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American Spitfire 944 PRU - Seeing yourself from decades earlier.

Discussion in 'Air War in Western Europe 1939 - 1945' started by von Poop, May 28, 2013.

  1. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

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    Thought some of you chaps might enjoy this gentle hijacking of a US Spitfire pilot.
    His reaction to the footage is rather pleasing:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie3SrjLlcUY&feature=player_embedded

    ~A
     
    von Poop, May 28, 2013
    #1
    Biak, Slipdigit, gtblackwell and 2 others like this.
  2. Otto

    Otto GröFaZ Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    His comment "Oh, that's me!" was touching. Amazing how quickly he identified himself crash landing when he saw the footage. I'd guess it was a fearful event he remembered all too well.
     
    Otto, May 28, 2013
    #2
  3. gtblackwell

    gtblackwell Member Emeritus

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    This is really a remarkable bit of footage. It is interesting on so many levels, about reconnaissance flights , the humble character of the pilot, Sergeant John Blyth , typical of so many WW2 vets, the switch to Spitfires from P 38's and the incredible story about how the film was made, stored and survived, digitized and the research used to tract down the Flying Sergeant! , I was not aware the US had flying sergeants....thought them either Brits or Germans, and I am sure other countries. Small wonder it was up for a Sundance short film award. I did not know Spitfires flew to Berlin but the extra gas and lack of guns explains that. I was aware of flights over the Baltic and the Ruhr,..still 30 minutes over Berlin and return. Did not know they were painted blue and would have thought a Mark 11 would have had a metal prop. Perhaps that was part of the weight reduction . All in all a pretty outstanding job by all from 1942 until recently and now for perpetuity.

    Many thanks for posting,

    Gaines
     
    gtblackwell, May 29, 2013
    #3
  4. mcoffee

    mcoffee Son-of-a-Gun(ner)

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    I received an email link to this youtube video about an American Spitfire photo recon pilot. It is well worth 15 minutes to watch.

    http://youtu.be/ie3SrjLlcUY
     
    mcoffee, Sep 20, 2013
    #4
  5. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    That's a fantastic video, mcoffee. And you're right. It's worth it to watch the whole thing.
     
    TD-Tommy776, Sep 20, 2013
    #5
  6. mcoffee

    mcoffee Son-of-a-Gun(ner)

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    Glad you liked it Tommy. The expression on Blythe's face when he realizes he's watching himself is priceless.

    Now, if I could figure out how to embed the YouTube link....
     
    mcoffee, Sep 21, 2013
    #6
  7. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    I only had a chance to watch part of it, but what I saw was priceless. Good find. I'll look at all of it later.

    As for enbedding youtube videos, I have had success copying the link in the browser bar and pasting it in the post. See if that works.
     
    LRusso216, Sep 21, 2013
    #7
  8. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    Like this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie3SrjLlcUY&feature=youtu.be
     
    TD-Tommy776, Sep 21, 2013
    #8
  9. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Wise guy. ;)
     
    LRusso216, Sep 21, 2013
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  10. mcoffee

    mcoffee Son-of-a-Gun(ner)

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    Blyth was a Lt. at the time of the incident. Almost all of the Flying Sergeants were made Flight Officer or 2nd Lt. by the time they went into combat. Some notable alumni of the program include R.A. "Bob" Hoover (called by some the greatest stick and rudder pilot ever), racer Carroll Shelby, and some guy named Yeager.

    Apologies to Von Poop who posted this a while back. I didn't find it at the time and reposted the film.
     
    mcoffee, Sep 22, 2013
    #10
  11. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

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    Apology not required, mate.
    I think it's a beautiful little film. The more publicity it gets - the better.
     
    von Poop, Sep 22, 2013
    #11
  12. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    Here is a link I just received that I thought everyone would enjoy.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=ie3SrjLlcUY&sns=em

    A little over 14 minutes showing an American Spitfire pilot seeing the film, 71 years later, of when he made a crash landing after returning from Berlin.
     
    Biak, Dec 6, 2013
    #12
    Slipdigit likes this.
  13. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    EXCELLENT!
     
    Slipdigit, Dec 6, 2013
    #13
  14. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    LRusso216, Dec 6, 2013
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  15. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Well, I'll be danged, 'twas.

    Looking at the date of Adam's original post, I see I was at the coast, enjoying the surf and other past-times when he brought the film to our attention.

    I'll merge the two threads.
     
    Slipdigit, Dec 6, 2013
    #15
  16. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Thanks for the merge. You had to rub in that you were enjoying the coast, didn't you?
     
    LRusso216, Dec 6, 2013
    #16
  17. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Yeah, you Yankees aren't blessed with sugary-white sandy beaches like we are. It ain't called the Emerald Coast for nothing.
     
    Slipdigit, Dec 6, 2013
    #17
  18. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    I had missed this too. Unlike Slip' I can't remember where or what I was doing last week let alone last May.
     
    Biak, Dec 7, 2013
    #18

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