It has been 9 days since anybody posted anything to the forum, and I was wondering why. There is so much going on in the wartime aviation field that surely somebody has something to say.
For instance, what is the feeling out there about the Plaque in the Canadian War Museum about RAF Bomber Command? Who saw the column by Don Martin that started a firestorm in Calgary.
Also, did you know that another film on the Dambusters is being made, starting next Fall? One live Lancaster is being used and 12 replicas molded in China. The film is being made in New Zealand, north of Wellington.
The call is out for experienced Lancaster Crewmembers to play their old parts; you just have to make your way to N.Z. Pay is the same as in 1943.
Anybody believing the last chapter is free to purchase one lottery ticket on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Here's the gen on the reference to the Brooklyn Bridge: It refers to a rube or a con and is related to the Brooklyn Bridge (which spans the east River in NYC and connects Brooklyn & Queens to Manhattan). In context, Mr. Neal is making light of the statement that the actors could be former aircrew (regardless of the reality that of the vets who remain they'd all be in their early 80's and beyond!)
Ask any vet about Mess parties and they'll tell you tales of well-lubricated aircrew leaving black foot prints on the ceiling. Hard to believe how they got there but it's true! What's even more amazing is that none of them apparently ever broke their necks in doing this crazy prank.
These same young men climbed aboarded their Hallies or Lancs or whatever kite they were assigned to and took flight. Then they put foolishness aside and settled down to the job at hand because they wanted to survive another day. Thank goodness that some did and are still around to exercise some good humour even if it requires some explanation ...
It's a good expression that not many people know about anymore ...
It's also nice that Mr. Neal didn't "get the Chop" considering so many did ...
There's an expression someone should explain ... I know the answer but does any other Forum reader?
Maybe someone will take the challenge to enliven the forum that's been a little quiet recently ...
Thank you Mr. Fulford for saving me the problem of explaining "The Brooklyn Bridge sale", because I was laughing to much to make sense of my answer. That one has been around since J.C. wore short pants (and I won't explain that one).
Yes, I am glad that I survived, although it was pretty close on a number of occasions. My four years in the RCAF had a profound effect on the balance of my life, and especially so on my sense of humor. I thank God for being with me all those 4 years and bringing me through it all. I just inherited his sense of humor!
I see your joke now. But I am aware where the Brooklyn Bridge is.:-) I was thrown off by your 'last Chapter comment.' Perhaps you meant last paragraph. I think also there is a little bit of a language barrier too. What Churchill referred to as a common people divided by a common language.
I certainly understand the kind of mess hall humour, such as footprints on the ceiling!
I read of one c/o who just arrived on the station and through the front door of the mess. He was met by the whole sqn. in formation coming down the stairs on bicycles, only to prang horribly at the bottom in front of the new c/o.
Re veterans going to fill parts in a movie. This is not so removed from the truth as you might think.
A friend of mine and 2 tour nav. Is doing a parachute jump next month for a cancer charity. He is aged 82. The last time he nearly bailed out it was over Stuttgart in 43! As if that wasn't enough he's going up in a micro-light glider soon after that.
Hats off to all veterans on either side of the pond.
Peter, I do not wish to argue ages, but your Navigator friend is younger than I, and I was only going overseas in 1943 at 19, after a year of training as a Navigator/Bomber. He must have lied about his age to get on Ops in 1943.
And I only had time for one tour (part of which was spent as an Evader) and a second tour was aborted by somebody surrendering in Germany.