Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Moderator
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Greenwood, Delaware
    Posts
    7,348
    Thanked: 7148

    Throwback Thursday

    As most of you know I was stationed at RAF Fairford, UK from 1984 to 1989. I ran across this picture a couple days ago, and it reminded me of a grave marker for a yellow Lab that was a WWII RAF flying squadron mascot. I sure there were many, many more at all the allied bases in the UK. This picture made me think of that marker for the first time in many years.




    "Johnny Johnson (Wing Commander James E Johnson) The top RAF fighter ace, shooting down 38 German planes. Seen here with his pet Labrador Sally in 1944."

    https://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/...psfouabsf4.png

  2. The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to barry581 For This Useful Post:

    Annette47 (05-26-2017), Berna (05-28-2017), Blackboy98 (05-26-2017), Charlotte K. (05-25-2017), IRISHWISTLER (05-26-2017), Jollymolly (05-27-2017), Mr Kleb (05-25-2017), Snowshoe (05-26-2017)

  3. #2
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    here
    Posts
    2,200
    Thanked: 2001
    Very cool. Thank you for sharing. I can't imagine what a comfort it must have been to give a dog a scruffle after a tough mission, or after any mission for that matter.

    A bit off topic, I remember avidly reading Johnnie Johnson's memoir.

    Also OT, my dad was stationed at RAF Cottesmore 1943-44. I don't remember him telling telling any stories about dogs. Dream about visiting the base but it doesn't appear to be open.
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

    Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles

    I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to Mr Kleb For This Useful Post:

    barry581 (05-26-2017)

  5. #3
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    10,985
    Thanked: 6722
    Awesome picture.

    My great uncle Len was in the RAF. Somewhere I have a picture of him in front of his plane with his load of bombs lined up on the ground. That was when bombs were dropped by hand and propellers on the planes were wooden. When a plane crashed the propeller was the pilot's headstone; if he lived, it was given to the pilot. My brother has our uncle's propeller, ends of which were broken off.
    Hidden Content
    Kissing Bandit

  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to POPTOP For This Useful Post:

    barry581 (05-26-2017), IRISHWISTLER (05-26-2017)

  7. #4
    Senior Dog IRISHWISTLER's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    2,598
    Thanked: 3967
    Aye Mates'
    Thanks for an awesome glimpse o' history. Terrible times WWII and for the sacrifices o' folks like those ye have mentioned, the world became a better place. Major respect for those that served.

    Irishwhistler☘️
    TEAM TRAD PRO STAFF
    DUBLIN DUCK DYNASTY

    Joanie Madden, Mary Bergin, Adrea Coor, and Nuala Kennedy, each an Irish whistle goddess in her own right.

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to IRISHWISTLER For This Useful Post:

    barry581 (05-26-2017)

  9. #5
    Senior Dog Scoutpout's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Tri Cities Ontario
    Posts
    2,296
    Thanked: 1111
    There's another sad story of Douglas Bader's black lab Nigger getting run over while he was out on a night raid, what a horrible thing to come back to base to find out, after an already horrible night's work....
    Hidden Content Hidden Content
    Scout CD RAE6 WC March 6, 2007; Tullemore Browning Superposed PCD RN RI "Trigger" Nov 11, 2016
    Missing:
    Castelleja's Dual Mags "Mags" March 1993 - March 2008
    "Pocco" the chocolate wonder August 1993 - December 2007

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to Scoutpout For This Useful Post:

    barry581 (05-26-2017)

  11. #6
    Best Friend Retriever hunter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    North Pole
    Posts
    537
    Thanked: 298
    Wow so cool hearing about how labs helped in the war! thanks for posting that! War effects everyone not just the humans but the animals too!

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to hunter For This Useful Post:

    barry581 (05-27-2017)

  13. #7
    Moderator
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Greenwood, Delaware
    Posts
    7,348
    Thanked: 7148
    This thread made me think of pics I took on a trip to the UK in 2004. We spent 3 days in Edinburgh, Scotland, and saw these at Edinburgh Castle. A graveyard for the soldiers dogs.




  14. The Following User Says Thank You to barry581 For This Useful Post:

    Berna (05-28-2017)

 



Not a Member of the Labrador Retriever Chat Forums Yet?
Register for Free and Share Your Labrador Retriever Photos

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •