit as valuable to the war effort as that of the pilots and air crews. <br />Mike Brubakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13065245846262417519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-72264616450507813702012-10-12T18:27:57.552-07:002012-10-12T18:27:57.552-07:00How did those chip bag hats stay on?? I enjoyed th...How did those chip bag hats stay on?? I enjoyed this tribute to the men who stayed on the ground in order to keep others in the air.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17863357756727783017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-54789946610509716502012-10-12T11:28:55.912-07:002012-10-12T11:28:55.912-07:00Not only your father's cap, but also his pose ...Not only your father's cap, but also his pose is at a jaunty angle.Postcardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16399915833682943432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-86795476224130094422012-10-11T22:41:14.359-07:002012-10-11T22:41:14.359-07:00That's a great photograph, and I'll bet yo...That's a great photograph, and I'll bet your dad can still name a good many of his comrades grouped with him.<br /><br />No RAF members in this family, although my Grandfather served in the Royal Observer Corps during the war. He was always very proud of that.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13494219959077922220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-16094703610969812862012-10-11T15:16:38.240-07:002012-10-11T15:16:38.240-07:00I never liked the chip bag hat, preferring my SD h...I never liked the chip bag hat, preferring my SD hat - the one with a peak. However, berets were more suitable in the windy conditions at Mount Pleasant in the Falklands - chasing a SD hat downwind was not dignified! I think the reason the chip bag was liked in WWII was that, when removed and folded flat, it could be secured under the shoulder strap of the battledress or "hairy blue" jacket.Caminantehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17646486944120926042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-81728903738072865002012-10-11T12:45:35.111-07:002012-10-11T12:45:35.111-07:00I liked it when you said "whilst WE were stat...I liked it when you said "whilst WE were stationed at RAF Coningsby". I mean, it was not just Daddy doing his duty, the whole family did. That was how it was felt, I guess. And although I cannot say this from my own experience you may tell your father that people in Holland loved seeing all his planes flying overhead. If there was any hope for better times, it was seeing the aircraft roaring east!Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08512412669995490110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7335697599281687572.post-29838522777958780342012-10-11T11:58:31.168-07:002012-10-11T11:58:31.168-07:00That group photo at Swinderby with the ground crew...That group photo at Swinderby with the ground crew posing proudly in front of the bomber is excellent, and a perfect fit for the theme this week. I'd never heard of the term "chip bag hats."Brett Paynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706734864792449845noreply@blogger.com