Sons
of Damien
Introduction
Contents
Future projects
Full Listing
Explanation
Bibliography
Battle of
Britain
Making the film
Spitfires used
Bibliography
Westland Sea King
History
The Marks
Production
Squadrons
Other Information
Avro Manchester
Serial No's
Avro Lancaster Serial No's
Avro Lincoln Serial No's
HMS Watford
HMS Watford
Useful Links
Aviation
Links
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Welcome.
Welcome to my home page, either you've blundered here by
mistake or something which is of interest to you is here - somewhere.

Supermarine Spitfire Ia (No65 squadron
1939)
Due to my background in the
aviation world I have had many wide and varying interests and some of those
I have researched in recent years and perhaps now in the public domain would
be of interest to someone. For my sins I spent my formative years in the
Royal Navy within the Fleet Air Arm serving on a number of squadrons and
units from 1978 to 1994. Leaving the Navy found me in a new environment that
of Microwave engineering to which I adapted well but after 5years it was
back to aviation and on to Boscombe Down, where I now work.
- Sons of Damien
-
Perhaps you are thinking why
I should use the term “Sons of Damien“. Well it all stems from my
service in the Royal Navy from 1978 to 1994. During this time I came
across many aircraft all with obviously different serial numbers. The
one that stuck in my mind was that for a Sea King HU-5, XV666. This
aircraft while no different from any other Mk5 in service had adopted
the somewhat unusual unofficial nickname of “Damien”.
-
Whether the significance of
this number was realised earlier I have no idea. Although in some ranges
of serial numbers the number 666 is skipped. Therefore out of a possible
499 serial numbers from 666 through to ZZ666 only 335 existed as
aircraft.
-
Strictly speaking there is
only one true Damien and that is a B.E.2b (666) built after 1912, as
this would make this a very short document I have expanded my search to
cover all aircraft whose serials end in 666. This will include 1666 etc.
A666 etc. A1666 etc. and finally AA666 to the present day.
-
Where I can I will identify
the aircraft type, where and when it was built to what specification,
the units it served in and its final fate, if that can be established. I
suspect I will have to use many different publications and web sites to
collate this information. I hope it is of interest to some people.
- Battle of Britain
-
The first thoughts of anyone looking at this may be
the actual battle itself, as fascinating and interesting as this was I
have decided to focus on the film. This opens up quite an interesting
story. In today's hi-tech film industry and the power of modern
computers and CGI it is not that difficult to produce fleets of WW2
aircraft on the screen. What makes the aircraft in the 1967 film look so
good as the fact that they were real aircraft.
-
How they were brought together and modified for film
use is very interesting and started the fascination for warbirds we
still have today.
-
My pet thing is Spitfires and as such I have focussed
on those aircraft their history, participation and fate.
-
At this time I have chosen to reference the other
types used and maybe will fully research them in the future.
- Westland Sea King
- I am sure there are plenty of reference works on this particular
aircraft but I have decided to cover the British armed forces use of the
aircraft.
- I will look at the history and development.
- Operational use, squadrons theatres of operation.
- My encounters with the aircraft within the Royal Navy and at
Boscombe Down.
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Gallery
(Click on image to view)

Spitfire
Prototype

Hurricane
Prototype

Mosquito
Prototype

Blenheim
Prototype

Beaufighter Prototype

Wellington
Prototype

Lancaster II Prototype
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