Copyright Alastair Forbes
http://alastairsphotofiction.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/photo-fiction-august-4th-2013/
I know nothing about fighter planes but the image of Hawker Hurricane brought back memories of Biggles. For decades, Biggles held children in thrall with his fictional exploits as a dashing Royal Air Force pilot.
“I have always considered myself a man’s man, there’s something special about being in the thick of it with your comrades, your
brothers in arms. Like on the rugby pitch, huddled into a scrum,
limbsentwined, all pushing and urging on towards the same goal.
Its a metaphor for life” — from Biggles Becomes a Man.
It has recently emerged that Biggle’s unlikely adventures may have been based on fact – in the shape of a real airman from the First World War.
A 1918 combat report by a pilot called Major James Bigglesworth (his real name in the many books) book has been found at the RAF Museum in a collection of papers that once belonged to Biggles author WE Johns.
‘RAF record-keeping was pretty thorough, but there is some evidence of Bigglesworth’s name having been removed from other sources, possibly for security reasons when he moved to the Special Air Police later in his career.’
This is a real upside down, inside-out and other-way-round world where one’s childhood fantasy readings turn out to have real men for heroes.
This is wonderful. That you were able to incorporate so much and honor so many.
Appreciate your visit and comment, Thank you.
Pingback: Book Review – Biggles in Spain by W.E. Johns « Themself