Wednesday 26 September 2012

Veterans and a priceless gift


As a doctor I am on occasion honoured to share the last years of veteran soldiers, airmen and seamen. 
I have met amazing people in my career, 
Veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Rhodesian and South African Border Wars.



I have been privileged to have met Allied Veterans of El Alamein and Tobruk, Cassino and Crete, a  German Infantry survivor of Stalingrad (minus part of one limb) , an engineer that developed the tail  assembly for the Messerschmidt Me 109E, a Mustang P51 squadron leader, a Short Sunderland tail gunner, a forward airfield observer in the Pacific War, a sailor of HMS Leander and Achilles and a Lancaster Bomber pilot and A Skyhawk Squadron leader, many Infantry and Artillerymen that can all parade through my mind.


Tonight I was invited by the family of the late John Penman, Lancaster Pilot, who I knew for the last 12 years, to pick from his collection of over 1500 military books what I would like. His family had reserved some for their own use, and had given the War Museum at Waiuro, NZ first choice of the collection.
They chose over 400 books to preserve.


Generic Lancaster Crew Member (Not John Penman)

The collection spans the whole of military history, starting with the Vikings through to the Modern Soviet Army of the Cold War, Miniature Painting and Modelling and Wargaming.Many are out of print collectors items.My Library is suddenly bursting at the seams.

I will feature some of the books in posts to come.
 Thank you to Jack and Fen for your incredible generosity

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Thursday 20 September 2012

RNZAF 75th Ohakea Jets

RNZAF 75th Anniversary: Historic Jets and RAAF F18

(click on images to enlarge)

RNZAF De Havilland Vampire




Jet Provost




Aermacchi MB339



A4 Skyhawk







RAAF F18 Hornet Static and Fly-past display










Taxi and Take-off






Fly-past and after-burner climb




















Monday 17 September 2012

SAAF Black and White Historical Photo's

From my collection of South African Air Force Black and White Images. 



My late cousin, Nick Barkhuizen was a photographer with the SAAF. 

He flew in Canberras during the Border War. I think I got these from him.

 I'm not sure if these are his work, or reprints of photographs taken by somebody else. 
Any help in attributing them correctly will be appreciated. 
I also have some large format colour photos, possibly taken by Herman Potgieter, 
which I'll post when I find a scanner big enough.

(Click on the images for a larger view)


B.E Canberra taking off
  

One that came a cropper


Canberra in Air superiority grey (?)


 Dassault Mirage F1 AZ


Dassault Mirage III EZ 


SA Navy Westland Wasp with Divers about to take the plunge


Aermacchi MB-326M Impala Mk. 1.(Built by Atlas)



Bosbok over Hartebeespoortdam (Looks like Cosmos ? I'm guessing by the Kariba weed in the picture)



Piaggio P166  Albatros 

Amelia Earhart's sad demise

Dozens heard Amelia Earhart's final, chilling pleas for help, researchers say Distilled from 2 posts in the  Washington Post a...