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William Reid (VC)
William Reid (21 December 1921 – 28 November 2001) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He earned his Victoria Cross as a pilot in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command during the Second World War. Born in Baillieston, Lanarkshire, he applied to join the RAF on the outbreak of war. After initial training, he was selected as a bomber pilot, and soon became a flying instructor himself. He was eventually given an operational posting, flying several raids before that on Düsseldorf which led to the award of the VC. On a later raid he was shot down and became a prisoner of war in Germany. He left the RAF after the war, and worked in the agricultural industry. On 19 November 2009 his VC was sold at auction for £384,000, a record for a VC awarded to a recipient from the United Kingdom. Early life William Reid was born in Baillieston ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baillieston
Baillieston () is a working class suburb of Glasgow, Scotland. It is about east of the city centre. It also gives its name to Ward 20 of Glasgow City Council and forms part of the Glasgow East constituency of the UK Parliament. Geographical position Once a separate village, Baillieston is now on the periphery of the Glasgow urban area, situated west of a major interchange between the M8, M74 and M73 motorways and the A8 trunk road, between the town of Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire, and the neighbouring Glasgow neighbourhoods of Sandyhills, Barlanark and Mount Vernon, Glasgow, Mount Vernon. Suburban developments in the vicinity such as Barrachnie, Garrowhill, Springhill, Glasgow, Springhill and Swinton, Glasgow, Swinton are generally considered to fall within the larger modern Baillieston district. The area is served by Baillieston railway station, with the Broomhouse, Glasgow, Broomhouse neighbourhood on the opposite side of the tracks accessed via a rebuilt road bridg ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, second-largest country by total area, with the List of countries by length of coastline, world's longest coastline. Its Canada–United States border, border with the United States is the world's longest international land border. The country is characterized by a wide range of both Temperature in Canada, meteorologic and Geography of Canada, geological regions. With Population of Canada, a population of over 41million people, it has widely varying population densities, with the majority residing in List of the largest population centres in Canada, urban areas and large areas of the country being sparsely populated. Canada's capital is Ottawa and List of census metropolitan areas and agglomerations in Canada, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach (, ) is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany, west of the Rhine, halfway between Düsseldorf and the Netherlands, Dutch border. Geography Municipal subdivisions Since 2009, the territory of Mönchengladbach has comprised four (previously ten) boroughs which are subdivided into 44 districts. The boroughs and their associated districts were: * * * * History Name and origins The original name of the city was , by which it is still often known today. To distinguish it from another town of the same name (the present ), it took the name ('Monks’ Gladbach', in reference to the abbey) in 1888. Between 1933 and 1950, it was written ' (short: ), without a hyphen. This spelling was seen as potentially misleading, as it could imply that Gladbach was a borough of Munich (), so consequently the name was changed to in 1950 (and subsequently in 1960) to avoid confusion. The town was founded around Gladbach Abbey i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent () or Newark is a market town and civil parish in the Newark and Sherwood district in Nottinghamshire, England. It is on the River Trent, and was historically a major inland port. The A1 road (Great Britain), A1 road bypasses the town on the line of the ancient Great North Road (Great Britain), Great North Road. The town's origins are likely to be Roman Britain, Roman, as it lies on a major Roman road, the Fosse Way. It grew up around Newark Castle, Nottinghamshire, Newark Castle, Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent, St Mary Magdalene church and later developed as a centre for the wool and cloth trades. In the English Civil War, it was besieged by Roundheads, Parliamentary forces and Relief of Newark, relieved by Cavaliers, Royalist forces under Prince Rupert. Newark has a marketplace lined with many historical buildings and one of its most notable landmarks is Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent, St Mary Magdalene church with its towering spire ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
RAF Wigsley
Royal Air Force Wigsley, also known as RAF Wigsley, is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located east of Tuxford, Nottinghamshire and west of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. History * Detachment from No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF between April and May 1942 * No. 28 Air Crew Holding Unit RAF between September 1945 and January 1946 * Satellite of No. 201 Advanced Flying School RAF between 1947 and 1954 * Satellite of No. 204 Advanced Flying School RAF between 1950 and 1952 * No. 455 Squadron RAAF with the Handley Page Hampden between 8 February and 28 April 1942 * No. 1654 Conversion Unit RAF between June and October 1942 became No. 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF between October 1942 and September 1945 * Relief Landing Ground for No. 8 Flying Training School RAF between August 1955 and August 1959 * No. 50 Conversion Flight during August 1942 * No. 83 Conversion Flight during August 1942 * No. 2776 Squadron RAF Regiment] * Relief Landing Ground for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flying Officer
Flying officer (Fg Offr or F/O) is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Flying officer is immediately senior to pilot officer and immediately below flight lieutenant. It is usually equivalent to the rank of sub-lieutenant in the navy and of the rank of lieutenant in other services. The equivalent rank in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force was "section officer". Canada The rank was used in the Royal Canadian Air Force until the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces, when army-type rank titles were adopted. Canadian flying officers then became lieutenants. In official Canadian French usage, the rank title was . United Kingdom Origins The term "flying officer" was originally used in the Royal Flying Corps as a flying appointment for junior officers, not a rank. On 1 April 1918, the newly created RAF adopted its officer rank titles ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster, commonly known as the Lancaster Bomber, is a British World War II, Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same era. The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry List of Air Ministry specifications, Specification P.13/36 for a medium bomber for "world-wide use" which could carry a torpedo internally, and make shallow dive-bombing attacks. Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one of the versions, Bristol Hercules engines. I ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington (nicknamed the Wimpy) is a British twin-engined, long-range medium bomber. It was designed during the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey. Led by Vickers-Armstrongs' chief designer Rex Pierson, a key feature of the aircraft is its geodetic airframe fuselage structure, which was principally designed by Barnes Wallis. Development had been started in response to Air Ministry List Of Air Ministry Specifications, Specification B.9/32, issued in the middle of 1932, for a bomber for the Royal Air Force. This specification called for a twin-engined day bomber capable of delivering higher performance than any previous design. Other aircraft developed to the same specification include the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley and the Handley Page Hampden. During the development process, performance requirements such as for the tare weight changed substantially, and the engine used was not the one originally intended. Despite the original specification, the Wellingto ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
RAF North Luffenham
Royal Air Force North Luffenham or more simply RAF North Luffenham is a former Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England. It is near to the villages of Edith Weston and North Luffenham. History Second World War The station was built as a training airfield, opening in 1940. It was later taken over by 5 Group of RAF Bomber Command as a heavy bomber base, and was expanded by the building of concrete runways later in the war. Post war In 1951, the station was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force to become the temporary home of 1 Fighter Wing, the first Canadian NATO base in Europe. 1 Wing moved to Marville, France in 1955. In late 1955, No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit, temporarily renamed No. 238 OCU, was detached to North Luffenham from RAF Leeming which was having its runways extended to 7000 ft to accommodate Gloster Javelins. The OCU remained for over a year before returning to Leeming. From 1959 to 1963, North Luffenham was the base for PGM-17 Tho ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Operational Training Unit
Royal Air Force Operational Training Units (OTUs) were training units that prepared aircrew for operations on a particular type or types of aircraft or roles. OTUs ;No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF (1 (C)OTU): The Unit was formed in 1940 as part of RAF Coastal Command at RAF Silloth for training aircrew on coastal command patrol aircraft types until it was disbanded on 19 October 1943.Sturtivant 2007, pp. 198-206 ; No. 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF (2 (C)OTU): 2 OTU was formed in 1940 as part of Coastal Command at RAF Catfoss for training aircrew on coastal command twin-engined fighter and strike aircraft types until it was disbanded 15 February 1944. ; No. 3 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF (3 (C)OTU): 3 OTU was formed in 1940 as part of Coastal Command at RAF Catfoss for training aircrew on coastal command aircraft types including the Avro Anson and Bristol Beaufighter, until it was disbanded 4 January 1944. ; No. 4 (Coastal) Operational Tra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Little Rissington
Little Rissington is a village and civil parish about south of Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 280. Parish church The oldest part of the Church of England parish church of St Peter is the 13th-century chancel. The nave has two 14th-century windows and the chancel has a 14th-century piscina. The font and tower are 15th-century. There was also a 15th-century rood loft, of which the stone Tudor arch to the stairs now remains. The church is a Grade II* listed building. Climate RAF station RAF Little Rissington Royal Air Force Little Rissington or more simply RAF Little Rissington is a Royal Air Force List of Royal Air Force stations, satellite station in Gloucestershire, England. It was once home to the Central Flying School, the Vintage Pair and t ... is an RAF station partly in Little Rissington parish. Notes Further reading * * External linksLittle Rissington Civil paris ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Airspeed Oxford
The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford is a twin-engine monoplane aircraft developed and manufactured by Airspeed Ltd, Airspeed. It saw widespread use for training Commonwealth of Nations, British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery roles throughout the World War II, Second World War. The Oxford was developed by Airspeed during the 1930s in response to a requirement for a trainer aircraft that conformed with List of Air Ministry specifications#1930.E2.80.931939, Specification T.23/36, which had been issued by the British Air Ministry. Its basic design is derived from the company's earlier Airspeed Envoy, AS.6 Envoy, a commercial passenger aircraft. After its maiden flight by Percy Colman on 19 June 1937, it was quickly put into production as part of a rapid expansion of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in anticipation of a large-scale conflict. As a consequence of the outbreak of war, many thousands of Oxfords were ordered by Britain and its allies, including ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
