#OTD in 1941 the new Eighth Army crossed the border into Libya for the first army-scale offensive of the British Army in #WW2. Two and a half months of fighting were to follow until both sides found themselves on the Gazala line, exhausted. @cedricmas.bsky.social @jeffrutherford.bsky.social

The Brewster F2A Buffalo (1937) was the U.S. Navy’s first monoplane fighter, but lacked performance. In combat with Japanese aircraft with the US Marines, RAF/RAAF and Dutch air force, its record was generally poor. Finnish aircraft performed better against the Soviets. 📷 Airfix/Roy Cross 🧵1/10

Dave Taylor's sculpture of a Tommy pictured with some added colour. Southend-on-Sea war memorial.

I've looked at this a couple of times and the notions it is creepy and effing nuts don't go away. My 3 Yr old grandson already knows I'm an easy touch for cake and biscuits and I'll get on the carpet to play with his Hot Wheels cars. Memories like these are what I want him to keep.

Ford gives you more. A nice bit of colour on the Essex Riviera. Pleased to get a snap of this beauty on the move along the seafront, albeit only one frame. I got a thumbs up from the owner. Happy days.

Ongoing fun and games with the Embar Bedford breakdown lorry. Snap 1 is a dry fit thingy to see how it will look. I've got some decals from the Hannants cave of wonders in the mail. The wheels and hubs needed fettling but its all good. The results, so far, are really pleasing. #histscalemodels

The Arado 196 (1937) was a maritime patrol floatplane developed for the Kriegsmarine. Serving both on board larger warships and from coastal bases, the aircraft was well armed, popular with crews and gave good service on all fronts for much of the war. Only around 500 were built. 📷 Revell 🧵1/8

This is amazing. The scenes of men gathering artillery shells starting at 6.21 is mind blowing.

Fun times pushing the Emhar 1/24 scale Bedford OSB breakdown lorry to the finish line. The main components all have paint and things are looking ok. Lots of details to complete, but so far, so good. #histscalemodels

What an absolute cnut.

Sgt Harry Joseph Battley of Special Branch was killed when his aircraft had to ditch off Lampedusa on 1 February 1945 whilst on his way to the Yalta Conference with members of Churchill's staff. #SWW #WWII #remembrance #remembranceday #poppy

Always amazed at the amount of research that can be done entirely online these days. A thread: 🧵 I was looking at a piece of digitised archive film (IWM AYY / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...) which includes these shots showing a ship transporting British soldiers to France in 1939:

A friendly reminder to follow this stunning thread of pix by Sammy...

meanwhile in Canada

The Vickers Warwick, which first flew in Aug 1939, was intended to be a twin-engined ‘heavy’ bomber. However, following performance issues and protracted development the type wasn’t required by Bomber Command. Instead, Warwicks served with Transport and Coastal Commands. 📷 Destination’s Journey 🧵1/9

contactlight.de #Remembering astronaut Ron Evans on his birthday (10. November 1933). He was the CMP on Apollo 17 and supported Apollo-Soyuz as well as Shuttle program development until his retirement in 1977. forallmankind.de

Having a tidy up. Found this 1979 U2 EP "Three" in its original plain review issue cover I kept from my Melody Maker days. I was way down the queue for the singles box but I found a few gems in my time. Stuff I liked was kept. Mates would divvy out others. Stuff we hated went on our rifle range.

Ford Mustang Mach 1. The Essex Riviera.

Remembrance Sunday on the Essex Riviera.

Sunset on the Essex Riviera.

8th November 1942: Victoria Cross action of Frederick Peters, on board the sloop HMS Walney. In Operation RESERVIST, Walney and her sister ship HMS Hartland were to secure the Vichy French port of Oran as part of Operation TORCH, the Allied invasion of North Africa. 📷 IWM A 5322 🧵1/11

Morning all. Can anyone advise on best UK source of letter/number decals to make up a set for either side of a 1/24 scale lorry??? #histscalemodels

RIP

6th Nov 1935. First flight of the prototype Hawker Hurricane at Brooklands. The fighter became a key part of the RAF and Dominion/Empire air forces, serving on all fronts, in some cases until the end of the war. 14,500 aircraft were built. 📷 Airfix / Roy Cross 🧵1/10

Castle Combe 2016. Looks a bit like an @navalairhistory.com artwork.

Ghosts, the Ring of Remembrance, Notre Dame de Lorette, Armistice Day 2017.

Hoar frost, 37th Division memorial at Monchy-le-Preux, December 2016.

4th November 2018, the Great War memorial event at the Tower of London. The Yeoman Warder's name is Dave, since retired.

My attempts to rebalance my train infested Bluesky universe continues with this lovely Renault 4, Menorca summer 2000. I also took a lot of pix of my kids on that holiday, so it was normal service.

My feed is being bombarded with pix of trains and I don't know why. Please accept this snap of a Renault 6 in retaliation. (Menorca, summer 2000).

1983 Welsh International Rally. Jimmy McRae debuts the Opel Manta 400 during this round of the British Rally Championship. I wish I could remember the stage, it might be Penmachno. #rallying

1979. The Cavalier belonged to my mate Mike. He prefers Alfa Romeos these days. The Supermirafiori and the Cortina make a suitable backdrop.

Following the sinking of HMS Jervis Bay, the tanker MV San Demetrio, carrying highly flammable aviation fuel, was hit by shells from Admiral Scheer and set alight. Captain White, fearing a devastating explosion, ordered his crew to abandon ship. 📷©️National Maritime Museum, Greenwich 🧵1/7

5th November 1940: Victoria Cross action of Edward Fegen, Captain of the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Jervis Bay. The ship was the sole escort of convoy HX84 of 37 ships bound for Britain from Canada, two RCN destroyers having turned back in mid-Atlantic. 📷memorialsinportsmouth.co.uk 🧵1/13

Guy Fawkes day. Children with their "guy", asking for pennies for bonfire night. Taken by William Field for @thetimes on 05.11.1927 #bonfirenight #guyfawkesnight

By all accounts, it was an astonishing display of courage by Samir Zitouni which led to many lives being saved on the Huntingdon-bound train. I hope with every fibre of my being that he pulls through and recovers fully, because this country is a better place with people like him in it.

Nice to think my daughter and her family will wake up to this most days. Four months of renovations are almost up. Thursday is my last day on the job.... until the next one. Happy days.

Sunset on the Essex Riviera. The first one I've snapped in quite a while. Fujifilm X100V.

A true hero.

The online baying mob shouting "Vote Reform" after Saturday's train stabbing attack may wish to note that not a single Reform MP has turned up for the Home Secretary's statement on the incident.

I've made progress with the Embar 1/24th scale Bedford breakdown lorry. The cab interior and body are dry fit for now. Parts fit well and the whole thing is unfussy and placid. Sadly, one of the side lights pinged off to who knows where. It may turn up. #histscalemodels

HOLY SHIT IT'S ON THE TV NOW

And why not? It should be fun, whatever you're building. Quality work is the result.

1 Nov 1914 // Armoured cruiser HMS Good Hope, flagship of Rear Admiral Christopher Cradock, was sunk by sustained gunfire from German cruiser Scharnhorst off central Chile during the Battle of Coronel. She went down with all hands: 926 men. (Imperial War Museum Q 38966) #RoyalNavy #WW1 #NavalHistory

1st November 1943. Near the Azores, the destroyer USS Borie, part of an American hunter-killer group, forced U-405 to surface after a depth charge attack. Illuminated by a searchlight, the U-Boat’s deck gun was knocked overboard by a 4-inch shell. 📷 National Archives via usni.org 🧵1/9

#SWW 31.10.44 #OTD 413358 F/Lt Ern Dunkley, 24 y/o (later S/Ldr Dunkley DFC) was the pilot of Mosquito NS896, leading four of the eight aircraft from 464 Sqn taking part in the low-level raid against the Danish headquarters of the Gestapo at the Aarhus University 🧵 1/7. vwma.org.au/explore/peop...

31st October, 1944: the Aarhus raid. Following an urgent request from the Danish resistance, 24 Mosquitoes of the RAF’s 140 Wing bombed university buildings housing the Gestapo headquarters for the Jutland area. This was to prove the most successful in a series of similar attacks. 📷 IWM C 4756 🧵1/5

Fantastic

Rest well Willie Young.