The Souvenir Hunters of Bowcombe Down

[schuur10]

Great movie/documentary!! , awsome story allso , did the German pilot got the "flying penis" for bringing down his undamaged airplane behind enemy lines?

Greetings Erwin from the Netherlands

[jonzflicks]

@schuur10 I dare say such an award may well have been made in his absence. Is just a shame that his opponents that day didn't survive the war also!

[1stgeneral]

I will always regret that i never told him how proud and in awe i was as a nieave young child that i was as the time, but i believe that he must have seen a spark in me to choose his time of closure. God Bless and total respect.

You gave your today for our tomorrow!

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember them.

[1stgeneral]

He tells me that when he was flying back from a bombing run on the U-boat bases at Lorient and Brest a large amount of flak opened up towards the French coast. A Piece of German flak entered the bottom of the cockpit and ignited the vary flare light under his chair which proceded to shoot off around the cockpit and end up in his goggles. He suffered minor burns and was back within a week. He stops and goes on but i feel the rest is for his wife.

[1stgeneral]

As teary eyes meet my gaze i sit and listen while asking questions to why this bunder of charred goggles and flying hat adorn my lap while trying to choke back my own tears of admiration at such a generous and humble man taking the time to sit and educate me and at the same time open up for the first time as if a wave was rolling over his shoulders washing him clean.

[1stgeneral]

As i sat down i asked him to explain the state of these artifacts and as i have seen many times before an old veteran who i know has probably never utered a word until now opens up to a total stranger whilst his enthused wife observes in the same state of curious excitement as i often find.

[1stgeneral]

One day an elderly gent who i knew amerged from his house in tears holding an old leather flying helmet with his wife holding his arm. He had been a Lancaster pilot and a veteren of numerous dangerous sorties, the one of which he explained. Take care of this he said as he regrettfully handed the bundle to me, I assured him that i would look after and honour it but his wife held him as the memories must have come flooding back all those years ago over the war torn skies of natzi europe.

[1stgeneral]

Working as a builder since i was 15 i was lucky to meet many veterans of both ww1 who have since passed and WW2 who have shared their many combat stories with me. Many of these people have long passed but the stories that they shared with me live on in my memories as shining lights.

[1stgeneral]

What a lovely inoccent and lovely video. I love stories with my ww2 memorabila as i love military history and feel so humble and proud for anyone who has served our country bravely and kept up our long brave tradition of defending Peace, Liberty and Order no matter how the situation may seem. We must have faith in our superiors and the the small improvements which we find.

[samskate000]

didnt harry patch come from here ?

[MrCoolcool666]

bloody good vid mate

[tinkll1]

A marvelous synthesis of story telling, history, humor, artistry. Bravo!

[megatwingo]

That is a very good made video. The story is well told. Very entertaining and interesting!

Thumbs up!

[kolbpilot]

Nice story of wartime England. I would of been all over that 109 as well had I seen it back then. Very nice that you have those parts of the plane. Think of it, the 109 pilot is prisoner for what, 5 plus years or so. Wonder how he did after the war?

[tpsossff]

Lovely story. Sounds like the pilot was all too happy to be out of the war after he landed. Did not see a single bullet hole though, so was he really shot down despite being claimed by two pilots as a kill, or had he had enough of the war?

[qaqaqaq123]

Really great Vid, geetings from austria

[666redler]

Thanks jonz flicks, what a great story.

[White1Hunter]

the video was really well done

[jonzflicks]

Thanks White1Hunter, This video was chosen as my entry for the Isle of Wight Film Festival competition 2009. Did't win but the experience was great!

[CARLOS62B]

a wonderful little movie

[jonzflicks]

Many thanks for your kind comment

[mcguire4162]

Thanks for the video. So what happened to the pilot after the war? I have heard that some Germans stayed on to live in England.

[CheckMySix]

Hi jonzflicks

Great documentary M8.

What happened to the remains of the 109.

Would be great if a Geo-Phys survey could be done on garden to establish if the wing is actually buried there.

5*****

Respect

Keith :)

[twostrokedowse]

Brilliant!!

[Pacafeliz]

WONDERFUL!!! thanks for that, and greetings from Mexico!

Pat.

[jonzflicks]

Thanks Pat. And, I love your music!!! see my favourites.

John H W

[hgwman]

Great job! Very well researched,great illustrations,and a really good narrative.Thank you for sharing it with us.

[jonzflicks]

Many thanks for your kind comment. I have a lot more stoies in this subject when I can get around to them. Have you seen my "The American Friend" and "Spirit of the tones ,,,Stuka Crash" ?  Same sort of stuff.

[Wingdoss]

This is a great contribution and exactly why I come to Youtube. Many thanks.

[GWR1940]

Very interesting video,

Great work ,

Kind Regards

Andrew

[chchchuckles]

VERY INTERESTING!!!!! They still find planes here in Europe. Legend is that there is one in the swamp just outside my town, Kolin, Czech Republic. When I'm detecting or running my dogs near there, I always keep my eyes open!

[terryjohn]

YEH SMELLY GIT

[jonzflicks]

And,...So: The wind doth blow in many ways! As your socks :-)

[PLANEHUNTERS]

nice story

[longbow1415]

Hello,

Great Video and story, all the best from your garlic smelling, 109 hunting, Sgt Bann researching

Jon and Manky

[terryjohn]

FRUITCAKES.