Willie Robertson

🚨 It's the News of The War! It's the 4th November, 1944. Many bridges crossed, still a few to go. Got to start with Photo of the Week though, because -well- look at it. Just look at it. 👀 This week, hear @AndyAitcheson and @rentaquill wang on about AVREs in the newspapers...

How many swallows to unload a VLCC & move the oil from A-B? - The average coconut holds approx 500ml (thanks Google) - VLCC = 2 million barrels. - 1 barrel = approx 159l So 318,000,000l to be moved. We need 636,000,000 coconuts & swallows. Unsure if African or European 🐦

The last maintenance weekend saw further testing ready for our fast-approaching taxi event this April at Cotswold Airport!

#BOOKGIVEAWAY - American #MiG #Pilot: Inside the Top Secret #USAF “#RedEagles” MiG Squadron with @migflyr & @OspreyBooks Follow @coldwarpod, then reshare this post to enter a chance to win a copy of this book T&C's & other ways to enter here coldwarconversations.com/giveaway1/

@stemvik @CBFFCCB Have you asked if @WW2TV could nip out with a tape measure 😉

The @CBFFCCB is replacing the 31st Cdn Minesweeper Flotilla plaque at WN 62 at Omaha Beach. Their records don't have the dimensions of the plaque. Would any Normandy guides, recent visitors have this info, or could get it without too much difficulty? Thx

Please to announce Tuesday’s Q&A on @WW2TV hope you can join us. open.substack.com/pub/philipwblo…

@BloodPhilip Surprised she's not wearing a helmet and body armour 🤣

Reform’s war correspondent squeaks!👇

#BOOKGIVEAWAY - American #MiG #Pilot: Inside the Top Secret #USAF “#RedEagles” MiG Squadron with @migflyr & @OspreyBooks Follow @coldwarpod, then reshare this post to enter a chance to win a copy of this book T&C's & other ways to enter here coldwarconversations.com/giveaway1/

Saturday saw another damp maintenance visit - but work continued nonetheless!

***ANNOUNCEMENT*** Jump into the Fight: The Complete, Unabridged History of Easy Company, Volume I is currently out for endorsement review! /1 🧵

Who else can’t wait to see, hear, and smell this sight again? Join us at Cotswold Airport this Easter Bank Holiday (4th April) to celebrate 15 Years of restoration, preservation, and dedication to our pair of Blackburn Buccaneers! Tickets can be purchased today via our website.

#BOOKGIVEAWAY - The Moscow Playbook: How #Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Power Follow@coldwarpod, then reshare this post to enter a chance to win a copy of this book T&C's & other ways to enter here coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/ #coldwar #sports

#BOOKGIVEAWAY - #coldwar #escape #story with @peter_kasl Follow @coldwarpod then reshare this post to enter a chance to win a copy of this book. T&C's & other ways to enter here coldwarconversations.com/giveaway1/

#BOOKGIVEAWAY - #coldwar #escape #story with @peter_kasl Follow @coldwarpod then reshare this post to enter a chance to win a copy of this book. T&C's & other ways to enter here coldwarconversations.com/giveaway1/

My latest Substack article on the work of the AFPU is now up. open.substack.com/pub/insharpfoc…

Roses are wet Violets are wet Everything's wet Somerset

On 30 January 2005, Royal Air Force Lockheed C-130K Hercules C1, serial number XV179, callsign Hilton 22, was shot down in Iraq, killing all 10 personnel on board. At the time, the incident was the largest single loss of life suffered by the British military during Operation Telic. “ C130K Hercules crashed 30 kilometres north-west of Baghdad on Sunday 30 January 2005 at approximately 1635hrs local time. The aircraft was on a flight between Baghdad International Airport and Balad airbase. 10 UK Service personnel are missing believed killed; 9 from the Royal Air Force and 1 from the Army. Their repatriation to RAF Lyneham commenced on the afternoon of Monday 7 February 2005, being flown out from Basrah with full honours” •Squadron Leader Patrick Marshall, Headquarters Strike Command, aged 39 •Flight Lieutenant David Stead, 47 Squadron, RAF Lyneham, aged 35, from Yorkshire •Flight Lieutenant Andrew Smith, 47 Squadron, RAF Lyneham, aged 25 •Flight Lieutenant Paul Pardoel, 47 Squadron, RAF Lyneham, aged 35 •Master Air Engineer Gary Nicholson, 47 Squadron, RAF Lyneham, aged 42 •Chief Technician Richard Brown, RAF Lyneham, aged 40 •Flight Sergeant Mark Gibson, 47 Squadron, RAF Lyneham, aged 34 •Sergeant Robert O’Connor, RAF Lyneham, aged 38 •Corporal David Williams, RAF Lyneham, aged 37 •Acting Lance Corporal Steven Jones, Royal Signals, aged 25. The findings of the Board of Inquiry into the loss of RAF Hercules XV179 were published on 8 December 2005: Per Ardua Ad Astra

It has been 21 years since you were lost. Not a day goes by where you aren't in my thoughts. #XV179 #Hilton22 #LestWeForget #perarduaadastra

*** Celebrating 15 Years of TBAG *** Fifteen years of dedication, teamwork, and preservation — and two very special aircraft. Tickets and more details are available now via our website.

What a start to 2026! Saturday saw an amazing turnout at Threshold.aero’s nightshoot with us, even with the rather chilly weather. #aviation