Churchill and the E E Lightning and the Spit

[Guest]

At 27 I viewed on television, one of the first years of colour on TV, Churchill's funeral.

Programme on BBC this week celebrating his life and funeral. I had forgotten a lot.

After the funeral at St Pauls he was taken by the Havengore on the Thames from Town Pier to Festival Pier. On that journey 16 English Electric RAF Lightnings passed down the Thames over the Havengore in sections of four. What a sight that was. Such a beautiful aircraft on such a mission they looked English in design and beauty. The clipped wings give such a sign of veiled aggression.

Churchill was then whisked off across the English country side, for which he had so much affection for and the peoples within it. Down to Oxfordshire and the family plot at Bladon. A private affair and that was respected.

Except that out of no where in the sky came a friendly intruder. A lone Spitfire flew gently over the Church as a mark of respect. Churchill I am sure would have applauded that.

What a day it was to celebrate the man. There were tears in our house and after watching this programme it was very emotional. In the Houses of Parliament in the Great Hall the the coffin was guarded at each corner on the pedestal by officers of the Royal Navy in full dress with the tips of swords grounded.

It was reported that one million past the great man in respect. Some respect some man.

Laurie

[Guest]

Yeah, I spotted that little fly-by. The EE Lightning was a truly, and genuinely awesome beasts, built an airfix one as a lad, remember the spindly undercart, so slim to fit into that equally thin wing! Reminded me of when prof Brian Cox blagged himself a ride in one a year or two back. My envy was palpable, until I read recently that the plane crashed very soon after the shooting of the TV programme...God that plane could climb though!

[eddiesolo]

Except that out of no where in the sky came a friendly intruder. A lone Spitfire flew gently over the Church as a mark of respect. Churchill I am sure would have applauded that.

Never was so much owed by so many to so few...

[Guest]

RAF Leuchars, Fife 1967, brings back a lot of memories. Derek

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[eddiesolo]

Should still be flying these babies now...I mean look at them...JUST LOOK AT EM!

[Guest]

A few more taken 1967 - 69 at Leuchars and Lossiemouth. Derek

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[Guest]

Thanks for that Derek. Made my day.

What a machine a lean machine. Actually it looks like a rocket.which I suppose it was. Just two short stubby wings on a fuselage.

Must have been awesome on the Thames that day to see 4 in 4 sections fly past along the length of the Thames in central London. As they came along quietly and then when they had passed the noise from the 4 aircraft must have been just incredible.

Laurie

[Guest]

Never was so much owed by so many to so few...

Also to remember Si. In world War Two it was the first Battle that Britain had one. As significant it was the first Battle that Hitler and the Nazis had lost. Most significantly it came when Britain was alone in the world against this monster when all in the world thought that Britain was down and out. The USA attitude changed.

Churchill at a meeting in France, just before France Capitulated, with the French Cabinet warned that what ever the French did Britain would fight on alone. In reply General Weygand in charge of the French Military made the this statement “In three weeks England will have her neck wrung like a chicken.”

Winston S Churchill 18 months later addressing the Canadian Parliament repeated “In three weeks England will have her neck wrung like a chicken.” Churchill then added "Some chicken; some neck."

Laurie

[Guest]

Thanks for that Derek. Made my day.What a machine a lean machine. Actually it looks like a rocket.which I suppose it was. Just two short stubby wings on a fuselage.

Must have been awesome on the Thames that day to see 4 in 4 sections fly past along the length of the Thames in central London. As they came along quietly and then when they had passed the noise from the 4 aircraft must have been just incredible.

Laurie

Hi Laurie, when I attended the air displays at Leuchers in the 60's and 70's, the finale was, after everyone thought the show was over and were walking back to the car park, three or four Lightnings would come from over St. Andrews at tree top height, come over the crowd and stand on their tails until they disappeared into the blue. Believe my everything shook and the noise paralysed you for a few seconds. A never to forget memory. Derek

p.s. On the down side it had little range, little weapons capability, a nightmare to maintain and a terrible safety record, a huge number were lost.