The 'Introduce yourself' Thread

Not sure where the best option would be really, Biggin Hill perhaps?

Welcome to AiX too

As the name tag says, I'm Steve and from South Africa.

I've had an interest in aviation and military history since I was about 6yrs old, and have been involved with the Friends of the SAAF Museum as well as the local IPMS. At least, when not bouncing between continents and handling all the other things that demand time. You do miss Duxford and Hendon et al down here. I was spoilt with access to them in the 8-odd years I spent in England.

Finding this site has been a real boost, and I hope to pick through the knowledge of you fundis as I'm busy with a research project that a group of us hope may ultimately turn into an exhibition for the local musem and more. I'll go into detail in a separate thread.

Looking forward to working through the treasure trove of info here and getting to know you.

Welcome to the Forum Steve.

Almost a lifetime ago, I visited East London a few times when working on a Union Castle Freighter.I'll bet it has changed since then (1961/2).

Welcome to AiX Steve. Keep us posted on aviation aspects in SA. You will find a sub-forum for non-UK airfields in the menu.

Hi Dave,

Beyond all recognition, mate. I'm old enough to remember the last of the Castle liners (Windsor Castle) - had a walk through her when I was probably 8, not long before she went to the Greeks and then the breakers.

Hi Peter,

Gladly. A few good places to start if you're curious about South African military aviation are with the following:

www.saairforce.co.za/ particularly www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/history/saaf-museum/locations
Follow the links to the Port Elizabeth and Ysterplaat (Cape Town) branches.

Swartkops (Pretoria) is our equivalent to Duxford, the home of the SAAF and home to the SAAF Memorial as well. It's the main branch of the museum.

I was involved with the P.E. branch, which is housed in some of the remains of 42 Air School, an SFTS of the Joint Air Training Scheme (our part of the Empire Air Training Scheme). I think you'd find it particularly interesting as the museum occupies a restored Bellman, the gunnery training hall, the Link trainer building and parachute loft. The footings for two other long-gone Bellmans as well as a few offices are now display hardstands.

Ysterplaat (Cape Town) is located on an active base.

saafmuseum.org.za/

www.saaffriends.co.za/ For the civilian organisation who support and volunteer with the museum branches.

www.saaffriends.co.za/links.htm

www.ditsong.org.za/militaryhistory.htm The South African National Museum of Military History. Originally housed in two Bessoneau hangars (to the detriment of several rare birds which ended up being scrapped - preservation wasn't what it is now), but currently uses two Bellmans and covered areas.

I noticed your monuments section. Apart from the SAAF Memorial at Swartkops, there's also the Memorial to the Pioneers of Aviation in Kimberley. This is a replica of the hangar as well as a replica of the Compton Patterson biplane that saw the beginning of the SAAF in 1912/1913. In East London we also have a rather unremarkable marker in the suburb of Stirling where Mons. Kimmerling undertook the first powered flight in South Africa with a Voisin on 28/12/1909.

You may all be interested to know that substantial remains of the airbases used in the Joint Air Training Scheme still exist, with buildings of all types still in use. Often little modified. That's partly how I found this forum, by trying to trace out the designs and types of structures.

But before I get too carried away, where would be the best place to start with a post on the subject?

Good evening!

I've just discovered this site as part of my research into my great-grandfather, George Bottomley ARMITAGE. George was a sergeant in the RFC and then the RAF in the Great War. I have his service record from The National Archives and am now trying to trace where he was based and what he did. For the avoidance of any duplication, I am registered on the Great War Forum with the same username, and also a site called 'The Aerodrome'.

Once I've covered George I want to do more research into my grandfather's service in the RAF in the 1920s and 1930s, before he transferred to a group referred to as "Works and Bricks" which I believe was a civilian branch supporting the RAF.

Works and Bricks was the Ministry of Works, later the MPBW or The Ministry Of Public Buildings and Works....later became part of the DoE (Dept of Environment)....I worked for the MPBW for ten years (late 60s/70s) at SRDE ,Christchurch(on the edge of the Aerodrome there.)

Basically the MPBW was responsible for building upkeep and the provision of some services at military and some civilian government establishments throughout the UK.

........But before I get too carried away, where would be the best place to start with a post on the subject?

Click on Forum (top toolbar lefthand side) then scroll down to 'Rest of the World' Open and scroll to Africa (Southern Africa)

As an ex-Lighting man I was following Thunder City but haven't checked to see what is happening for some time.

I'm not 100% sure myself but since Dave Stock's fatal crash in XS451 ZU-BEX at Overberg in 2009 they've stopped carrying passengers, and they have three Lightnings, three Buccaneers and four Hunters listed for sale through another party. As far as I'm aware, the SAAF Museum have reclaimed their Mirage F.1 CZs, Buccaneer and Sabre. What's happening to the other airframes like the Gloster Javelin and Vampire on outside display pylons, I've no clue.

Thanks. I shall take a look and see what is happening.