[Leica] Be prepared!!

[doubs43 at cox.net (Walker Smith)]

>
>
>The Merlin is unmistakeable - an interesting bit of useless information,
>the Messerschmitt 109 G was licence built in Spain after WWII
>and was, in the last version, powered by the Merlin engine.
>
Douglas, that is indeed some interesting information. I was aware that 
the Spanish Air Force used a modified ME-109; into the 1960's IIRC. I 
didn't know that they had gone to the Merlin engines but perhaps 
supplies from Germany at the time were not possible. Spain had close 
ties to Germany and their Army's CETME rifle was a design by former 
German arms experts hired after the war by Spain and based heavily upon 
a WW2 design.

You're obviously deep into British WW2 aircraft. My uncle told my father 
that when he flew recon missions for the RAF along the French and 
Belgian coasts that all arms were stripped from the planes and he wasn't 
even allowed to have a pistol in the event he was shot down. The reason 
was simple: no arms, no fight. They wanted the pictures taken and 
returned to England. No dog fights.

I was stationed at RAF Bentwaters & RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk for six 
years in the 1980's. Both bases were closed in the 1990's as far as US 
forces are concerned. I have no idea what the British MOD might be using 
them for.

Walker