Uniforms and ranks and medals!

[philip.ed]

It must be a weird heat. A bit like climbing a mountain. You can sweat to death in your thermals, but once you strip off and re-dress you will start to freeze.
Or, to put it more simply, a bit like doing a cross country run when it's very cold, but a few minutes in you will begin to get very hot.

[PeterPanPan]

Originally Posted by Friendly_flyer

Here's a nice shot of the CO of no. 19 Squ, Brian Lane, taken at Fowlmere during the high tide of the Battle of Britain:

I have a particular interest in Brian Lane. Not only is this pic one of the most iconic of the era, and not only did Lane write one of the few contemporaneous accounts of a Spitfire pilot (a great read BTW, it's called Spitfire!) but he also happened to live a few streets away from my house in London.

I recently tried to get Lane honoured by English Heritage's Blue Plaque Scheme. For those who might not know, properties in London which had a notable person living there can be eligible to have a commemorative Blue Plaque put up on the outside. Incredibly, English Heritage denied my application for a plaque for Lane on the basis of his "slight connection with London". Well, he lived in London, went to school in London, worked in London before the war and then fought in the skies above London. What more do they want?!? What a joke. RIP Brian.

As previously posted, the chap on the right is George Unwin. Here's a short interview with him ...

YouTube

.

[DoolittleRaider]

Originally Posted by Former_Older

Fascinating concept

I realize that there are many, many dedicated and knowledgeable simmers and enthusiasts here. However, consider for a moment that there are people whose passion and interest have been uniforms of various military organizations since before flight sims were on PCs; their interest is this specific slice of detail
...
I am sure that there are enthusiasts of this kind who participate in online forums and the like, who specialize in German, British, Italian, Polish, French, etc etc uniforms and dress regulations and practices of the second world war

So members here, if you know of such places, or even yet, if you participate there, I am sure that a wealth of information is literally right at your fingertips

This has useful Luftwaffe uniform forum/threads:
http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/fo...p?showforum=35

[Snuff_Pidgeon]

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=252583

[Friendly_flyer]

Originally Posted by PeterPanPan

I have a particular interest in Brian Lane. Not only is this pic one of the most iconic of the era, and not only did Lane write one of the few contemporaneous accounts of a Spitfire pilot (a great read BTW, it's called Spitfire!) but he also happened to live a few streets away from my house in London.

Thanks for the link. He looks rather more composed of the book cover. Same prototype battle dress jacket though:

[DoolittleRaider]

Originally Posted by luthier

...
We would really appreciate as much detailed information as possible. We'd like to give you all the possible historical options to make your virtual alter ego as unique and personalized as you want him to be.

This thread seems to have a lot on Luftwaffe uniforms. have to join/register to see the photos.
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=374726