Thread: Duxford host a Spittie collection.

Originally Posted by Tins

It has been postulated that that was how the "G" suits all fighter pilots now wear came into being.

Of course, Bader was of the mind to turn anything to his advantage, including his lack of legs. He drove his German captors nuts while he was a POW.

Earlier this year I visited the new museum at Sydney University. One of the exhibits there is a "G" suit prototype developed there in, I think, 1941, to test the concept.

Originally Posted by RANDLOVER

Interestingly some people thought Bader was such a good fighter pilot due to him having no lower legs, for the blood to drain into during high g-force manoeuvres, where other pilots would black out from the blood leaving their brains.

I know the feeling, Rand.

A little more on topic some Spitfires of the RAAF on Morotai in December 1944. I count 6 in the picture but am sure there were some more just out of shot

Spitfire RAAF Morotai Dec 1944.jpg

My b-i-l was on Morotai then, but he was army not airforce.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

My b-i-l was on Morotai then, but he was army not airforce.

SNAP! As was my uncle who was in the Dental Corp via the AMC, so not much to do with Spitfires unless he painted the shark's teeth on some, plus he died a few years ago so can't ask him about anything aeronautical up there.

Originally Posted by 3toes

A little more on topic some Spitfires of the RAAF on Morotai in December 1944. I count 6 in the picture but am sure there were some more just out of shot

Spitfire RAAF Morotai Dec 1944.jpg

Interesting observation re Morotai while googling,

The last confirmed Japanese holdout from the war, Private Teruo Nakamura (Amis: Attun Palalin), was discovered by the Indonesian Air Force on Morotai, and surrendered to a search patrol on December 18, 1974.^[3]

A bit of a wait for one's mates to rock up, 30 years!!!! I bet his first thoughts were of his due Back Pay.

Says a lot for Japanese Signal Sqdns. Not.

Thanks for that 3T. If the aircraft were taken out of that shot it would be a relatively peaceful Tropical scene I think.

Based on the wiki link he may have been thinking about back pay but as was Taiwanese not Japanese there was no back pay or pension

Originally Posted by 3toes

Based on the wiki link he may have been thinking about back pay but as was Taiwanese not Japanese there was no back pay or pension

On the subject of back pay, my FIL, POW for over three years, received back pay from the Army AND from James Hardie, a decent company back then. He worked for them from age 16 until he lied about his age and joined the AIF. They told him they'd keep his job for him, and they did. He was a mere messenger at the time.

My, how things change...