Tactics... Missiles and Camp Climax

I’m desperately trying to avoid a sound spanking from the PDF Princess, who has threatened me with corporal punishment if I’m late again. Despite a public school education where we had to regularly beat the headmaster for talking in prep, it’s one little habit that I avoid... so Poppy, I’m on time!

As we approach one year of stories, a big thank you to everyone who has supported us this far. We have taken a rather unloved P1B Lightning and buffed her up to be as shiny as a new pin, thanks to you all and especially John and Rich, who got grubby hands, and MRA the movers, who go the extra mile... get it?

Not much to report on P1B apart from a plan for an open day hosted by Manston Museum and/or a day with our subscribers, where you can meet the team, ask questions and, if you are very good, touch the shiny rocket. Details soon. I’m just busy catching up with repeat episodes of Bake Off starring Nigella Lawson, so a little busy at present.

I hope, above all, the newsletters are fun to read and give you a glimpse of not only all things Lightning, but also a glimpse into the mind of a Cold War fighter pilot. I say that with a word of caution, as my mind is wired slightly differently to most people’s and a psychiatrist would probably have a whole volume of work on what’s inside my head. But please, if you want any special fetishes to be aired, ask away.

I have probably spoken of Robin Olds before, but he was an inspiration to many jet fighter pilots, a legend from World War Two and one of the only US Air Force pilots to command an RAF Squadron (Number 1 Fighter Squadron). He not only projected the very essence of leadership, but also the special DNA that makes up a fighter pilot.

In the woke world we live in today, they use the expression “special sauce”, which frankly is rather revolting unless, of course, you are a big fan of Jackson Pollock’s work.

Brigadier General Olds also described what makes a fighter pilot and he described it as a certain cockiness and arrogance, and being self-assured. I’ve often reflected on this as to why fighter pilots exude this trait and I’ve thought long and hard about it... not long enough to end up with stiff person syndrome, but certainly I’ve given it some thought.

So the long and the short is you need to be a bit edgy, a bit fly-by-night or sneaky, which brings me neatly onto the title: Tactics...

Skip the next 2,000 words if you are more curious about Camp Climax...