Wimpey Squad's New Home!

[ATAG_Snapper]

Hi everyone,

I've created a new, ultra-secret subforum for the newly-formed Wimpey squad.

https://theairtacticalassaultgroup.c...play.php?f=241

Only the chosen few can see it. The squad members thus far are:

56RAF_stickz
AOB
ATAG_Bubba
ATAG_Catseye
ATAG_Ezzie
ATAG_Highseas
ATAG_JackMaxx
ATAG_Jeepy
ATAG_Knight
ATAG_Knuckles
ATAG_Laser
ATAG_Marlow
ATAG_Noofy
ATAG_Oskar
ATAG_Pattle
ATAG_Slot
ATAG_Snapper
ATAG_Snarglepuss
ATAG_Vampire
ATAG_yotheguy
Ceaser87
Dazza
DerDa
Dostal
FLAK BOSS
Kayo
LARRY69
Maru
Meaks
RAF74_Buzzsaw
Redhead69
Sgt_Moose

Effective today, Jan 22, we have 32 Wimpey Squad members. Pretty good show, if I do say so myself!



Let me know if I've missed anyone. I simply went through the threads and PM's adding in names as I saw 'em. New names are easily added. This subforum is in its infancy; I can easily add thread categories to it per your suggestions ie Upcoming missions, Suggested tactics, Navigation tips, After Action Reports, etc. In the meantime, drop in (you can't miss it - it's bright red!) and say hello to your new squad mates!

[ATAG_Ezzie]

Snapper - can i join the cool kids' club as well pls in case there's any questions re the manual etc?

[ATAG_Snapper]

Snapper - can i join the cool kids' club as well pls in case there's any questions re the manual etc?

Absolutely! Sorry, Ezzie - of course, you’re in.

I’m sure there are others I’ve overlooked. Plus, anyone who wants to learn to fly a Wellington on missions with us, let me know!

Snapper

[TWC_Fatal_Error]

I have also made a slot for the men of whimpdom on TWC's Campaign server comms on the teamspeak channel when using the TWC Server for coordinated efforts>

[Kayo]

May I ask to be allowed to this exclusive club?

We deploy the Wimpey almost exclusively in the low level strike role against coastal targets on the Channel map or against any target and shipping in the Desert map. The losses to flak are of course severe but we are able to deal out quite a blow with our 2-4 planes we use to get together.
Looks like this over Boulogne and is a lot of fun.
welliattack5 (2).jpg

But I would really like to test the high level bussiness in a bigger formation. Hope I can make some of your training or mission sessions and finally use the supercharger lever!
Really good initiative to boost this beautiful plane!

Kayo

[DerDa]

May I ask to be allowed to this exclusive club?

We deploy the Wimpey almost exclusively in the low level strike role against coastal targets on the Channel map or against any target and shipping in the Desert map. The losses to flak are of course severe but we are able to deal out quite a blow with our 2-4 planes we use to get together.
Looks like this over Boulogne and is a lot of fun.
welliattack5 (2).jpg

But I would really like to test the high level bussiness in a bigger formation. Hope I can make some of your training or mission sessions and finally use the supercharger lever!
Really good initiative to boost this beautiful plane!

Kayo

Somebody has to look after Kayo, so may I join as well?

[ATAG_Snapper]

Kayo and DerDa - you’re both in. Welcome!

[Dostal]

1...2...3... and the next it`s me!


Greetings
FG28_Dostal (WS-P)

[AOB]

In keeping with the new squad image perhaps we could have a new squad handle in front of our names. EG. WIMP_Baxter etc?

[Meaks]

In keeping with the new squad image perhaps we could have a new squad handle in front of our names. EG. WIMP_Baxter etc?

With all respect,do you really want to be a 'Wimp' ?...can't say I can warm to that old chap......I was a Fireman for over 25 years and I'd struggle being a wimp,and I'm not sure the ATAG chaps will want to change their name tags either.

I always thought that one of the most iconic Wellington Squadron's was 149 Squadron,they just about went on every early historic big raid into Germany,they were actually on the first too.Their Squad Codes were OJ from (Sep 1939 – Nov 1949),and their motto was 'Fortis Nocte' or ' Strong By Night',their Squadron emblem was a horse shoe.

The Squadron flew Wellingtons from Jan 1939 - Dec 1941,if you google the Vickers Wellington,you will most likely see imagaes of 149 Squadron they were as I said previously pretty iconic.

But there is also another more important reason why 149 Squadron should be adopted as our Squadron IMHO,a few years back when I ran my bomber night,and we knew the Wellington was on it's way our very own Larry69 who I believe now works for Team Fusion created about twenty plus individual historic skins for it,The reason I know this is it was I that sourced the codes etc.

As you all are aware Larry69's screenshots are just fantastic and his skins are also superb too,so I will try and source the link,as I said the skins are superb,offline I always fly N-OJ 'N for Nuts,which has it's very own historic nose art of a Firefly on the Port side of the nose.

It would only be obviously be fair to put this idea to the Squadron as it's in it's early days of forming up,but this would be my idea.

So you can see the skins are ready to go,everyone could have their very own historic skin,the camo colours really are first class.

These are Larry69's excellent 149 Squadron skins he created.

1-all_zps6rupkza9.jpg

1-oj-v_zpsibel7qvg.jpg

[ATAG_Hawk]

With all respect,do you really want to be a 'Wimp' ?...can't say I can warm to that old chap......I was a Fireman for over 25 years and I'd struggle being a wimp.

I always thought that one of the most iconic Wellington Squadron's was 149 Squadron,they just about went on every early historic big raid into Germany,they were actually on the first too.Their Squad Codes were OJ from (Sep 1939 – Nov 1949),and their motto was 'Fortis Nocte' or ' Strong By Night',their Squadron emblem was a horse shoe.

The Squadron flew Wellingtons from Jan 1939 - Dec 1941,if you google the Vickers Wellington,you will most likely see imagaes of 149 Squadron they were as I said previously pretty iconic.

But there is also another more important reason why 149 Squadron should be adopted as our Squadron IMHO,a few years back when I ran my bomber night,and we knew the Wellington was on it's way our very own Larry69 who I believe now works for Team Fusion created about twenty plus individual historic skins for it,The reason I know this is it was I that sourced the codes etc.

As you all are aware Larry69's screenshots are just fantastic and his skins are also superb too,so I will try and source the link,as I said the skins are superb,offline I always fly N-OJ 'N for Nuts,which has it's very own historic nose art of a Firefly on the Port side of the nose.

It would only be obviously be fair to put this idea to the Squadron as it's in it's early days of forming up,but this would be my idea,so I'd be 149_Meaks.

So you can see the skins are ready to go,everyone could have their very own historic skin,the camo colours really are first class.

These are Larry69's excellent 149 Squadron skins he created.

1-all_zps6rupkza9.jpg

1-oj-v_zpsibel7qvg.jpg

Excellent suggestion Meaks. I am not sure the server can cope with multi use of individual skins however, I will leave that to the experts to advise us. I use No.219 squadron codes for my Wimpy (FK-B B Beer). Although a fighter squadron the codes match my username Flakboss.

[ATAG_Vampire]

Thanks for posting Meaks. Great screenshots.

Lovely skins, as you would expect from Larry. I have always admired his work.

I particularly like the variation in the camo schemes noticeable on the tail surfaces of some of the aircraft.

07

[Meaks]

Thanks guys.....but the credit must all go to Larry69 the master of these fantastic creations......thanks Larry

@FLAK BOSS....Re The big question of can the server can cope with multi use of individual skins,I guess we'll just have to ask the experts....remember these could just be used on our dedicated Wimpy training flying night,so there won't be hundreds of us flying on that night.

My personal favourite and the skin I use offline OJ-N N for Nuts,R1593 based at Mildenhall 1941



The real thing,Vickers Wellington Mark IC, R1593 'OJ-N', of No 149 Squadron RAF undergoes routine servicing in a dispersal at Mildenhall, Suffolk, while being loaded with 250-lb GP bombs in readiness for the forthcoming night raid on Hamburg, Germany.

[ATAG_Hawk]

Great stuff Meaks. Love the dispersal scene with the 'Erks' hard at work. And the lovely yellow 250 pounders ready to load. Brilliant.
With me living in Yorkshire I am only an hour's drive from York and with so many former bomber stations in the imediate area I can never resist having a nosey around the abandoned airfields of No.4 Group and No.6 RCAF Group. Of course a visit to the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington is a must. Friday the 13th, the rebuilt Halifax is my favourite of course.

[Meaks]

Thanks FLAK BOSS,York is beautiful mate,that's where Mrs Meaks comes from,Lol.....but I agree Elvington is superb,obviously with me being a bomber nut,I've made two visits to the place,when we've been up North visiting the outlaws.

I think it's got the longest military runway in the UK has'nt it ?.....I could be wrong,but anyway,anyone who is into WW2 bombing should definitely make the effort to go,it's a great museum,and yes,the Halifax is just incredible.

However,my go to place though has to be the Brooklands Museum at Weybridge,Surrey,UK......after all they've got a real Wellington there 'R for Robert',have been there a few times I can tell you.

See link chaps https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/abo...caAoIEEALw_wcB

[ATAG_Hawk]

Thanks FLAK BOSS,York is beautiful mate,that's where Mrs Meaks comes from,Lol.....but I agree Elvington is superb,obviously with me being a bomber nut,I've made two visits to the place,when we've been up North visiting the outlaws.

I think it's got the longest military runway in the UK has'nt it ?.....I could be wrong,but anyway,anyone who is into WW2 bombing should definitely make the effort to go,it's a great museum,and yes,the Halifax is just incredible.

However,my go to place though has to be the Brooklands Museum at Weybridge,Surrey,UK......after all they've got a real Wellington there 'R for Robert',have been there a few times I can tell you.

See link chaps https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/abo...caAoIEEALw_wcB

Yes the Elvington runway was extended by the USAF when they took over the airfield. Quite an impressive sight. I am a London boy by birth. My wife is a Yorkshire Lass. I think you will have discovered already that Yorkshire women don't take prisoners.
Hence my name Flakboss. She is the boss and I take the flak. LOL

AB.

[Meaks]

@ FLAK BOSS.....Yeah,Lol,don't I know it,mine's the same dear boy.

Re our names.......a long time ago,some bright spark stated that 'the Meaks were blessed,and apparently they shall inherit the earth'....well,ahem....I can tell you,I've not seen any evidence of that,maybe I got the name wrong,anyway,we live in hope

[ATAG_Hawk]

@ FLAK BOSS.....Yeah,Lol,don't I know it,mine's the same dear boy.

Re our names.......a long time ago,some bright spark stated that 'the Meaks were blessed,and apparently they shall inherit the earth'....well,ahem....I can tell you,I've not seen any evidence of that,maybe I got the name wrong,anyway,we live in hope

LOL Meaks absolutely true. I think Marlow is also a fully paid up member of the 'Yorkshire Ball and Chain' club.

AB.

[Meaks]

LOL Meaks absolutely true. I think Marlow is also a fully paid up member of the 'Yorkshire Ball and Chain' club.

AB.

He,he,he.....of course you know,I use that marvelous male asset available to us all .....'Ye old selective hearing'....it works a bloody treat mate

[ATAG_Snapper]

1...2...3... and the next it`s me!


Greetings
FG28_Dostal (WS-P)

1...2...3...and you’re in!

[ATAG_Vampire]

[QUOTE=Meaks;368719]My personal favourite and the skin I use offline OJ-N N for Nuts,R1593 based at Mildenhall 1941[\IMG]



The real thing

[\QUOTE]

Meaks

As a matter of interest do you know the fate of this particular aircraft? I cannot find any report it was lost whilst with 149 Sqn.

07

[Meaks]

Yes Vamps....unfortunately the outcome was not good,however the good news is the crew survived this particular outcome,here's what I know,researched.....not my words btw.

It is thought that this particular aircraft was damaged during a raid on Bremen in July 1941, having been caught in a searchlight cone over the target area. Facing an accurate flak barrage, the pilot attempted to avoid the illumination and subsequent attentions of the flak batteries by diving for the ground, only managing to do so at an altitude of around 2,000 ft, but miraculously, despite the aircraft being peppered with shrapnel holes, the crew survived the experience relatively unscathed.

With the radio knocked out, the crew had no means by which to contact their home base and by the time they arrived back at Mildenhall, they were seriously overdue and posted as probable MIA. Once on the ground, the damage to P1593 was classed as serious enough to render the aircraft beyond repair and it was thought that the 'Firefly' left the airfield in various component pieces.

Another interesting fact involving the Mildenhall Wellingtons of No.149 Squadron was that they were the stars of the famous wartime film 'Target for Tonight', which was released in the summer of 1941 and was watched by huge audiences at cinemas in Britain and the US. No actors were used in the production of the film, which followed an RAF bombing raid on an oil storage depot in Germany, with everyone appearing on screen being serving RAF personnel, with no actors involved. The flying footage was either captured during actual wartime operations, or by using a particularly battered old Wimpy which was residing on the outer perimeter of the airfield.

The main Wimpy pilot who starred in this movie was non other than 'Squadron Leader Percy Charles Pickard' or 'Pick' as he was known,obviously he was a real true life Wimpy pilot,and as you have probably become well aware,it's his picture that I use in my avatar as a very small tribute/homage to the man.

He had more than a colourful career in the RAF during WW2,eventually leading the attack on the Amiens prison in 1944,which was part of Operation Jericho,unfortunately it was here he lost his life at the age of 28.

TARGET FOR TONIGHT MOVIE 1941

[ATAG_Vampire]

Thanks Meaks.

I just could not find any info on R1593.....interesting.

'Target for Tonight' is a favorite of mine and no doubt one of yours?

I take it that your choice of avatar, "Pick" Pickard, was influenced by this?

07

[Meaks]

Thanks Vamps,yes it certainly was.

[Meaks]

Ok chaps our Larry69 has very kindly and very painstakingly I'm sure,uploaded all those wonderful 149 Squadron Wellington skins that he created some years ago,every skin has been given individual historic attention.

Gentlemen,the link is here over at the 'Paint Shop - Skinning' section : https://theairtacticalassaultgroup.c...ad.php?t=34679

BTW Hands off N for Nuts,it's mine

Thanks once again Larry69....I really appreciate this buddy,as I for one,know how long you laboured over these marvelous skins,they are first class Sir.......BRAVO !!!!

[ATAG_Vampire]

Good result Meaks.

Plenty for everyone to choose from.

07

[ATAG_Ezzie]

A few years ago i had the good fortune to spend some time in Yorkshire and visited Elvington and saw the Haifax - one of my favourites and i built a kit of it from memory many years ago. I had also built an earlier Mk1a Halifax (TL-P?) many many years ago - its an unsung hero of Bomber Command in my opinion. I once spent a week in hospital next to a WW2 RAAF chap who had flown them in England and still had some perspex in his body from the time he was attacked by a night fighter he reckoned.

Another place worth visiting is the Commonwealth War Graves site just outside Harrogate if you havent been there already. Sadly a lot of Canadian aircrew are buried there along with a few Aussies including our youngest aircrew member lost on OPS in Europe. Whilst visiting i realised its probably one of the furthest CWG sites from Oz which added to the poignancy etc. Sadly all my photos are on a long since decommissioned laptop...

Ezzie

[Redhead69]

Hi everyone,

I've created a new, ultra-secret subforum for the newly-formed Wimpey squad.

https://theairtacticalassaultgroup.c...play.php?f=241

Only the chosen few can see it. The squad members thus far are:

ATAG_Ezzie
ATAG_JackMaxx
ATAG_Knight
ATAG_Laser
ATAG_Marlow
ATAG_Noofy
ATAG_Oskar
ATAG_Pattle
ATAG_Snapper
ATAG_Vampire
ATAG_yotheguy
Baxter
bubbadeluxe
dazza
FLAK BOSS
Meaks
RAF74_Buzzsaw
Slot

Let me know if I've missed anyone. I simply went through the threads and PM's adding in names as I saw 'em. New names are easily added. This subforum is in its infancy; I can easily add thread categories to it per your suggestions ie Upcoming missions, Suggested tactics, Navigation tips, After Action Reports, etc. In the meantime, drop in (you can't miss it - it's bright red!) and say hello to your new squad mates!

Please add me after yesterday impressive sortie

[ATAG_Snapper]

Please add me after yesterday impressive sortie

You’re in, Redhead!

[ATAG_Highseas]

Knock knock....

Can I come in?