Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Guppy35 on March 12, 2008, 08:39:06 PM
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Everytime I hear some guy complain on 200 about some guy 'pulling his cord' I start to laugh as it reminds me of a story told to me by a WW2 Spitfire pilot named Terry Spencer.
The date was August 23, 1944 and the Spitfire XII pilots of 41 Squadron were on a flight over Holland. They were carrying drop tanks and were at the point where they had used them up and were going to switch to internal fuel.
Tom Slack, a Flight Lead in 41 reached for the handle to switch to internal fuel and had it come off in his hand. His engine stopped and he began gliding down.
Around him the other pilots were offering all kinds of suggestions. The set up was simple in that a wire ran from the cockpit to the DT. In theory, Tom could reach down and try and grab the wire.
Terry Spencer called over the RT "Pull your wire Tom! Pull your wire!"
In the slang of the day, "pull your wire' also meant playing with yourself.
Tom's reply was "This is no time for jest!" , as he glided down to a crash landing and nine + months as a POW.
So think about that next time you tell some one on 200 to quit pulling his cord :)
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:lol
Damn good story.~S~
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lmao
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So because he didnt change to internal, he crash landed.
Sound to me like he would have been better off playin' with himself.
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So because he didnt change to internal, he crash landed.
Sound to me like he would have been better off playin' with himself.
He was unable to switch over because the handle to make the switch broke and came off in his hand. There was nothing he could do. He has since passed away, but I feel quite fortunate to have met both Tom and Terry. Two of the classiest men I've ever met.
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So because he didnt change to internal, he crash landed.
Sound to me like he would have been better off playin' with himself.
Shoot, before the Germans got me, I would have done it to make an already bad day better.
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When Tom Slack got to Stalag Luft III he told the guys that had been there a long time that the war would be over by Christmas or he'd run the perimeter track naked.
Well needless to say the war wasn't over and he ran the perimeter track of the camp naked, although they did let him wear tennis shoes, a hat and a ribbon tied around...er...well...you know. :)
Terry Spencer was later a POW as well and he and another pilot escaped, stole a motorcycle and rode it across the Remagen Bridge to the allied lines. So much for Steve McQueen :)
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:rofl
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(http://david.tenifer.com/aceshigh/images/forum/laugh_100_ani.gif)
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Interesting reminder that a lot of a/c and crews were lost due to mechanical troubles, especially over enemy lines.
...I wonder if he would have been able to set her down on a road or field and attempt a repair had he not been captured? would have been worth a try, had he got the chance. Dicey at best.
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Nice story :).
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(http://david.tenifer.com/aceshigh/images/forum/laugh_100_ani.gif)
wait... you can make it bigger?
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(http://david.tenifer.com/aceshigh/images/forum/laugh_100_ani.gif)
wait... you can make it bigger?
Just how old are you, kid? ;)
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outstanding story......i will remember that next time a fighter warps for sure :rofl :rofl
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Great story!
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Great story, Guppy.... except for poor Tom!
And the naked run.... LMAO! :lol