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A pilot at Fairlop airfield in Essex has a haircut during a break between sweeps, November 1942. (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by paran0ide

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[–]RathboneLLJK 12 points13 points ago

I've seen this photo a few times, and I've always wondered what he's reading. Anyone have any idea?

[–]hlipschitz 7 points8 points ago

The last time this photo was posted I looked into it. The book is Greenmantle by John Buchan.

Great read, and eerily contemporary.

[–]VacuitysBane 1 point2 points ago

This may just trigger me to read this and his The 39 Steps which has been sitting on my shelf, neglected, for some time. His short story, The Grove of Ashtaroth is one of my all-time favourite pieces of writing.

Also, I should add, my pride at his once being Canada's Governor General might just be the closest I'll come to patriotism.

[–]EncasedMeats 1 point2 points ago

On the cover appears the profile of what seems to be a Middle Eastern gent, and I think I see an "N" at the end of the title, so I'm guessing a biography of Suleiman or Saladin.

[–]cheops1853 1 point2 points ago

The author's first name appears to be Calvin. I think the last name starts with an "M" and is five to six letters long.

[–]Lokarn 6 points7 points ago

Why did everyone look so classy back then?

[–]EncasedMeats 5 points6 points ago

They didn't take being photographed ironically, so no duck face.

[–]feedemall 0 points1 point ago

I dread the day when people will look back on duck face photos in 70 years time and think that they were classy.

[–]bluthru 0 points1 point ago

They valued their appearance. Not dressing like a slob and maintaing physical fitness was a way of respecting life and society.

[–]Lokarn 0 points1 point ago

They all look pretty solid and fit. I mean, you could grab the lowest criminal during that time and he would still look classy, I saw some old New York mugshots where the criminals looked like movie stars.

[–]argumentinvalid 5 points6 points ago

Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205188367

there are some other good photos in the related section at the bottom

[–]AlanClique 19 points20 points ago

Simon Pegg: Time Traveler.

[–]DJ-Salinger 17 points18 points ago

Pilot a fighter plane, get a trim and shave, go to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint, and wait for all of this to blow over.

[–]Amisteus 1 point2 points ago

agreed

[–]Yid 4 points5 points ago

Nice to see my home county being mentioned and not feeling ashamed :)

[–]melonballerf 2 points3 points ago

Amen to that fellow Essexian.

[–]kryptick 1 point2 points ago

My ancestry/heritage comes from Essex. I'm a US American, but when you say ashamed of Essex, what are you referring too? I'm just curious. Thanks!

[–]vercian 2 points3 points ago

Stereotypically full of chavs and new money.

[–]Adan714 5 points6 points ago

what did he read?

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

Wow, my dad was there a year later as a pilot in the RCAF, or as the Brits called them, "those bloody colonials."

[–]sleevieb 2 points3 points ago

Those boots are amazing.

[–]DeskFlyer 1 point2 points ago

I think the only thing that would make this photo look more British is if the guy was holding a cup of tea.

[–]freetambo 0 points1 point ago

I'm sure that when he's done he'll say: "Cheerio old chap, best be off know to shoot some jerries", or something of the sort.

[–]lemonpole 0 points1 point ago

Simon Pegg anyone?

[–]chao06 1 point2 points ago

That barber is a fucking boss. Cutting hair in the wind cannot be any variety of easy.

[–]pliskie 1 point2 points ago

I want a pair of those boots. They're like dress shoes with badass extensions.

[–]infinite0ne 0 points1 point ago

Classy as fuck.

[–]MadManuel 0 points1 point ago

That would've been right smack in the middle of the Battle of Britain...

BAMF

[–]aldotheapache2 1 point2 points ago

dat pipe

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