Vesta's Corner
Saint Exupery Mystery Solved?
In my surfing of the Internet I found this item of interest and will put this late author on my book list.
Let me know if you do also.
Has the final chapter been written in one of the great aviation mysteries?
A former Luftwaffe pilot says he shot down Antoine de Saint Exupery as the French writer, considered by some to be the greatest aviation author, flew his P-38 off the coast of France in 1944. But Horst Rippert, now 88, who claimed 28 victories during the Second World War, says he never would have opened fire if he'd known his favorite author was at the controls. "If I had known it was Saint-Exupery, I would never have shot him down,"
Rippert told the London Daily Telegraph. "He knew admirably how to describe the sky, the thoughts and feelings of pilots. His work inspired many of us to take up our vocation."
Apparently Rippert has kept the secret all these years and gave it up after being tracked down by Luc Vanrell, a diver who found the wreck of Saint Exupery's aircraft in 1998, and a war researcher named Lino van Gartzen. Saint Exupery was flying for the Free French from Corsica and was on a reconnaissance flight when Rippert said he spotted the Lightning from above and it was easy prey for his Me-109. Many believed the writer, who penned such classics as Pilote de Guerre (Flight to Arras), had committed suicide, but there has also been a persistent theory that he was shot down.
World's biggest hockey stick, Duncan, B.C.Originally built for Vancouver 's Expo '86 was moved to it's permanent home at Duncan's community centre in 1988.
At night this Canadian icon is illuminated by hundreds of light bulbs. Length 205 feet weight 31 tons..
message reads.
Hi Vesta, Just a quick note from the home of the Cowichan Valley Capitals to say how much I appreciate The NetLetter.
Keep up the good work
Alastair Alves.
Another installment of the "Clipper" story from NetLetter nr 1014 - Early the next morning they took off from the Nile for Leopoldville. This was to be a particularly long overland flight, and they wanted to leave plenty of daylight for the arrival. They would land on the Congo River at Leopoldville, and from there would strike out across the South Atlantic for South America.
The endless brown of the Sudan gave way to rolling green hills, and then rocky crests that stretched across their path. They flew over native villages, and great gatherings of wildlife. Herds of Wildebeest, hundreds of thousands strong, stampeded in panic as the Clipper roared overhead. The grassland soon turned to jungle, and they crossed several small rivers, which they tried to match to their maps. Suddenly ahead they saw a large river, much bigger and wider than others they had crossed, and off to their right was a good-sized town.
The river had to be the mighty Congo, and the town was Bumba, the largest settlement on the river at that point. From their maps they saw that they could turn and follow the river downstream to Leopoldville. They had five hundred miles to fly.
Late in the afternoon they raised the Congolese capital of Leopoldville. Ford set the Boeing down gently onto the river, and immediately realized the strength of the current. He powered the ship into the mooring, and the crew finally stepped ashore. It was like stepping into a sauna. The heat was the most oppressive they had yet encountered; it descended on them like a cloak, sapping what energy they had left.
A pleasant surprise awaited them however, when two familiar faces greeted them at the dock. A Pan American Airport Manager and a Radio Officer had been dispatched to meet them, and Ford was handed a cold beer. "That was one of the high points of the whole trip," he said.
After a night ashore they went to the airplane the next morning prepared for the long over-water leg that would take them back to the western hemisphere. The terrible heat and humidity had not abated a bit when the hatches were finally secured and they swung the Clipper into the river channel for the takeoff. The airplane was loaded to the gunnels with fuel, plus the drum of oil that had come aboard at Noumea. It was, to put it mildly, just a bit overloaded. They headed downstream into the wind, going with the six-knot current. Just beyond the limits of the town the river changed from a placid down stream current into a cataract of rushing rapids; pillars of rocks broke the water into a tumbling maelstrom. Ford held the engines at takeoff power, and the crew held their breath while the airplane gathered speed on the glassy river. The heat and humidity, and their tremendous gross weight were all factors working against them as they struggled to get the machine off the water before the cataracts. Ford rocked the hull with the elevators, trying to get the Boeing up on the step. Just before they would enter the rapids and face certain destruction, the hull lifted free. The Pacific Clipper was flying, but just barely.
Their troubles were far from over, however. Just beyond the cataracts they entered the steep gorges; it was as though they were flying into a canyon. With her wings bowed, the Clipper staggered, clawing for every inch of altitude.
(Another episode in another NetLetter - eds)
Found on the Internet
QANTAS is preparing to receive their first Airbus A380-800 c/n 14 VH-OOA which will be operated on the SYD-LAX-SYD route scheduled for August.Correction The story elsewhere in this issue regarding the Pionair aircraft should have included the fact that this aircraft, a Convair CV-580 was delivered to Pionair Adventures based in Brisbane, Australia. (Perhaps our Pionairs are diversifying their assets? - eds) |
Bytes and Pieces
This day in History... Here's some stories that will help you celebrate "This day in History" Don't be fooled! This is serious stuff!
You can read more articles by following this link... Alan Rust (Happy April Fools Day!) PS - some of you may remember that a year or so ago on April 1, I sent out a Newsletter to the ACFamily Network that had a device claiming you could get Internet Access through the toilet. I thought it was obviously a joke and most would think so too, but I received email for months after from people that wanted to know where they could get it... (never again). But the biggest joke that never was came when Air Canada filed for bankruptsy protection on April 1, 2003. |
Readers Feedback
From: Bernie McCormackSubject: Air Jamaica Summer of 1969. A few of Air Jamaica's first flight Attendants and our DC8-61. This aircraft flew KIN-MBJ-JFK then we all overnighted at a nearby hotel and then flew JFK-MBJ-KIN, turned around again and back to New York via MBJ, overnight and then back to Montego Bay and Kingston. Then there was a complete crew change. The replacement pilots traveled to the airport in one car and we took that car and dropped our crew off at their homes. A variety of schemes got the car back to its owner's home. Our wives could not have driven our children to school (Priority), shopped and run chores and so on without a car and they were far too costly to own two. (cars). Also theft was a potential hazard had we left them parked at the airport for two overnights. One of the chaps had a door completely removed from his car while there overnight. Our maintenance foreman said "if they find the thief send him to me. We'll hire him". (a good job of removal and a joke!) We then had four days off. This was done for just over a year by the original intake of Air Canada pilots and took a little juggling at vacation time. The pilots were Captains Frank Milburn, Ray McGregor, Bill Graham and Larry Brewin. First Officers Tim Trail, Bernie McCormack, and Dave Kandal. S/O's Mike Hart, Bob Ferne and Garry Dodwell. The extra Captain gave us reserve protection. The DC8 chief pilot was Bert Palmer and he sub'd for all of us when required (Cpt, F/O or S/O). At the same time there were two DC-9s and crews flying Kin-MBJ-MIA and back. ( the junior run). Bernie McCormack (AJ's 1st F/O) gram& (From your Co-pilot - I do recall the time when a bunch of Air Jamaica female flight attendants trained at the base in YUL, it gave us pleasure to watch them cavorting in the snow between the cafeteria and the simulator building, during our coffee break, which, by popular demand, was extended that morning.) Bev May sends us this suggestion - Subject: Boeing Clippers May I suggest you have a look at the following website for some interesting information on the Boeing Clippers (Pan Am) that you are currently featuring. www.rbogash.com/B314.html Regards Bev. May |
Terry's Travel Tips
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Smilies
We thought you might enjoy this cartoon. Recently, The BC province has committed to return , by air, to the appropriate province those criminals who have been hiding out in BC. The scheme has been dubbed "CON AIR". We thought that this cartoon from a copy of "Horizons" issued March 1988 was in keeping with the news. |