Thanks Air Marshall. As far as I know my Dad got his wings about the time the war ended, so must have been weeks away from going to Japan. He's the one third from the left standing.
On another note. Each year at the Upperthong Gala here in June in Yorkshire, we get a fly past normally by a Spitfire and a Hurricane and a Lancaster. In the nearby town of Holmfirth is a character called 'Johnny Spitfire' . He's a bit simple but harmless and about 35 or so. He is Spitfire mad and can recite the serial numbers in order of most spitfires that ever existed it seems. He also does an amazing impression of a spitfire flying, though if you stand too close to him you are likely to be showered in spittle. Perhaps he takes the name too literally.
Every year he goes to all the major shows like the one in Duxford.
Once he went up as a passenger paid for by his mother weeks before she died. He has a video of it.
His ambition is to go up again, but he is just a simple labourer with little money.
If there is anyone out there who might squeeze him onto a Spitfire flight, he'd be in 7th Heaven.
Finally, the last time my Dad flew was when we were stationed at RAF Marham very early 1960's 1960 -1963 I think. Then he flew Valiants as a squadron leader.
As a young scrote, I enjoyed Marham. There was a dump where my friends and I could find old gas masks and sit in the clapped out cockpit of a knackered bomber. I also liked the bloodhound missiles around the airfield perimeter and of course the 1962 Winter where for 3 weeks there was no school from all the snow.
Thanks for the history chaps.
Jeremy
p.s. OP ten beers seems like a good idea. I'd recommend the Riverhead in Marsden which brews its own nectar and a proper pub strewn with dogs (of both varieties)[/img]
http://www.riverheadbrewery.co.uk/home/home.html
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You'll never manage to spy in Britain properly. Still, you'll probably say the beers not cold or something.