The Plane That Saved Britain

[Skashion]

For any plane enthusiasts, war buffs, or warbird buffs, there's a programme on tonight about the De Havilland Mosquito, a truly awesome plane that flew some of the most amazing feats of the war. Highly versatile, rapid, radar-resistant (the latter two because it was made of wood - and thus very friendly on Britain's stretched supply of raw materials) and caused Goering to remark:

It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy. The British, who can afford aluminium better than we can, knock together a beautiful wooden aircraft that every piano factory over there is building, and they give it a speed which they have now increased yet again. What do you make of that? There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops. After the war is over I'm going to buy a British radio set - then at least I'll own something that has always worked.

I know it clashes with Top Gear, and that's a shame, but I'm going to download Top Gear and watch this instead because a tribute to this magnificent plane deserves an audience. I hope you'll join me, or at least watch it on 4OD. The tale of the Mosquito compares easily to that of the Spitfire if you ask me. I hope Channel 4 have done it justice.

 

[johnny on the spot]

We used to be fucking great at building machines.

 

[BigJimLittleJim]

For any plane enthusiasts, war buffs, or warbird buffs, there's a programme on tonight about the De Havilland Mosquito, a truly awesome plane that flew some of the most amazing feats of the war. Highly versatile, rapid, radar-resistant (the latter two because it was made of wood - and thus very friendly on Britain's stretched supply of raw materials) and caused Goering to remark:

It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy. The British, who can afford aluminium better than we can, knock together a beautiful wooden aircraft that every piano factory over there is building, and they give it a speed which they have now increased yet again. What do you make of that? There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops. After the war is over I'm going to buy a British radio set - then at least I'll own something that has always worked.

I know it clashes with Top Gear, and that's a shame, but I'm going to download Top Gear and watch this instead because a tribute to this magnificent plane deserves an audience. I hope you'll join me, or at least watch it on 4OD. The tale of the Mosquito compares easily to that of the Spitfire if you ask me. I hope Channel 4 have done it justice.

The term Nincompoop is sadly underused in this day and age, I shall endeavour to use it more often, thanks Skash and Herman Goering for bringing it back to my attention :)

 

[1kinkladze]

^^this . Shall be used at work tomorrow

 

[scotty123]

I am not a nincompoop so i will be watching this magnificent sounding programme, 633 squadron and all that

 

[crazyg]

I am not a nincompoop so i will be watching this magnificent sounding programme, 633 squadron and all that

Which, of course, was fictitious, unlike 617 Squadron, which survives today.

 

[scotty123]

I am not a nincompoop so i will be watching this magnificent sounding programme, 633 squadron and all that

Which, of course, was fictitious, unlike 617 Squadron, which survives today.

Still a good film and theme tune

 

[BimboBob]

Cheers for the heads up. 4OD it is then.

 

[samharris]

I am not a nincompoop so i will be watching this magnificent sounding programme, 633 squadron and all that

Which, of course, was fictitious, unlike 617 Squadron, which survives today.

Still a good film and theme tune

Best war theme tune ever..

 

[Tuearts right boot]

Brilliant fighter bomber.Was the first Airfix kit I had.Absolutely gorgeous lines with 2 RR Merlin engines.What more could a kid want,still do......

 

[scotty123]

For any plane enthusiasts, war buffs, or warbird buffs, there's a programme on tonight about the De Havilland Mosquito, a truly awesome plane that flew some of the most amazing feats of the war. Highly versatile, rapid, radar-resistant (the latter two because it was made of wood - and thus very friendly on Britain's stretched supply of raw materials) and caused Goering to remark:

It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy. The British, who can afford aluminium better than we can, knock together a beautiful wooden aircraft that every piano factory over there is building, and they give it a speed which they have now increased yet again. What do you make of that? There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops. After the war is over I'm going to buy a British radio set - then at least I'll own something that has always worked.

I know it clashes with Top Gear, and that's a shame, but I'm going to download Top Gear and watch this instead because a tribute to this magnificent plane deserves an audience. I hope you'll join me, or at least watch it on 4OD. The tale of the Mosquito compares easily to that of the Spitfire if you ask me. I hope Channel 4 have done it justice.

The term Nincompoop is sadly underused in this day and age, I shall endeavour to use it more often, thanks Skash and Herman Goering for bringing it back to my attention :)

Another quote of Fat Hermans was ''if one British bomber reaches the Ruhr you can call me Meyer''
He was known thereafter as Meyer even giving his name as Meyer when sheltering in a Berlin air raid shelter

 

[yerwot?]

could have been better with twin vertical stabilisers, still an amazing versatile aircraft, fighter, bomber, reconnaisance, fitted at various times with cannons machine-guns and even a 2pounder gun

 

[SkyBlueFlux]

I'm no aviation buff, but I'll definitely stick this on my to-watch list, thanks for the heads up.

 

[scotty123]

Just got goose bumps when it flew over the coast

 

[samharris]

Brilliant fighter bomber.Was the first Airfix kit I had.Absolutely gorgeous lines with 2 RR Merlin engines.What more could a kid want,still do......

Basically two spitfires stuck together..

 

[crazyg]

Amazing how the Merlin engine was the power plant for so many aircraft. Spitfire, Mosquito, Lancaster, and Mustang spring immediately to mind.

 

[scotty123]

What a brilliant presenter this Arthur Williams is, like a kid in a candy store, you can tell he loves the aircraft

 

[Skashion]

could have been better with twin vertical stabilisers, still an amazing versatile aircraft, fighter, bomber, reconnaisance, fitted at various times with cannons machine-guns and even a 2pounder gun

It was a six pounder.

 

[paphos-mcfc]

Amazing how the Merlin engine was the power plant for so many aircraft. Spitfire, Mosquito, Lancaster, and Mustang spring immediately to mind.

During high demand, they were produced in Manchester by Ford. Not sure where though.

 

[asgoodasitgets]

So , in flies Johnathon Trotman, a 94 year old Mosquito pilot in his own plane in crappy weather to tell us about dropping the delayed fused bombs into a train tunnel at less than 50 feet during the day.
Amazing!!