Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Trip01 on December 03, 2002, 10:15:51 AM
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[some of this orginally posted to BW]
At the UK Con this year, the speaker was Stamper Metcalfe, formerly a navigator in a Lancater crew with 100 Sqdn. His operations included the famous firebombing raid over Dresden and he brought with him the target map he was issued and took on the operation, complete with blacked off areas (the POW camps) and handritten pencil notes on the approach (069 degrees,18,000 feet).
http://stvuk.brinkster.net/UKAHConvention2002/IMG_1102.html
Dinner finished at 9pm and he was still speaking and answering questions at 11, and I could have listened to him all night. He was keen to see the game so we took him downstairs to the computer room.
We put him in a Lanc and he mastered taking off in about three goes ("where's me artificial horizon? Bloody hell, could they not have made it any bigger?") and he sat in the tail gun while we organised an escort of spits & hurris and some 109s to attack from the six.
The cry of joy as he got his first kill is something I wont forget. "That's one less jerry to worry about! Did you see how I took his wings off?") He was hooked and played until 3am. His poor wife couldnt drag him away (sound familiar?).
http://www.zeb.clara.net/webcam/gallery/saturday2/kif_0173.htm
http://stvuk.brinkster.net/UKAHConvention2002/IMG_1111.html
He piloted while Drew flew gunner for him as they raided an nme
field. They took out some fighters on the way and as they approached the field Drew asked his captain's permission to go to the toilet. "Cross your bloody legs kid!"
Later, via the UK AW mailing list several of the con attendees arranged to send Stamper spare throttles, pedals, and joysticks. We organised him a free dsl line. This Sunday, Flossy and husband Zeb travelled up to his home in Northern England to set him up, sign him up and show him the ropes. He's just left me a voicemail message:
"If you want any planes destroyed, just send them up here. I can clip the wings off almost any plane you care to mention as I taxi out the hangar."
He has asked me to pass on his thanks to everyone for the help getting him set up. He is quite overwhelmed with the response of the Uk AH community, "Well I dont know what I;ve done to deserve all this." Risking his neck every night for two years seems like quite a lot to me, but to him it's come as a surprise that so many people still give a damn.
If you see handle 'Stamper' piloting a Lanc formation, be sure to say 'hello' - he is a genuine character, a thoroughly nice chap, and fifty years on he is once again approaching the target at angels one eight.
Trip
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Very cool :cool:
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Why is it okay to get friends hooked on online games, but crack cocaine is considered so bad? The only difference is that online games tend to be cheaper.
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While this game is amazing by itself, It never cease to surprise me that its community beats it on a regular basis.
, I'll keep an eye on Stamper...and try to be kinder to Buff drivers ;)
Cheers,
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Cool post Trip. But for heaven's sake, tell the man that he can spawn on the runway and that he doesn't have to taxi out of the hangar. :D
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Thanks for the post Tilt.
Who?
Trip
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Great post Trip!
He has asked me to pass on his thanks to everyone for the help getting him set up. He is quite overwhelmed with the response of the Uk AH community, "Well I dont know what I;ve done to deserve all this." Risking his neck every night for two years seems like quite a lot to me, but to him it's come as a surprise that so many people still give a damn.
Aye, I'll agree risking his neck seems like quite alot. My granddad flew Liberators and he always seemed flustered that us "whipper-snappers" made a big deal of it.
If Stamper is flyin rooks I'll 'scort to his target, if not he can rest assured I'll make as difficult a target for him to hit as I can :D
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....amazing...
We all do care :)
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to all you UK(limey) dweebs a big
for what you did:D
that was mighty nice of ya's
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Extremely cool guys..well done.
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CHEERS TO STAMPER!!!!!!!!
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Originally posted by Mickey1992
Cool post Trip. But for heaven's sake, tell the man that he can spawn on the runway and that he doesn't have to taxi out of the hangar. :D
Hehe.... we did tell him that on Sunday.... but I suppose there was a lot of information for him to take in! :D
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so you send free dsl sticks and pedals to a old man but you wont send some to me:(
oh well...he sounds like quite a guy
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Stamper and Betty made Flos, Cloud (our son) and myself very welcome. After a 140 mile trip we were sat down to a very nice Sunday dinner and more of Stampers tales of his exploits during the war. After a few technical problems we got him airborne. He insisted on a Lanc straight off, which is not the easiest for a beginner. Within an hour we had him doing his fist Lanc circuit unaided. Being an ex-teacher since the war, he was eager to get down to reading the docs. We left him plenty to read :)
He had to have one last flight before we left. I taught him the (enter enter enter) command at that point :D , I am sure the neighbours must have heard the cry as he bailed out. Well we did need to get home!
I took the pictures below just before we left. The last one of Stamper and his wife with the 100 squadron crest just showing in the background.
We also left with a rather unique Christmas card which I have scanned into the last two pictures. His aircraft was HWH as shown. It was his job to do the nose art as well!
(http://www.zeb.clara.net/images/stamper/CRW_0403.jpg)
(http://www.zeb.clara.net/images/stamper/CRW_0404.jpg)
(http://www.zeb.clara.net/images/stamper/CRW_0405.jpg)
(http://www.zeb.clara.net/images/stamper/stamp1.jpg)
(http://www.zeb.clara.net/images/stamper/stamp2.jpg)
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Originally posted by vorticon
so you send free dsl sticks and pedals to a old man but you wont send some to me:(
oh well...he sounds like quite a guy
I didn't send them, I took them. Canada is a bit far to go. Mind if you are offering airfare then I will be over like a shot. Never been to Canada :)
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WTG Limeys.
Stamper!
All Allied veterans have my thanks for what they did.
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Good show lads :)
< S >
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God bless you Brits and Yurpeens =o)
This is an example of the community that I came to love back in my AW days. It warms my heart to see it continue in AcesHigh.
Hitech, it comes to mind that it may be a good to offer the surviving WW2 vets a free account. I'm sure Tiff and MIA from BigWeek can get you in contact with them. It would be great for HTC's image and these terrific gentlemen would sure grace the skies of AH... might even take the edge off Shane. And I'd bet my last penny that each would find a AH player in their area willing to help get them started.
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WTG UK AH-ERS :)
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Well done lads!
Eino Estama, Junkers Ju 88 bomber pilot, flying WarBirds Me 109 G:
(http://www.virtualpilots.fi/hist/kuvat/ww2history-oulu-online1s.jpg)
Curtiss Hawk & Me 109 ace Kyösti Karhila and WB3:
(http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/photoreports/ilmailuharrastepaivat2001/herrat007t.jpg)
Hemmo Leino, Morane Saulnier/109 ace:
(http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/photoreports/ilmailuharrastepaivat2001/herrat017t.jpg)
Etc. But hell, none of them got a PC they could use for flying online. Maybe we should donate such machine to one of them ;-)
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To you folks who made it possible for this gentleman to participate in AH WELL DONE!!!
It is truly gracious of you to give your time, and money to help this gentleman. I salute you and hope you are repaid 10 times over for the good deed you have done.
Stamper if you see me up and need an escort yell out. I'm sure the Flying Circus would be proud to clear your 6.
Hajo
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Great post! Made my day!
Flossy, Zeb! :)
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Very very cool.
If anyone (HTC Public Relations? A history-based squadron?) ever organizes a collection point for gear to make up systems to give to veterans who would like to fly AH, I have a bunch of stuff that's not cutting edge gear but certainly "good enough" to play the game. A couple of ethernet cards, 56k modem, cheap sound card, a joystick or two, last year's video card, stuff like that. I'm sure lots of players have spare parts collecting dust, and this is certainly a nice thing to do.
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A big salute to the UK folks! S!
And ta you Stamper S!
Ya ever need anything, just give me a holler. (Texas Connection) :D
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I got lots of stuff i ould love to give if i know it was going to VET's who want to play the game! Hell i got a AMD athlon 850 with 512 mg of ram and mobo + lan card ill ship to em!
STAMPER I hope flossy and them didnt get you flying BISHOPS! but if they did then im gonna give ya one hell of a fight!
Box
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WTFG British! This is without a doubt one of the coolest things I have ever heard members of the AH community do.
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Thats just bloody great :) wtg guys for doing that,the smile on his face says it all,these guys are my heroes :)
Stamper
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Well done.
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HTC Now there's and idea. If HTC could collect donated components such as used joysticks in good working order. Video cards etc. and drivers for these components it would be great. I have equipment in great shape sitting around in boxes. GF2 card, a used F16 combat stick. Diamond MonsterMX300 sound card that all work with the drivers. Would be nice to have a centralized collection point where these components can be kept and distributed to those who might use them. Then can be passed out to those who can use them, like Stamper etc.
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Best post i ever read :cool:
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Now how can we not feel guilty if we shot him down ? ;)
to all vets
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Stamper tends to do most of his online flying during the day (UK time) when Zeb and I are both at work, so we have not been able to help him in the MA as much as we would like. I managed to get him into the squad last night which helped a bit - at least we can talk on vox now! :)
If anyone is able to help him during the day, it would be greatly appreciated.... main problem at the moment is communication, as he hasn't yet mastered the radio channels. If you talk to him and he doesn't respond, it's probably because he doesn't yet know how.... also, while he is flying, I think all his concentration goes on that - not yet learnt to read the text at the same time! :D
He is very determined, though, and I think in time he will do really well. :)
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if i see im in MA ill try to provide him with a target for his guns.....and if he is knit ill help him out :)
Im online most of the time during the day (eurotime) so i should be able to find him
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What a genuinely nice thing to do for the fella. Well done guys!
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Originally posted by Nilsen10
if i see im in MA ill try to provide him with a target for his guns.....and if he is knit ill help him out :)
He is Bishops. :) I think he is going to be away today and tomorrow, but back on Sunday.
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Flossy...
Have you made him sign up for the BBS so he can get help here?
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I sent him a link to this thread last night as well as some screen shots of me following his Hurri II. So with a bit of luck it will get him involved on here as well.
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We did show him the BBS while we were with him last Sunday, but he was eager to get online so never got around to registering. We were throwing lots of information at him and I think it may have been all a bit much to take in all at once. I'm sure we'll get him here eventually. :) Zeb has posted the URL of this thread to Stamper, so maybe he will register then if he tries to reply!
Come on Stamper, everyone is waiting to hear from you direct! Click register at the top of this page and fill in the details - and the password can be anything, it doesn't have to be that awful numeric one you got for your online flying! :D
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Originally posted by Trip01
[some of this orginally posted to BW]
His operations included the famous firebombing raid over Dresden ...
Trip
Don't you mean infamous ? :rolleyes:
Anyways ... good to have you with us Stamper! Cheers! :)
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Just when I think the AH community is going to crap I read this.... and I realise there are many good sorts here still.
UK-ers and welcome Stamper.
xBAT
P.S. I'd donate cash in a heartbeat for a Vet.
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Originally posted by Grizzly
Hitech, it comes to mind that it may be a good to offer the surviving WW2 vets a free account. I'm sure Tiff and MIA from BigWeek can get you in contact with them. It would be great for HTC's image and these terrific gentlemen would sure grace the skies of AH... might even take the edge off Shane. And I'd bet my last penny that each would find a AH player in their area willing to help get them started.
IN! IN! IN! I've got extra gear here that I'd be willing to donate. Hell, I'd even volunteer to put it together and get it running and shipped out.
Might be something we could donate a couple of buck to also (given the right mechanism for doing it legitimately).
Yippee38
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Ive a spare MS Force Feedback 2 here if Stamper fancies one :) more than happy to donate it :)
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Originally posted by Flossy
Come on Stamper, everyone is waiting to hear from you direct! Click register at the top of this page and fill in the details - and the password can be anything, it doesn't have to be that awful numeric one you got for your online flying! :D
I just spoke to him on the phone and he has certainly read the thread, though I dont think he's registered yet. He's downloading 1.11 at the moment which I hope will fix his occasional CTD problem. I understand that you are planning to go up there again after christmas, in which case you can help him out. I might go up there myself in January if I can.
He's not at all happy about his hair in those photos. Perhaps you can take a stylist with you for the next shoot?
Trip
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Wow what a wonderful story. Definitely brightened my day. I would glady donate hardware to any WWII vet who wants to get in on the AH action.
Btw, you Brits sure dress-up purty at your Con. I think Hitech needs to enforce a dress-code at the next Con. No more shorts and t-shirts that the Yanks typically wear. :)
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Great going guys. We of course would be happy to sponsor accounts for WWII vets who are interested in playing. If we could get a group of them playing, I'm sure that would make it even more appealing to them. The real tricky part is finding vets who are as interested in it as Mr. Metcalfe. I certainly wouldn't want any vet getting needled into playing just because somebody wants him to.
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Originally posted by Pyro
Great going guys. We of course would be happy to sponsor accounts for WWII vets who are interested in playing. If we could get a group of them playing, I'm sure that would make it even more appealing to them. The real tricky part is finding vets who are as interested in it as Mr. Metcalfe. I certainly wouldn't want any vet getting needled into playing just because somebody wants him to.
wtg HTC! so stamper is getting a free account then?
It's really nice knowing that there are some vets playing aswell. :) btw. I also have a MS FF2 I can give away for free.
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WTG HTC! Thank you for doing that.
BTW: I remember watching him fly on the web cam link at the UK Con. His wife didn't look too impressed with his now hobby. ;)
(I can relate to that too)
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Wow WTG guys it would be an honour to fly alongside such a hero.
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It's enough to make a bloke come over all warm and fuzzy :)
Big and wtg to the UK folks for what they are doing, to Mr Metcalfe for his deeds, and to Pyro and the HTC mob for putting up their hand to sponsor Vet's accounts.
Truely wizard show chaps, you all have made my day with this thread .
Blue
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Originally posted by Ozark
WTG HTC! Thank you for doing that.
Yes, I'd like to add my thanks for that it makes a big difference.
Originally posted by Ozark
BTW: I remember watching him fly on the web cam link at the UK Con. His wife didn't look too impressed with his now hobby. ;)
(I can relate to that too)
In fact it was Betty, who by the way is absolutely charming, that asked us if it would be possible. I think she might have started to flag at around 3am on the night in question but she perked up noticeably when Ravs spotted that Stamper was distracted by a 109 and saw his chance to put some moves on her:
http://stvuk.brinkster.net/UKAHCon2002Gforcer/IMG_0114.html
Trip
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Thank you all for your kind words, i am in the process of flying off line getting used to things . Today I managed to land a mossie straight down the runway and then taxi into a hangar. But i am also an expert at stalling.and have gone for a burton several times. When I am more efficient then will join you all on line . The people at the convention were very kind to Betty and myself and we both send our christmas greetings to you all around the globe. Thank you all, Stamper
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Hi Stamper.
Nice to see you on the forum. If you ever need any online help in the training arena just holler.
Welcome to Aces High :)
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Jolly good show!
UK AH'ers
Welcome aboard Stamper!
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Originally posted by Ghosth
Jolly good show!
UK AH'ers
Welcome aboard Stamper!
Agreed Ghosth!
Welcome Stamper and please extend our Christmas Greeting to Betty.
I got to admit, I enjoyed watching you learn about Aces High from the UK Con Cam. I clearly remember calling my spouse (Kay) into my computer room and telling her about you and Betty. As we watched from a small town in Mid-Missouri, it was almost like being there.
I have this gut feeling that you’ll never have to worry about having a wingman.
and welcome to AH Sir.
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Welcome to Aces High Stamper
You probably do not realise what an honor it is for us to have you fly with us... I have always admired the aviators of WW2. When I discovered Flying Online I truly came to realise what a feat it was for any of you to have survived the war...
My Uncle flew P-47's and P-51's in WW2. He has stated just like you have that he couldn't understand all the fuss I made over the fact that he flew in actual combat. I had informed him that he was a hero to thousands of people that flew online games. His reply was (as he chuckled) "Hell, I never thought of myself as a hero, I was just doing what everybody else was doing... trying to win the war"...
Not only did you win the war, but your generation did a most fantastic job of it... Then re-built the world that had been destroyed. You taught us lessons in humility and servitude that no one could ever teach other than by example...
Salute to you and all of the Veterans...
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Great thread WTG UK! If I see you online Stamper it would be an honor to escort your Lancs into combat.
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cool
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Stamper, if my 6 yr. old son shoots you down...just let it go..let it go.. :D
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Originally posted by Innominate
Why is it okay to get friends hooked on online games, but crack cocaine is considered so bad? The only difference is that online games tend to be cheaper.
And, crack cocaine tends to destroy your body, your mind, and your moral fabric. Don't be foolish.
Casper
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By the way, I second BOOT's salute to the air warriors who lived the life and endured the horrors of RTB'ing to find empty bunks instead of squadmates picking a new plane for the next hop. The war was real, death really happened, and any freedom and prosperity we enjoy today is due to them. What they've done for Stamper is a beautiful thing; a gesture which falls far short of what we really owe the warriors of yesterday. Let it commemorate the fallen as well as the survivors; happy days are here again.
Salute, Veterans!
Casper
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Thank you to all of your welcomes . i was just one of a crowd that were lucky to get through. We had a job to do , and It was the thought of the injustice done to others that made two of us play truant out of the top form, borrow a tandem and cycle 36 miles to volunteer and then get 6 of the best on our backsides for playing truant . we had to return to school since we were only17 at the time. However with the practise I am now having I hope to join you in the arena very soon so watch out 100 squadron are coming
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well stamper look forward to seen you in there air
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Good to see you on the forums Stamper,keep at it with those Lancs, just make sure you fly for the Bishops mate!!! :D
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Originally posted by stamper
and then get 6 of the best on our backsides for playing truant .
I was in boarding school in England in my youth.
I know of what you speak..."6 of the best"...the mere mention still instils fear. It was the automatic punnishment for leaving school grounds without permission.
Ironically the only person I know who received this punnishment more than me while at school...was my father.
:D
And...as to what BOOT said...he summed up my feelings perfectly.
A great big for what you and your fellow comrades did in the War.
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Originally posted by Joc
just make sure you fly for the Bishops mate!!! :D
Oh yes, he will fly for the Bishops, as he is already a member of the great British Krait Squadron! :D Looking forward to seeing you in the MA, Stamper.... ;)
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WAY TO GO Guys to the U.K. gents that organized this, and A VERY BiG To a True Hero!
Stamper! Thanks for your service.
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Dear Stamper,
It is great to see you around here. Best regards from Finland!
Maybe you'd be interested to read about the Finnish winged brothers of yours? Our association is trying its best interviewing and meeting our veteran pilots:
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/hist/
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Hello Stamper and welcome to AH! :)
WTG UK AH players thats one of the nicest things I've heard done in online games! :D
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Welcome aboard Stamper!
It says in your profile that you are from north of Sheffield? How far north? I live just outside Barnsley, so that must be about 10 miles from Sheffield itself.
I'm also moving to Ecclesfield later this year, to my new apartment. That's north of Sheffield isn't it?
It's good to see a fellow Sheffield-er on here. Are you a Blade or an Owl? :D
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Originally posted by TWOLF
to the U.K. gents that organized this,
Not all gents! ;)
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Originally posted by Dowding (Work)
It says in your profile that you are from north of Sheffield?
Dowding, did you ever receive the email I sent you through this forum, regarding your close proximity to Stamper? Zeb and I would love to be able to visit Stamper more often, but we live in the Lake District.... it would be great if someone living nearby could maybe visit Stamper to help him out occasionally.... :)
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No, Flossy, I never received it. I had an old email address associated with this account that no longer works because the domain changed. I've changed it now, so I should get emails through the forum.
I should be able to spare some time, I should think. It's the least I could do. :)
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Originally posted by Dowding
I should be able to spare some time, I should think. It's the least I could do. :)
Ah, I thought it must have been something like that..... well, if you would like to help, I will drop you a message with his address/telephone number etc, so that you can make contact and possibly arrange a visit. We help as much as we can via phone/email/instant messaging, but sometimes it just needs someone to be there to see any problems for themselves..... thanks in advance for anything you might be able to help Stamper with. :)
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I was fond of the pic where he showed how big your balls had to be to go on those missions...
http://stvuk.brinkster.net/UKAHConvention2002/IMG_1092.html
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awesome thread... Ill send the note re possible free accounts to Alan Peart asap.
Unfortunately he shifted to hamilton (500miles away) not long after my interviews so Ive lost touch a bit but this might get him going...
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WTG guys on giving this veteren the credit he deserves. This post is one of the best ive seen in awhile.
all that gave of time and material to hook him up.:)
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thanks for all the salutes folks Thats enough. just remember those who went for a burton. DOWDING I presume you are a fan of Air Chiel Marshall Dowding of 11 group fame. Not a bad bloke at all, but a stubborn one . i live in Chapeltown and so will only be a very short distance from you youcan ring me on sheffield 2461743 most evenings or during the day. Look forwards to meeting you . take care stamper
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hello there calling DOWDING. need a bit of help Could you give me a ring on 0114-2461743 any evening .I cam=n now fly the Lanc as of old. and have no difficulties in landing, but would have preferred the Mk IV bomb sight
can straddle the odd airfield , but would like some escort sometimes. cant do it all on my todd. kindest regards Stamper
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Stamper, Welcome to AH
WTFG Tommies :D :D
NICE HTC.
This is one of the best Posts I've ever read on this boards.
Another to this (most of the times :p) great community.
Greetings fom Germany
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Stamper - If you ever need help or escort from me online - please let me know
AH handle - blckshp (BlackSheep)
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Originally posted by stamper
but would like some escort sometimes. cant do it all on my todd. kindest regards Stamper
Stamper - are you flying online again now? If so, check the Roster (Roster button on clipboard) and see if there are any more Kraits on. If you click the top of the Squad column on the roster, it will sort everyone into squad order, then you can scroll down until you see Krait Squadron. You will see yourself listed and anyone else online at the time will show next to you. Type on the Squad (red) channel to let any other members know you are there. I don't usually get online until after about 10 pm, but can be on earlier any evening if you want some company anytime.... hope to see you online sometime soon..... :)
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Stamper,
failing seeing any Kraits online, you're welcome to fly with VMF-323.
(http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/extern/640697.jpg)
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Free accounts for vets is a generous and thoughtful consideration Pyro. Maybe even get those artists to work on skins for the aircraft they flew, time and workload permitting that is :)
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Way to go on getting Stamper set up and flying.
Stamper, welcome to Aces High.
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Welcome Stamper, and a hearty "Well Done" to the fellow addicts....er....flight sim fanatics......who recognized an opportunity and capitalized on it.
Hmmm, I have several used joysticks, some sound and lan cards, various sticks of memory gathering dust. I'd be more than willing to donate to the cause should they be of use.
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Hey Stamper - I'll give you a call this weekend. Sorry for the slow response - I don't read this forum much, but Moose kindly pointed me in this direction. :)
Talk soon.