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Hi, I am Sig (junge1),
I was born in Dominikus- Krankenhaus in Berlin-Hermsdorf, Bezirk Reinickendorf in December 1939. Bezirk Reinickendorf was one of 20 Bezirke that made up Gross-Berlin before World War II and one of 12 Bezirke that made up former West-Berlin, the other 8 Bezirke were Russian occupied and became East-Berlin after the war. Moved from Berlin to Neurohlau (Nova Role) Sudetenland (now Czech Republic), in August 1943 (our entire block of apartment buildings was bombed out in November 1943) and returned back to Berlin in November 1945. Saw my dad the first time in my life in August/September 1946 after he returned from POW camp. Attended elementary school in Berlin-Waidmannslust, high school in Berlin-Hermsdorf, and trade school in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Was an apprentice for the trade of Klischeeaetzer (photo engraver) at Burrath & Schmidt on Friedrichstrasse between U-Bahnhof Kochstrasse (near to what later became Checkpoint Charlie) and Hallisches Tor.
While watching Allied planes supplying West-Berlin by air during the Berliner Luftbruecke in 1948-49 I developed my love for aircraft. I guess I could be considered a 'Berliner Grosschnauze", or at least I used to be.
'Wanderlust' led me to leave Berlin in summer 1960 to emigrate to Toronto, Canada and in February 1962 to move from Canada to New York City, NY, USA. In January 1963 I joined the United States Air Force, one step ahead of Uncle Sam drafting me. Became a United States citizen within 7 weeks after it became a security issue because of my military career. One day after I was sworn in as a citizen in Seattle, my entire unit left for Southeast Asia in June 1966. After nearly 5 years of active duty (extended 11 months to make it an 18 months overseas deployment) I got discharged and moved to New York City. In 1973 I moved to Phoenix, Arizona and two years later joined the Arizona Air National Guard.
Received my higher education at Arizona State University and the University of Georgia and worked for 22 years for the Arizona Department of Water Resources in various capacities. Upon military retirement in 1999 and State retirement in 2005 I looked at a number of things to keep me occupied. Traveling and joining 'renderosity' in September 2007 were a couple of them,
Sig..
Comments (22)
drifterlee
Very nice plane and shot!
Faemike55
Great capture did you ride?
Richardphotos
I would love to ride in it. really excellent restoration and capture
junge1
@Faemike55; No Mile!
drawgeoff
Great picture. Remember this type of Plane very well. I was doing a Joint services Freefall parachute course at RAF Uphaven March 1993. The first jump was on a static line.The seats had been stripped out and we had to squat on the floor. Been so naive all those years ago i mentioned to the Sergeant that i had never flown before. Guess what i was brought right up to the door and and was made to be the first one to jump. 40 odd years on i still vividly remember gingerly stepping on to the lower wing of the rapide grabbing hold of the strut, loosing my fingers then i was yanked off into the slip stream. Looking up my canopy had deployed and the Aircraft was now about half a mile or so away. I wonder if this aircraft in the picture is the one that i jumped from?
drawgeoff
Correction it was March 1973. ( just had a senior moment)
jayfar
An excellent shot Sig.
flavia49
beautiful
jocko500
cool
auntietk
Well, just so you know how observant I am: The way the last picture was composed, the bottom wing blended in with the floor. I saw this and had a "Doh!" moment ... well crap! It's a biplane! LOL! I usually do better than that. :P
soffy
Excellen shot**
ontar1
Nice plane, outstanding capture!
debbielove
I'd love to ride in the Tiger Moth they have doing it lol Or the Harvard.. But cash! Nice to hear and see all day though, life at Duxford never stops... Good shot Rob
neiwil
Love this plane, when Rob and I were at Old Warden I managed to get a series of shots of their Rapide coming in to land. That's now my screen saver at work, never get tired of watching, beautiful aircraft......
farmerC
Shining.
Minda
This is Excellent capture sig,.
starship64
Beautiful plane.
Xartis
I made my first ever flight in one of these, from Pompey to the Isle of Wight. It belonged to Channel Airways in Portsmouth and was flown by a famous Lady who had ferried planes from the States during WW2. I forget her Name but then I forget a lot of stuff these days LOL
rachris480907
Great capture! This plane is certainly not lacking windows!
lyron
Cool capture!!!
danapommet
A wonderful POV and I might have sprung for a ride just to say I flew in one!
junge1
It never occurred to me to go for a ride. For one, we were busy watching the aircraft flying and checking out all the hangars, for another reason it was pretty costly. But is a nice looking aircraft, and it would have been fun. Maybe another time! I really like the fuselage, especially the nose section!
Cyve
Fantastic airplane and fantastic shot once again !