My best friend’s dad was a Spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1211005/posts
Hats off to This Ace Pilot!
FYI: British actor Christopher Lee was not only in the SAS, but was also a Spitfire pilot and then a Mustang pilot. Since he was over 6’4” tall, I have no idea how he fit into the cockpit.
One day at my late father-in-law’s house (He was 75th JASCO, Army Signal Assault Company, Iwo), one of his old neighbors dropped by on his visit to the states.
When I saw him, I asked him only one question: “Spitfires or Hurricanes” to which he replied “Both”. He had been an RAF pilot trainer during WW2. His name, Colonel English.
I then grabbed my young son and said to him, “Go talk to this man. He’s got a great story to tell you”.
PS: I never did find out how Gen. Chappie James got into his F105 Thunderbird. The man who huge. Greased shoehorn, perhaps? I didn’t want to ask him either.