The 'Introduce yourself' Thread

Hello Norman

Hello all,

I should probably introduce myself here as well as the post I made down the bottom of the forums somewhere...

My name is Ian Pearson and, although I'm technically still a private pilot and technically an ex-member of the Armed Forces, these days I technically play with the country's biggest train set as an Signalling Electronic Systems Designer for a "Multidisciplinary Design and Implementation Company" (at least that's how I think we're supposed to describe ourselves this week...)

The reason that lot says 'technically' is that at the time of typing, I'm actually off work long-term sick due to a major flare up of muscle spasms from the back injury that is stopping me from flying and got me kicked out of REME without even finishing training on a medical discharge. Actually, it's not only my back that's stopped me flying (I used to fly out of Sleap and Halfpenny Green) - an eight month old daughter doesn't help much - but even if I could afford it right now, I'm medically not really capable or safe to take command of an aircraft any more.

My interest in airfields - particularly those from the WW2 era - goes back for as long as I can remember, but has recently come to the fore as I have been trying to build Microsoft FSX sceneries of WW2 stations for people to fly the plethora of appropriate models out of. It's a bit of a neglected area in the sim, so although my stuff is far from 100% historically accurate, I'm more inclined to get a "look and feel" and put out a number of airfields for each aircraft type, rather than strive for them to be perfect.

The site has come up on a number of searches that I have made over time, although I've never actually got around to joining, so I've finally got around to it. I might not be much help when it comes to advising other people, but what little I can be, I will be.

Cheers,

ian P.

I am researching my father's life and creating an illustrated timeline to help him, as his memory has started to fail (early onset of dementia). The complete item will eventually be a keepsake for family members and will be an asset to help his grandchildren to understand what their grandfather's generation went through in order for them to enjoy the freedom that they have today. This is not going to be a published work, but sources will be acknowledged.
He was an Air Gunner (rear), mostly on Stirlings with 199, 620 and 299 squadrons. Most of my squadron research is fairly complete and I am now working on his periods of gunnery training, firstly at Stormy Down, and then later qualifying as a gunnery leader at Catfoss. Any pictures or information would be most welcome. What was a Gunnery Leader? What is known about Catfoss?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Regards, Guy.

Hello Norman,
Welcome to the forum. Like you I was in Gibraltar (June 65 to Jan 68). I worked in a very large hole in the Rock down in the naval dockyard. Happy days.

PETERTHEEATER;79600 wrote:

Welcome to AiX Papav66,

and well done on your Ashdown Camp site. I hope that you can get some leads to potential exhibits through our members.

From where did you get the Consol Shelter?

Hello Peter,
The Consol was previously owned by another mv owner for a few years, but prior to that it spent its working life after the war in a quarry in Devon, for use with controlled explosions & at some time took a hit as there is one big ding on one side. cheers Paul

Attached files [IMG]/community/79708=5252-Consol restored s.jpg[/img]

Welcome to AiX Ian, as you will have seen, there are other members interested in producing FSX sceneries of WW2 airfields some and some of the results are stunning helping to perpetuate the memory of the bases. detailed or basic, please post anything that you wish to share. Being an ex pilot also let's you add a different perspective to us 'penguins'!

Thanks, its use as a blasting shelter in a quarry seems to have been shared with some other examples. Makes your ears ring though!

Hi, this is my first time on the site. I'm afraid I don't really know what I'm doing so if I make mistakes please bear with me !!! I'm not even sure whether I can ask for this kind of help. I'm involved in producing maps for a county atlas, one of which is on WWII as it affected the county (pre 1974 Berkshire). I am picking odd bits of info up from here & there but I'm sure I'm missing a lot. Any guidance would be much appreciated. For example subjects of interest include the following, all relating to Berkshire or very close to the county boundary:
Army barracks/depots
Military hospitals
Sites of munition dumps
Details of dispersal airfields
Any other interesting details
ETC, ETC

Personal history; Ex photographer, Ex RAF (13 Sq. for a short while otherwise GS), now ancient and decrepit.

Any help would be much appreciated

Clive B.