When did you first become interested in Warbirds?

[Von Frag]

For me it was stories my father told me about his service and the planes he encountered. Corsairs, he was at Pelilieu when they were napalming the hills next to the airfield with their landing gear still down. On another island he was a beach sentry one night when a Kate flew down the length of the beach at treetop level, circled and dropped its fish in the surf. He said they probably went back and told their superiors they sank a carrier. I think what got me most interested in WWII aviation was a painting by Tom Lea, called Fighter In The Sky. This painting is set as my wallpaper. It was in a two book volume about WWII written by Winston Churchill, and I used to look at them constantly even before I could read. Much abused they are still at my parents house.

Tom Lea Works

[GCvanderL]

Thanks everyone for the welcome! Can't wait to learn more from everyone here.

[Marcel]

Originally Posted by GCvanderL

Thanks everyone for the welcome! Can't wait to learn more from everyone here.

Hi GC. "Van der" sounds Dutch?

[TenGunTerror]

My Grandfather was a Korean War veteran and always had an interest in WW2. I got a book about WW2 aircraft when I was eight so I had an interest in the aircraft. Sadly though, he died when I was in second grade...the next year we were going to buy him a ticket to fly in a B-17...

[snafud1]

Sorry about the loss of your grandfather. He was a hero as all vets are. Hope you enjoy yourself here on the forums.

[warhawk71]

Although my grandfather was in WW2 and my step Dad was in Vietnam its hard to say what sparked my interests in planes. The earliest that I can remember was building and playing with snap tite models. Sptitfire, P-51 Mustang and of course the P-40 B Flying Tigers. I used to take them in the car with me and would roll down the windows and pretend they were flying.

[5bR6897]

I recall as a small boy that my father used to spend more time with his eyes looking skyward than in any other direction. He was fascinated with aircraft of all types but specifically those of WWII heritage. And, in the early 50's there were still a reasonable number around. He could identify anything! His first real job was with the old Douglas Aircraft Company in Toronto.

He used to tell stories of his and his brother's early training in the RCAF. His brother was killed in a mid air in 1943 and dad, being the sole surviving family member was washed out at his mother's request. I don't think he ever forgave her.

His father was an aerial gunner in the first war, in a british pusher type. Received wounds that would shorten his life. So, my interest is now in the 3rd generation. When I lived in Texas, I had the good fortune to fly two Commemorative Airaircraft on a few occasions, one being a PV-2 Harpoon by the name of Fat Cat II and the other a PBJ known as Devil Dog, my current avatar. I've had the bug myself for over 50 years now. I thoroughly enjoy building accurate representative models, but that can't even compare to actually getting to work on and crew in the real thing!

For some reason, my interest never bridged the gap to modern jet military aircraft. Call me old school if you will, but if it doesn't have a prop, then your just along for the ride !

Chris

[Pong]

When I got my first BF-109 model at nine. After that I just studied all types of WW2 planes. My grandpa wasn't an airman, though he was a radioman in the Phil. Army and he trained in New Jersey in the mid fifties as well as Korea.

There was time when I was in school in a field trip that they took us to Nichols (Now Villamor) Airbase in Pasay City. I remember a PAF F-86 Sabre there, but I didn't see the P-51. *Sigh*

[danjama]

My interest in warbirds is due to a combination of people i think.

When i was very young, about 6/7, i lived in a block of flats, and the father of one of my best friends was ex-RAF. He used to build my friend models and hang them from the ceiling, then we would drag them down and play air wars! haha i still remember a Bf109 he made, and he painted some cotton wool like flames and stuck it to the plane so it looked like it had been attacked. I can still see it now. I reckon this is where it all started. I also remember this friend introducing me to Memphis Belle, one of my favourite films of all time.

Then an uncle of mine realised my interest, and arranged for an airshow visit to Duxford, with the whole family. Now i was about eight. One of my first airshow memories is an Avro Vulcan roaring over us, and making me cry lol i have the picture it always brings a smile to my face. The same uncle was also very interested in WW1 and WW2 so every time i visited we would watch the discovery channel and his videos on all sorts, from the sinking of the Bismarck to the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. He really got me stuck into this whole era of warbirds, after my early interest.

My mum also had a big part in fueling my interest. We used to visit the Royal Tournament at Earls Court London every year, and i remember speaking with RAF pilots, and really wishing i could do that one day. Unfortunately that never worked out so i'm trying to work out what's next for me in life. I missed Flying Legends this year, but have been several times in the last few years, and i was there when the Fairey Battle crashed a few years back, which was a sad day.

I dabbled a little in model making but i stopped because i'm just not very good at it, maybe ill pursue it again when im older and have a better hand for it. I always make a mess with glue and paint. I do have a 48scale B24 i am very proud of though but it's in the loft gathering dust.

I've had a couple of flying lessons but they're too expensive right now. I'm training as a mechanic and hope this one day leads to restoring Spitfires or any other warbirds. Engines especially interest me. Anyway i think i've gone OT here so ill shadap!

[Doughboy]

My Dad has studied ww2 since he was Nine years old (1983) and he sparked my interest in aeroplanes.

[Tuphlandng]

May I join in

[GrauGeist]

Originally Posted by Tuphlandng

May I join in

Sure, go for it!

And welcome to the forums

[Doughboy]

Originally Posted by Tuphlandng

May I join in

Please do!

[fass]

I will be ranked as a "junior member" because I only joined today, but from a quick scan of some forum pages I tend to conclude I may well be one of the more litterally senior members as I was born in 1934. I have very vivid and documented recollections of WW2, during which I happened to live at various locations where there was action in The Netherlands ("Holland" to many of you, I suppose) then occupied by the Nazis.
I'm not sure this thread is still very active as the last post was about two weeks ago and I don't know whether one gets automatic "new mail" notification once logged in so I'll just ask whether there is interest in my first-hand experience of that period?

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Of course there is interest in your first hand accounts! Welcome to the forum by the way.