Peter Elliott

@SimonMoody_NZ @SpitfireFilly The false teeth were returned to the family many years ago. I had a splendid day with BNW's daughters, going through some of the less exciting items in his collection.

@SpitfireFilly Hendon have his false teeth/dentures.....I remember doing some work in his office display once. I picked up his glasses resting on the desk and one of the lenses fell out in front of some visitors.....happy days!

Get someone who looks at you the way I look at Barnes Wallis' marbles! (the ones owned by his daughter which he used to refine the 'bouncing bomb' for Op CHASTISE). Pop over to Denhams auction house (Horsham) on Wed 25th March to bid on the amazing Sir Barnes Wallis Collection!

@MichaelJPryce @SpitfireFilly Good grief!

@SpitfireFilly This would make Barnes Wallis spin in his grave (the wrong way!) x.com/MichaelJPryce/…

@SpitfireFilly @flyer_2001 They were on loan from his son and daughter, both now deceased, and it seems the family asked for their return. I did at least two stock checks of the "office", frequently interrupted when the lights went down because someone started the video...

@flyer_2001 Fully agree 😔

@oliver_lane @GordonDComstock Why buy a postcard of a painting from the shop when you could take a badly framed, slightly fuzzy photo on your Instamatic? Also, possible copyright issues with the artist or their estate.

@Flyingarchivist @GordonDComstock What's the utility of a photography ban? Except for the risk of, in the old days, magnesium flash powder or broken flash bulbs underfoot! 😅

It is clear to me that the curatorial, heritage professional class have developed a novel, internal, and highly revered idea of what the purpose of a museum is. The problem is this is completely different from what the public believes they're supposed to be getting from museum visits and there is no dialogue or understanding between the two camps. I am persistently astonished at the lack of opportunity to learn anything whatsoever in most museums. The evident trend is towards fewer items on display and very minimalist information provided (I presume this is on the assumption that one strikingly lit item in an otherwise empty room will really impress the mind of the average visitor that curators imagine they are pandering to), and that information tailored to first-day-on-earth levels of understanding.

@GordonDComstock @oliver_lane Oh, and before mobiles, they would enforce the ban on photography.

@Flyingarchivist @oliver_lane They were always curators as far as I was concerned. No talking ? Seems harsh, no mobiles would be good policy.

@GordonDComstock @oliver_lane Their job title was "Warder" and they were originally intended to keep visitors from touching, talking and otherwise distressing the exhibits.

@oliver_lane It was better when curators were those blokes in a uniform that sat half asleep on a chair against the wall in the National Gallery.

@spike1003 @clark_aviation @RAFMUSEUM Henlow was intended (in 1964) to be the site of the RAF Museum, but then became the store for the reserve collection. The store moved to Cardington in the late 1980s, then Wyton, then to Stafford, and plans are afoot to move the reserve collection onto the Cosford site.

@Flyingarchivist @clark_aviation @RAFMUSEUM The only thing I really remember is, the standing orders for Fire Piquet duties at Henlow included, at the back, specific instructions regarding the building’s including The Pickle Factory because of the presence of ‘dope’

A behind the scenes shot from my favourite war movie. I wouldn't mind guessing how many of you remember this scene, filmed at Duxford in 1968.😉

@spike1003 @clark_aviation That treasure trove belonged to @RAFMUSEUM, not the IWM.

@clark_aviation There was quite a bit of filming done at RAF Henlow too. I remember getting a glimpse in a Hangar there in the early 80s when on Fire Piquet & there was bits & bobs reportedly from the filming. Also, of course there was the IWM treasure trove in The Pickle Factory at Henlow too.

@Artemisapphire Bank note designs are changed from time to time. Not so long ago, they featured Newton, Wellington and Florence Nightingale. Nobody is guaranteed a place on a bank note for ever.

Cue pearl clutching hysteria The man was a competent war leader. That deserves respect But downright vicious in Omdurman and his own record of the Malakand Field Force put me off him for life Other Wars, game changers, brilliant people and otters are available

@Artemisapphire The successor to Highball - Rollerball?

BIRO missile systems there Very effective precision instruments for the conduct of Inscriptions into enemy territory

I have been making my own weapons systems for raids on German outposts in Norwegian fjords Couldn't actually build a Mozzie as I can't fold paper to save my life so this will have to do

@Hush_Kit And in how many of those years were there no wars, and therefore no opportunities for combat?

Approximately 72% of the RAF’s existence (1918–2026) has seen no confirmed RAF air-to-air kills. The last was 1948 (RAF pilot in RAF aircraft against crewed aircraft).

@clark_aviation And several of my chums, too! It would be good to meet you in person there, Trev.

This looks an interesting event in July this year and one I might just try and attend.😱 Two of my old chums are contributing, plus Rod Dean, Tony Buttler and Chris Gibson. Should be a full-on Hawker Hunter day out!

@Hush_Kit Are you sure that's the right way up?

Pretty sure this rather exciting photo has never been shared publicly before

@1940Andy Me too. One of several titles brought out by Pan to tie in with The Film. Reading the Ginger Lacey biography I was gobsmacked to see that his final posting was a fw miles away. Never met him, but i briefly met his daughter Min several years later.

Today, I came across this book in a box of ‘stuff’. It was this very book which started a lifetime’s fascination with the Battle of Britain when I read it in my very early teens. Collier’s work is superbly crafted and certainly very memorable. Basically, it’s all because of this book.

@aviationarchive If I remember correctly, the RAE Flight Log (which liists each test flight made) states, with typical British understatement, "Altitude Test".

On Sept. 28 1936, British Squadron Leader Francis Swain was forced to cut open his pressure suit visor to maintain consciousness due to oxygen pressure failure as he descended after just achieving a fixed wing world altitude record of 49,967 ft in a modified Bristol Type 138A.🫡

@FennellJW Can't remember who said something to the effect of: 'Only Supermarine could put two Avons in an aeroplane and let it STILL not reach Mach 1'

A much better option for the RN's small carriers would have been a small attack jet like the A4, such as a marinised Hunter or Gnat, however the Scimitar filled a gap, albeit at the cost of many airframes and pilots.

@Artemisapphire Batter late then never...

Oh for goodness sake 🤦🏼‍♀️

@Phenonemum @Rainmaker1973 Now available ready-mixed in jars!

@Rainmaker1973 Marmite

Jelly isn’t available. Peanut Butter and what?

@kejamieson_ @metoffice It's a USO - an Unidentified Shining Object

Hi @metoffice there appears to be a glowing orb in the sky in Somerset, and no water pouring from the white parts at present? Is something wrong? 😂

@CalumDouglas1 @MAJKongSAC The RAF manuals (Air Publications) usually have interior photographs, but would probably not have a similar view of the rear fuselage.

@MAJKongSAC That sort of activity also definetly happened, in both directions. Germans were publishing in academic journals until 1944 - most of which were procured by various diplomatic offices and sent to the UK.

Images I know none of you have ever seen before. German technical intelligence overview of the Halifax Bomber.