britfrog 180 Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Arthur Louis Aaron VC. The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the VICTORIA CROSS on the undermentioned airman in recognition of most conspicuous bravery:— 1458181 Acting Flight Sergeant Arthur Louis AARON, D.F.M., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 218 Squadron (deceased). On the night of 12th August, 1943, Flight Sergeant Aaron was captain and pilot of a Stirling aircraft detailed to attack Turin. When approaching to attack, the bomber received devastating bursts of fire from an enemy fighter. Three engines were hit, the windscreen shattered, the front and rear turrets put out of action and the elevator control damaged, causing the aircraft to become unstable and difficult to control. The navigator was killed and other members of the crew were wounded. A bullet struck Flight Sergeant Aaron in the face, breaking his jaw and tearing away part of his face. He was also wounded in the lung and his right arm was rendered useless. As he fell forward over the control column, the aircraft dived several thousand feet. Control was regained by the flight engineer at 3,000 feet. Unable to speak, Flight Sergeant Aaron urged the bomb aimer by signs to take over the controls. Course was then set southwards in an endeavour to fly the crippled bomber, with one engine out of action, to Sicily or North Africa. Flight Sergeant Aaron was assisted to the rear of the aircraft and treated with morphia. After resting for some time he rallied and, mindful of his responsibility as captain of aircraft, insisted on returning to the pilot's cockpit, where he was lifted into his seat and had his feet placed on the rudder bar. Twice he made determined attempts to take control and hold the aircraft to its course but his weakness was evident and with difficulty he was persuaded to desist. Though in great pain and suffering from exhaustion, he continued to help by writing directions with his left hand. Five hours after leaving the target the petrol began to run low, but soon afterwards the flare path at Bone airfield was sighted. Flight Sergeant Aaron summoned his failing strength to direct the bomb aimer in the hazardous task of landing the damaged aircraft in the darkness with undercarriage retracted. Four attempts were made under his direction; at the fifth Flight Sergeant Aaron was so near to collapsing that he had to be restrained by the crew and the landing was completed by the bomb aimer. Nine hours after landing, Flight Sergeant Aaron died from exhaustion. Had he been content, when grievously wounded, to lie still and conserve his failing strength, he would probably have recovered, but he saw it as his duty to exert himself to the utmost, if necessary with his last breath, to ensure that his aircraft and crew did not fall into enemy hands. In appalling conditions he showed the greatest qualities of courage, determination and leadership and, though wounded and dying, he set an example of devotion to duty which has seldom been equalled and never surpassed. A memorial scholarship to help with architectural studies, first launched in his honor in 1944, was still awarded into the twenty-first century. In 2001, a millennium statue was erected in his native Leeds Was flying a Shorts Stirling at the time - an amazing piece I remember reading about this mans heroism some 30 years ago, truly singular person , we could do with more like him today, none of this nanby pamby stuff Link to post Share on other sites
britfrog 180 Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 More on TWA 800 here: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/twa_flight_ymC4aGmyHcNx6qVXdDeShK As Shakespeare said: "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark". Cheers - Dai. this is going to run and run however like the airliner that was shot down in the irish sea many years ago, the government will mount a huge operation , regardless of cost to debunk the investigation, and will inevitably win regardless of the truth Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,315 Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 No, really, say it ain't so. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted September 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 The Messerschmitt Me 163 A (V4) flew for the first time today in 1941 On this day in 1974, the SR-71 Blackbird broke the record for Speed Over a Recognized Course: New York to London with an average speed of 1,806.964 mph. Maj. James V. Sullivan and Maj. Noel F. Widdifield traveled the 3,461.53 miles in one hour, 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,315 Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 Not to downgrade the importance of the Me 163A but it looks like it would come to a stop and 30 clowns would get out of it. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted September 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2013 Battle of the Atlantic On This Day: 3 September 1939 Six hours after receiving the order to commence hostilities, the first British ship to be sunk by the Germans in WW2 was torpedoed. The passenger liner SS ATHENIA had sailed from Glasgow for Montreal two days earlier and was sunk by U-30 without warning in contravention of international law. Nearly 120 lives were lost. The Battle of the Atlantic had begun on the first day of WW2. The German U-boat Arm had a strength of 57 U-boats and would add a further 1,113 before the end of the war Not aviation but interesting all the same Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted September 3, 2013 Report Share Posted September 3, 2013 The German U-Boat arm had the highest casualty rate of any branch of any country's military in WWII - something like 80%. John Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted September 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2013 Out of 40,000, 30,000 died roughly - shocking really Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 On this day in history, 26th October 1958... the first commercial flight of the Boeing 707 took place between New York and paris. Was Pan Am I believe Have a great day all ! Steph Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted October 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 And a week before the first commercial jet flight across the Atlantic was made in a Comet 4 Carry on posting people! Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 Such a shame about the comet.. the idea was great. Glad they managed to keep that idea alive with the Nimrod.. Link to post Share on other sites
J G 927 Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 When I was a lad I flew to Athens in a Comet 4. I also flew from Venice to the UK in one. Both were DanAir. It is the only time I have ever flown with my back to the engine so to speak. A bit weird on takeoff, but the comet was a gentle climber. nice in the air though as it is quite social to have someone opposite you as you travel. Link to post Share on other sites
jaydor 345 Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 The saying was in them day's John, was "If you wanna scare, fly DanAir" Link to post Share on other sites
J G 927 Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 Too true! I Flew to Gatwick from Majorca as a 12 year old boy in a Dan Ail BAC-111. As we landed with a massive thump the glass in my window split down the middle. When I pointed this out to a stewardess she went pale and rushed off to towards the pilot! It didin't worry me.... but then I was only 12 , It would worry me now! Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 I Flew to Gatwick from Majorca as a 12 year old boy in a Dan Ail BAC-111. My first holiday abroad when I was about 6 was in Majorca and that was on Dan "Dare" Air. I can't remember what ac it was but I have a b&w photo somewhere.. thought it was a BAC-111 but will have to dig it out to check. My husband was Air Force Fire and he flew to Belize on a BAC-111...apparently all the seats faced backwards. Having an interest in "survival factors" it certainly sounded safer that way round. Do flight attendants face the rear so we can see the calming expressions when we hit turbulence?? Always been curious about that.. hummmmm.... Link to post Share on other sites
britfrog 180 Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 I Flew to Gatwick from Majorca as a 12 year old boy in a Dan Ail BAC-111. My first holiday abroad when I was about 6 was in Majorca and that was on Dan "Dare" Air. I can't remember what ac it was but I have a b&w photo somewhere.. thought it was a BAC-111 but will have to dig it out to check. My husband was Air Force Fire and he flew to Belize on a BAC-111...apparently all the seats faced backwards. Having an interest in "survival factors" it certainly sounded safer that way round. Do flight attendants face the rear so we can see the calming expressions when we hit turbulence?? Always been curious about that.. hummmmm.... all RAF transports have rearward facing seats , even to this day, as it makes them more survivable in an accident just shows what the commercial airline operators think of their clients doesnt it? Link to post Share on other sites
J G 927 Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 Dan Air BAC-111 seats were all facing forward as I recall. An interesting aircraft for a young boy, boarding up through the tail. A very noisy plane though. Link to post Share on other sites
hifly 925 Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 It's about time there was a decent 1-11 sim. Weren't they one of Britains biggest exports and best selling airliner? Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted October 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 The best one out there is DM Flight Sim's models - http://www.dmflightsim.co.uk/bac_1-11.htm It does work in FSX, although personally haven't got it installed into FSX Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 all RAF transports have rearward facing seats , even to this day, as it makes them more survivable in an accident just shows what the commercial airline operators think of their clients doesnt it? Thats what I was thinking too...maybe its psycological thing and people don't like facing backwards but if its safer why hasnt it been adopted. ?.food for thought. :-) Steph Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 It is probably demonstrably safer than the other way but probably only marginally so. I'm guessing there is only a tiny fraction of accidents that would be survivable with rear-facing seats and not survivable with forward-facing seats. At some g-force number, the seats begin to separate from the floor and at that point, you're just the meat in a seat sandwich no matter which way you happen to be facing. Besides, after 9/11, passengers want to keep an eye on that cockpit door. John Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,315 Posted November 1, 2013 Report Share Posted November 1, 2013 Plus if your facing rearward you can see the cargo tear free and have more pray time. Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted November 1, 2013 Report Share Posted November 1, 2013 On a happier note.. On this day in history The crew and passengers had a fair bit of pray time, but thankfully the expertise of the pilot came out tops... 2011 forced landing of the LOT 767 after undercarriage failure. Have a great day all :-) Steph Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 On this day in 1964..... the first completely automatic blind landing of a passenger plane took place in dense fog (must have happened in England; fog is something we have a lot of). The aircraft was the iconic HS Trident, a truly remarkable piece of engineering, flown by guys with balls of solid rock! Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted November 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 Must have been very strange and hard to not touch the controls! Link to post Share on other sites
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