06/08/2023
Congratulations to my co-founder Sean, who recently passed his Instrument Rating!
On His Majesty's Service
- Home
- On His Majesty's Service
A living history collective with a difference.
31/05/2023
Congratulations to my co-founder Sean, who recently passed his PPL check-ride, and has now begun his instrument rating!
16/05/2023
Today, for the first time, I have seen Britain's toxic relationship to WW2. For many years I've condemned the militarism and politicisation of Remembrance Day. It is only now I see the national glorification we have in war and our war crimes, whilst condemning the same acts in others.
14/05/2023
George "Johnny" Johnson condemned what he called "retrospective historians", for condemning Operation Chastise.
I personally think the production/editorial choice to include this clip in the documentary "Lancaster", made George Johnson look bad. In telling "retrospective historians" "who weren't there", to "keep their bloody mouths shut". I think the inclusion of the clip was very much to satisfy a personal agenda of the producers. I would also counter Johnny by saying, all views on history are retrospective, by definition.
Operation Chastise was, for all the later 20th and 21st century flag-waving, a failure, and, depending on your view, a war crime by way of the targeted collateral damage. Of the dams originally cited as targets, only three were attacked, and only two breached. The damage barely paused German war production. Four in ten aircrew perished.
Whilst we celebrate this victory with all the nationalistic "one-upmanship" and flag-waving, whilst marvelling at the "bravery", "sacrifice", and "flying skill" of the aircrew involved, what every single historian and documentary fail to recognise, are the German people.
No one has ever sought out a German soldier on the dams at the time, no one really put any effort into showing the civilian side. Any attempt at this, in the few British/Western documentaries that do cover German victims, is tokenistic at best; such as the short segment within Ewan McGregor's "Bomber Boys", where circa 5 minutes of an hour documentary was given over to two survivors of Dresden.
It has become clear from talking to German people, that WW2 in both countries, is only represented from their own country's perspective. Britain is the only country that celebrates this operation, and the only country to place Barnes Wallis and the aircrew involved, on a pedestal.
07/05/2023
A restoration update from my co-founder: The 42WLA is coming along! Its been started, checked, and adjusted. A few more things to fix before it can be road tested. On the list of things to do are: repair the dash, assemble the dash, stencil the bike, fix the lean of the front wheel, replace the rear stand, finish the leg shields. Lots to do, but hopefully in the next few months it will be out on the road again!
12/04/2023
The training continues.
26/01/2023
So, what's it like to pilot an aeroplane? Here's a simplified commentary on what it's like to take-off on a typical "circuit and bump" training flight. There aren't many full stops below, to convey the speed of tasks when flying an aircraft.
First, the briefing, then out to the aircraft to complete a walk around. Then the instructor would make his way out and we would strap in like a couple sardines, sitting on a domestic cushion, because Cessna seats do not adjust in height. Checklist and start, more checklist. A radio call to air-ground stating intention, pull away and taxi out to the relevant hold for power check, avoiding the rough patches of grass. Turn into wind, power/mag check, hoping the Cessna brakes will hold, power check complete, pull away and hold near the threshold, having a good look around the circuit as you do, a look left and right, sky and runway clear.
Announce intentions on aerodrome frequency and pull out onto the runway, ideally stopping to run over final checks, performance flap set, mixture rich, hatches and harnesses secure, seat latched, corrective aileron into crosswind and yoke fully aft to relieve the nosewheel. Full power, right hand on the throttle all the way up into the circuit, airspeed alive, temperatures and pressures in the green, dancing on the rudder pedals to keep her straight whilst easing off on the crosswind aileron and back pressure, 60 knots, forward pressure now needed to keep her grounded, she's getting light and wants to go, 65 knots, forward pressure eased and we're up, relaxing the rudder pedals letting her weathervane into wind, immediate course change to avoid Miserable Manor and pitching and trimming for continuous climb, right hand back to throttle, 300ft and the performance flap retracted and aircraft re-trimmed, right hand back to throttle, 700ft and we're at the first corner, circuit height is 1000ft, this means a climbing turn to port onto the crosswind leg and a lookout to starboard to check no one is joining crosswind, still at 900ft, another climbing turn to port onto the downwind leg, watching out for anyone joining downwind, finally 1000ft, holding her level and letting the speed increase to cruise, RPM reduced for cruise and aircraft re-trimmed, a quick FREDA check, then announce position and intention to air ground office, base turn coming up, a quick GUMPS check and we're about to reverse everything we've done over the previous 120 seconds in order to land.
25/01/2023
Meanwhile, my co-founder has test fitted the new-old-stock oil tank to his motor bicycle.
24/01/2023
A photograph from my own training, here in England. Flying from a wartime aerodrome, formerly home to USAAF Mustangs. Now an undulating grass runway.
23/01/2023
Training continues for my co-founder in the clear(ish) skies of California. Set to be a qualified commercial pilot and instructor by years end; and of course, owner of his own impeccably restored 1942 Stinson L-5.
05/01/2023
The start of a new year for On His Majesty's Service and Arsenal of Democracy! We are still here and working hard behind the scenes; my co-founder began his full time pilot course and will qualify as a private pilot, commercial pilot and instructor by year's end.
Between the two of us, this unique collective will have two qualified pilots, two extensive collections and an airworthy warbird at our disposal, with additional warbirds available for hire.
Duxford Flying Evening 2022, with On His Majesty's Service. For aircrew, by aircrew. The aim is simple, to fly warbirds, utilizing period uniforms and equipment, within an immersive living-history setting.
If you have what it takes to make the leap from re-enactor to real-world aircrew, get in touch.
17/10/2022
I would like to introduce my 100-year-old great-uncle, former Flight Sergeant Pilot, RAF, 1942-1946. My great-uncle has inspired my interest to become a pilot for nearing three decades. I will be making several more posts regarding my great-uncle in due course, including wartime photographs and showing his original flying headgear and uniforms, which he has retained for more than three-quarters of a century.
17/10/2022
A preview of the restoration update on my co-founders 1942 Stinson L-5, which is under restoration to factory configuration. There are a few small changes that are F.A.A required, surrounding the engine/ignition system, amongst others. The original wartime radios will be operational, and we will have the ability to pick-up a corresponding WW2 era receiver/transmitter on the ground, something we've discussed. Basing an event around this, operating our own WW2 airfield with a WW2 control, able to communicate with the aircraft using the original crystal radio sets. The necessary (modern) communications will be made through modern hand-held devices and thus, not altering the aircraft beyond F.A.A requirements. All headsets and microphones will be original and working in conjunction with the original radio sets.
17/10/2022
Meet the founders Part 2.
Evening all, a quick introduction to myself. My name is Nathan Saunders, and I am co-founder of this initiative, alongside my good friend of eight years, Sean Ayres. I first attended re-enactment shows during the late 1990's and once old enough (age 11) began to actively engage in this "hobby". Like my co-founder, I am also a pilot under tuition. My 100-year-old great-uncle flew medium bombers for the R.A.F during WW2. I have also owned award winning military vehicles in the past, including a wartime German army bicycle.
We'll be posting articles, restoration updates, living-history philosophy, photo-studies and show reports, here on our page. If you would like to get involved with this unique collective, just drop one of us a message (Nathan Saunders UK, Sean Ayres US).
17/10/2022
Meet the founders Part 1.
Hello all! This is a quick introduction, my name is Sean Ayres, and I am a co-founder of this group. I say group, but it really is more of an initiative. I am a reenactor and I’ve been involved for 20 years in the hobby. During that time, I have branched out from re-enacting to military vehicle restoration. I am a student pilot and am working on a 1942 Stinson L-5 which I will highlight later. I guess I should mention that over the years I’ve gone from “hiding the cooler of beer under a blanket” re-enacting to the “digging a hole to sleep in” type. I believe authenticity is more than having the correct uniform. You need to know your role and job to the best of your ability just as if it was YOU there back during the war and you had to do your job.
Anyway, that’s a little about me and I will delve into the kit and vehicle side shortly.
Here is a photo taken late last year of me in a P-51D of the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.
17/10/2022
The mechanised might of ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY.
I guess it’s time to introduce the projects. This is my 1944 Willys MB, which I restored over the past twelve years. I took it apart down to the frame and did a full restoration. I searched all over the world (literally) for parts with the correct date codes that correspond with the serial number of the jeep; I had to bring the transfer case with me in my luggage from Russia, I drove to Utah for the axles and the engine I drove 7 hours to retrieve. In the end it will be as it left the factory.
As it sits now, it is mostly correct. It was judged in 2016 at the M.V.P.A. convention in Alameda and scored restored class gold with a score of 93%. Since then, I’ve been working to make it more correct.
Right now, I’m doing routine maintenance to cure some oil leaks. The transmission and transfer case are out and will be going back in soon.
The markings on the jeep are those of my grandfather's unit in the MTO. With time, I will change the markings and make it so that with a quick change of bumpers I can portray other units.
17/10/2022
Skipper, Flight Sergeant R. Saunders. Duxford Flying Evening 2022, with On His Majesty's Service.
12/10/2022
A quiet month for the page, with much happening behind the scenes. My co-founder's motorbicycle has progressed well and is nearing completion. As stated previously, many new old stock parts were purchased from Australia to make this project possible. More or less, the only non-original parts are the tyres, paintwork and leatherwork. I must also congratulate my co-founder on securing a loan, to complete his pilot training all the way through to commercial, including multi-engine and instructor ratings.
We are a unique organisation within the second world war re-enactment scene and whilst still in our first year of formal operation, what we can offer likeminded individuals going forward, is unlike any other opportunity before or since. Our current position is a result of a lifetime's experience and work, with the friendship between my co-founder and myself, nearing a decade. Flying and a passion for history is at heart of who we are as individuals. It is also at the heart of who we are as On His Majesty's Service and Arsenal of Democracy. We are flying, we are passion, we are pilots.
Address
Website
Alerts
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when On His Majesty's Service posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Shortcuts
- Address
- Alerts
- Claim ownership or report listing
-
Want your museum to be the top-listed Museum?
Share
