Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 13h

osamělý vlk!

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 13h

Well yes, the system is technically 70+ years old, but I think it’s a bit unlikely that it was last overhauled in 1955…

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 17h

Good to hear they’re doing well. How are things with you? No, er, exsanguination from unexpected areas, I hope…

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23h

Sergeant Eric Frith of 92 Squadron baled out of his damaged Spitfire near Ashford at 12:50pm, but was severely burned. He later died in hospital on 17th October.
📷 ©️bbm.org.uk
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Cropped photograph of Eric Frith in uniform. He seems to be holding a dog on his lap, though only a portion of the animal is visible in the image.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23h

In total, 10 Luftwaffe aircraft were lost. One of these was the JG 77 Bf 109 of Lt. H. Escherhaus, which force-landed at Vensons Farm, Eastry, at 7:45am. His dinghy had inexplicably inflated in the cockpit, causing him to lose control of the fighter! British losses were 3 aircraft and 5 airmen
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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23h

Overnight, London was again the main focus for Luftwaffe bombers. Among buildings hit were the Royal Courts of Justice and St Paul’s Cathedral. Other places to be bombed included Falmouth, Manchester and Newport.
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High Altar of St Paul’s Cathedral, damaged by falling masonry after a bomb struck the roof of the East End at 6am on 10th October. The photograph shows an ornate religious backdrop, with an image of Jesus on the cross in the centre. The altar itself has been crushed underneath a pile of rubble.
📷 stpauls.co.uk

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23h

The towns of Maidstone, Hastings and Canterbury in Kent were all badly hit. One of the airfields attacked that day was Hawkinge, bombed and strafed by six Bf 109s in the early afternoon, though only minor damage was done.
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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23h

Once again, despite the best efforts of Fighter Command, a significant number of Luftwaffe aircraft got through. In London, damage was reported to docks, factories and residential buildings in Finsbury, Shoreditch and West Ham. Casualties were heavy, with 80 people killed and around 300 wounded
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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23h

BATTLE OF BRITAIN 85: 9th October 1940. Between heavy showers, several formations of Bf 109s crossed the coast, primarily aiming for London. From 11am to 1pm, over 100 fighters and Jabos were involved, then from 2pm another wave of some 150 aircraft appeared.
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Messerschmitt 109 fighter on a French airfield, carrying a single 250kg bomb on an under fuselage rack. A Luftwaffe airman, or possibly the pilot, is checking something in the cockpit.

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Reposted by Jamie McTrusty

Chris Sams @jerijerod14.bsky.social · 1d

This week’s free to read:

On 3 September 1939 the RAF’ first bombing raid was on standby to attack the Kriegsmarine in port on the first day of #ww2, but how did it go?

jerijerod14.substack.com/p/bombing-th...

#history #navalhistory

Bombing the Fleet

The RAF's first bombing sortie of World War Two

jerijerod14.substack.com

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Reposted by Jamie McTrusty

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

Funeral Invitation, 1688.

Funeral invitations first appeared in the 17th century, and acted as an admission ticket to both the church and the funeral feast. Pallbearers were often assigned a number on the ticket to signify their position in carrying the coffin.

A funeral invitation from April, 1688. It has an ornate black border with various memento mori iconography around it - like skeletons, winged hourglasses, and scythes.

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Reposted by Jamie McTrusty

Matthew Willis (Naval Air History) @navalairhistory.com · 1d

Who wants a thread of my digital artworks? Well tough, you’re getting one

Matthew Willis (Naval Air History) @navalairhistory.com · 2d

Thanks to all for the good wishes. Just waiting now, in my gown feeling like an extra from Up Pompeii! Anyway gave me a bit of time to finish this - Donald Campbell at Lake Eyre in 1964 with Bluebird CN7

Digital artwork in the style of an oil painting, medium shot of Donald Campbell, smiling, in a blue jumper and cream trousers, resting one hand on the nose of his land speed record car Bluebird CN7

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

Good to hear - take it easy!

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Reposted by Jamie McTrusty

Lucy Betteridge-Dyson @lmbd1418.bsky.social · 1d

Tomorrow at 19:00BST I’ll be on @ww2tv.bsky.social having a chat with Woody about Jungle Commandos and answering your questions! So if there’s something you want to know about the Third Arakan and/or the book, now is your chance to ask! ☺️

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

Congratulations, Waitman!

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

It’s a Martin Baltimore medium bomber. They were American-built, but only the RAF/RAAF/RCAF/SAAF (plus some other Allied countries) used them, exclusively in the Mediterranean area and over N Africa.

Baltimore twin engined bomber in desert camouflage and RAF markings, flying at medium altitude.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

Sgt John Farrow of 229 Squadron lost control of his Hurricane while flying through cloud in formation over Bovingdon. The cause is unclear, but oxygen failure or disorientation are possibilities. The aircraft fell some distance before breaking up at 200 feet and Farrow was killed.
📷 ©️ bbm.org.uk

Poor quality photograph, taken outside, of a grinning John Farrow in his RAF uniform.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

Sgt Rufus Ward of 66 Squadron was shot down by Bf 109s over Rochester. He successfully baled out of his Spitfire, but witnesses on the ground saw him being machine gunned in his parachute and he was dead on landing.
📷©️ bbm.org.uk
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Rufus Ward in his RAF sergeant’s uniform, sitting for a portrait photograph.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

One of the most celebrated Czech pilots of the Battle of Britain, Josef Frantisek of 303 Squadron, died when the wingtip of his Hurricane clipped a tree, crashing at Ewell in Surrey at 9:40am. At the time of his death, he is believed to have scored 17 victories in 4 weeks.
📷 ©️ bbm.org.uk
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An unsmiling Josef Frantisek standing in front of his Hurricane fighter on a grass airfield. He’s wearing a life jacket over his uniform and carries his flying helmet in his left hand.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

There was no respite that night as the bombers returned, with several serious fires reported in locations such as Hammersmith, London Docks, Shoreditch and Battersea. As during the day, the toll was the heaviest it had been for some time: more than 130 killed and 200 injured.
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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

The Luftwaffe lost 11 aircraft in total. 8 RAF fighters were destroyed and 8 aircrew killed. This Bf 109E of JG 52, flown by Feldwebel Paul Boche, force-landed on Little Grange Farm, Woodham Mortimer, Essex. Boche was badly injured when his fighter careered into a haystack.
📷 IWM HU 73560
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In the shadow of two haystacks, a member of RAF personnel examines the exposed engine of a Bf 109 fighter, its engine cowling removed. The aircraft itself is severely damaged, the rear fuselage buckled and twisted behind the cockpit. A soldier armed with a rifle looks on, with a curious civilian in the background.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

Bombs fell at Charing Cross, Tower Bridge, Horseguards Parade, the War Office and the Air Ministry. More than 60 people were killed and over 200 injured, the worst casualties in daylight since early September.
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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

Many aircraft made it through to London, where their bombs inflicted significant damage and casualties. Further raids followed: 30 aircraft at 10:30am, another 30 at 11:15 and, finally, two smaller formations at 12:30. Though a few attacks were reported on coastal towns, London was the focus.
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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

BATTLE OF BRITAIN 85: 8th October 1940. Operating at increasing altitude, the formations of Bf 109s were becoming more difficult to intercept. So it proved at 8:30am, when a group of over 50 Jabos and their escorts, followed shortly afterwards by a further 100, crossed the coast.
📷 IWM CH 1367A
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Armourers working on top of the left wing of a 19 Squadron Spitfire fighter at Fowlmere in late September 1940. It’s a sunny day, and the shadow of the aircraft is being clearly cast on the grass.

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Reposted by Jamie McTrusty

Hush-Kit aviation news, history & satire @hushkit.bsky.social · 2d

I want to grow on here. If you enjoy what I (and we) do, please do recommend us. Much appreciated

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