Hmmm.... Tony Bartley

[Nick]

I'm reading Smoke Trails int he Sky (think that's what its called) and this guy is winding me up.

So far, he reckons that his sole running commentray when shooting down a plane after having his Spit fitted with 20mm cannons was the reason that SPits were fitted with them as standard...

And, while flying as a test pilot he reckons he drew a sketch for a bubble canopy version of the Spit which they thought was so good they redsigned the Spit on his say so...

Then... he developed a new formation tactic that was adopted by the whole of the RAF

Then... he slags off other pilots like Sailor Malan etc

This guy is really getting my back up... he's true old school, old school tie RAF... typical golf clubs in the back of the convertible type... not liking reading this book at all.

[Dakaras]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh not read that one...after you chap

BTW JG26 Topguns of the LW is a stunnning research document thanks Clingy

[Clingy]

Great(tm) I'll have to read it . I'm having trouble with the Skii's two. Print is soooooo small.

[Zak33]

is he still alive ?

if so...post it to him with a tub of vaseline.

WAR is about TEAMS>....always....there are NO PILOT HEROS.....only entire county's.

That's the Russian way

[Nick]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh not read that one...after you chap

BTW JG26 Topguns of the LW is a stunnning research document thanks Clingy

Its a library book bud, I'm bloody grateful I didn't BUY this!

Got another on elined up after this "I fly for the furher (sp?)" by somebody Knok, I think his name is... am at work so I can't check.

[Skii]

Its a library book bud, I'm bloody grateful I didn't BUY this!

Got another on elined up after this "I fly for the furher (sp?)" by somebody Knok, I think his name is... am at work so I can't check.

I flew for the Fuhrer - Fantastic read - I've still got that book btw Dak

[Dakaras]

I flew for the Fuhrer - Fantastic read - I've still got that book btw Dak

LOL I wondered where it had gone great read that 1. BTW Clingys got your bombs over berlin

[Nick]

Now this Tony Bartley book is getting on me nerves...

He now reckons that while he was posted to a Combat Tactics school in Orlando, he flew a B25 up to Nevada and dropped a dummy atom bomb... why the USAAF would ask a British FIGHTER pilot to fly a four engined heavy bomber on one of thier TOP TOP TOP SECRET projects is way beyond me...

And I just read a bit where he claims that he met Glen Miller the night before Miller was due to fly to Paris, and he advised him to not fly as the weather was looking poor...

The funniest thing is, a few paragraphs later, he accuses somebody ELSE of being the world's biggest bull-sh***er...

The only reason I'm carrying on reading this is cos I want to see what else this Walter Mitty has done...

tbh, its a rotten book, all the guy does is talk about how he flew here and there, using wartime rationed petrol in 'commandeered' cars to, what appears to be, just enjoy himself getting smashed and meeting friends...

oh, and he also reckons while in the US he was a mate of Clark Gable and Gable threw him a star studded farewell party upon being posted back to the UK... what a load of cobblers.

[Tumble]

He now reckons that while he was posted to a Combat Tactics school in Orlando, he flew a B25 up to Nevada and dropped a dummy atom bomb... why the USAAF would ask a British FIGHTER pilot to fly a four engined heavy bomber on one of thier TOP TOP TOP SECRET projects is way beyond me...

Indeed it must be lies.... the B25 only had 2 engines... and no way could it haul an A-bomb aloft... too heavy

[Dakaras]

As you know havent read it but when the RAF were in USA they didnt go to the celeb bashes, fighter pilots and 1940s were a potent combo and household names along with the stars.

Also Leonard Cheshire V.C (Bomber Pilot) was an observer to the dropping of THE BOMB and he was RAF.

Stanford-Tuck flew Fighters while in USA to evalate them as did serveral others.

As I said havent read the book and it does sound very far fetched that he can have done all that..But it perhaps has a ring of truth?

[Nick]

I'm not doubting he DID go to the states and fly fighters there. but dropping test dummy casing A-bombs from bombers?... nah.