Posted on 09/05/2010 9:14:41 AM PDT by jakerobins
A LEGENDARY Spitfire pilot said to have had a fling with World War II pin-up Betty Grable has died aged 90.
Fling ... Betty Wing Commander John Connell Freeborn is believed to have flown more hours fighting the Germans than any other pilot during the Battle of Britain.
He was so famous he was sent to the US to train fighter pilots in 1941 - where he met the film star
(Excerpt) Read more at thesun.co.uk ...
The Spitfire is the most beautiful plane ever and that is saying something as just about all WWII era planes were great looking.
Speed Channel used to show the Goodwood Festival, what great events are held there.
The Goodwood Festival and the Isle of Man TT are UK events, I’ve always wanted to attend. *sigh*
I’ll be ‘80 next month, so I doubt I’ll ever attend. I’ve owned sports cars back in the day, I still ride motorcycle and have since 1848.
The two British sport scars were: a ‘56 Austin Healey BN2 Le Mans and a ‘61 Lotus Super Seven with a 1500cc Ford-Cosworth engine.
Those were the days.....
Thanks, good stuff.
The Isle of Man TT is now shown on HD Theater. In fact, I watched it today.
One of my few regrets is that I never learned to ride. I always wanted a Norton Commando or a Royal Enfield. Too old to start now, alas....
I remember those days, I turned 10 years on Oct 26 1940.
We didn’t have TV, we did have radio, newspapers, Life, Time and the Saturday Evening Post mags, plus newsreels and friends and family in the services. ;)
Thanks for great links, I’ve bookmarked them.
May he rest in peace.
You saw a Lancaster fly? Wow. How very cool.
To see lots of WWII flying birds and to soak in all things aviation, go to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. It’s....beyond words for pilots and aviation enthusiasts. I get goosebumps even thinking of it.
I also had a ‘54 Vette which wasn’t really a sports car.
It had an inline 6 cyl Blue Flame engine a two speed slushbox, tranny.
Speed has carried both Goodwood events; I remember the hill climb and race on the circuit.
Thanks, we get HD Theater on DirecTV, I’ll have to check the listings!
Your never too old to learn to ride, I was 18 and in the US Navy when I got my first bike, that was the first of around 22...every time I count them I run out of fingers and lose track. ;)
I'm 64...too late to start riding. Healing takes too lomg!
“If you’d been 22 years old at the time Betty was at the height of her popularity and those legs had been wrapped around you, you’d had a much different perspective.”
I can’t argue with logic like that!
RIP.
What was it like listening to the reports from Britain?.
Man...you got some really cool newspaper scans on your “personal FR” site. Thanks for doing those!
Yes, I checked the channel and I have some TT and Goodwood programs set to record.
Yep, HD is terrific, when I first got HD, I watched those sunrise shows on HDTH.
You’re never to old to start riding as long as you have decent hand/eye coordination.
Where do you live? I live in Eugene, Oregon.
God Speed to them all.
Saw a Vulcan at a B of B airshow in the early sixties. It came in at a very low altitude...can still hear the announcer saying "How low can you go".
It was awesome.
I was astounded at the grit and tenacity of the British people and Winston Churchill.
Maybe I shouldn’t be, my family tree is: Scots, Irish, Welsh and a little Cherokee Indian. ;)
My memory might be a little affected by all of things I now know, which bolstered my admiration of Winston Churchill and the Brits!
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