Talk Morgan Forums Thread Like Summary - Tempetete as my Father nickamed him [-)

My late father was ex 318 Polish Squadron Spit, Mustang and Mosquito pilot so Spits were V attack and IX with clipped wings for higher roll rate etc and painted pink unarmed pru ffs ..

Don't waste your breath explaining visibility or lack of it btw.

For his sins he became CFI at three Flying Group in Norfolk starting with Little Snoring started by Welshman Elwyn McCaully (ATC for yanks at Sculthorpe) , Waveney Flying Group started by Jimmy Hoseason you maybe have stumbled over in your travels. George Jarvis was being taught by father at Snoring and boy did he like aerobatics which was not always easy to take a full hour out of very tight training schedules as Instructors had a day job.

Father and farmer George got on like a housefire so George built a hanger and grass strip on his farm and then added a Red Tiger Moth (£400 back then) so he could better feed his need for aerobatics by inviting Bob and I onto the farm (Felthorpe), so maximum fun was extracted by all.
He was an absolute joy to know and had an Armstrong Sidley which he would take us all for a flat out run down the runway in at 100+
s
I digress some of you aviators may have fallen foul of Barry Tempest when he worked for the CAA if you were remotely ambitious in exploring the envelope, father instructed him how to fly back in the day and it seems by the nickname Bob gave him he maybe was displaying Prima Dona traits back then... Long story longer Tempetete enjoyed some International fame whilst performing in the Rothmans Pitts aerobatic team and many other aerobatic competitions.

Segway into Georges Godwin post - guess what Barry's ride is, careful it's a set up - beautiful craft..






Sadly Barry at 87 has had to retire from Flying and driving so has handed over not only the beautifully crafted high performance Steen Skybolt, PittsS2A, Pitts S1S and Piper L4 Cub into the loving care of his son John who can fly a bit too.

Barry's daughter Helen was the first wing walker in Britain back in the day and I remember as a nipper watching open mouthed to see her take off with Barry at the controls of the Tiger with her legs astride the fuel tank with just a lightweight frame to lean back into and belt onto.

Barry has been in contact a lot recently as he is writing his autobiography and doing a bit of fact checking I suspect.
I wish him well with it as the hunt for a publisher commences - a total pita I imagine.

Lovely story.It is so important that these pioneers write their story so it is not lost for ever.
My Dad was a miner and the tales of riding on top of the cage with no safety gear checking the wiring for chaffing !
So much easier now to chat on mobile phones to record their tales .