American volunteer pilots from ‘Eagle Squadron’ scramble to their Hawker Hurricanes at RAF Kirton in Lindsey air base - Lincolnshire, England, March 1941

1941 Hurricane Mk.XII - Willow Run Airshow

Can't imagine I will see a better airfield photo this week.

An elephant photographed by one of the Hurricane fighter planes (HV538) of the RAF SEAC

in a front line jungle airfield in Burma. © IWM

@WW2 airfields via X

The Hawker P.V.3 was a proposed replacement for the Hawker Fury using the Rolls-Royce Goshawk engine. The Goshawk was a failure and thus so were all the aircraft based around it, but just as Supermarine's effort with the Goshawk would lead to the Spitfire, so too would the P.V.3 teach Hawker lessons incorporated in the Hurricane.

These photos were taken sometime between 1933 and 1935, most likely at Brooklands.

So I learned today that back in WWII the RAF tested a night-fighting strategy where they would send up an aircraft (a modified A-20 Havoc/Boston) that had a giant spotlight and radar on it with night fighters (Hurricanes) to seek out German bombers. The Boston would locate the bomber(s) and then shine its giant spotlight on them and illuminate the bomber so that the fighters could attack it

It's the ultimate version of "Get his ass"

Hawker Sea Hurricane being hand started at Old Warden aerodrome. Night shoot

I see this colourised photograph of Hawker Hurricanes showing up a lot on social media. Strangely it's only shown up in the last couple of years though and you won't find the original black and white photograph. You also might wonder where the photographer was standing.

It's by an artist named Peter Larry based on graphics from the computer game IL-2 Sturmovik and always cropped so you don't see where the artist signed it.

Do either of you have thoughts on Ringo’s song Electricity? I’ve been wondering who other than Johnny Guitar could be the ‘gangster of love smiling from above’ and what that means about the song in general.

Not so long ago back in Liverpool Playing every show while working in the factory Music was the scene, I was on my way Chasing my own dream with Rory and the Hurricanes Before he became the keeper of the plane And by the name of Johnny Guitar Electricity coming through his fingers Every time he plays, everybody lingers On the verge of a serious power surge Electricity, and I still remember back in the day No one there will forget the way he played Electricity As it turned out good Made it here to Hollywood Playing just the same I guess there's things that never change Just like from the start Every night I gave my heart Trying to make it good Just like I know I could The gangster of love Is smiling from above So we play this one to Johnny Guitar Electricity coming through his fingers Every time he plays, everybody lingers Electricity, and I still remember back in the day No one there will forget the way he played Electricity Electricity coming through his fingers Every time he plays, everybody lingers Electricity, and I still remember back in the day No one there will forget the way he played Electricity

First off, thank you so much for the comment!

We're sure this song is about Johnny Guitar (he's named right there in the chorus). Did you have other ideas who Ringo might be thinking of?

Johnny died in 1999 and the song was released in 2017, almost 20 years later, so it makes sense that Ringo is talking about Johnny looking down on him from heaven as it were.

Gangster of Love

This is in reference to a 1957 recording by Johnny "Guitar" Watson"

It didn't gain traction in 1957, but he rerecorded it in the 70s, which is what you see here, and then it did chart.

He could have chosen a different song from a different year. I find it quite interesting he chose a song from 1957, which was before he and Johnny met, but is the year that John and Paul met.

With this information we can absolutely say that "gangster of love" refers to Johnny Guitar and only Johnny guitar.

One other lyric we'd like to note, even though you only asked about this one.

Keeper of the plane

The Hawker Hurricane was a very famous plane from WWII. It would have been well-known to all the lads in Liverpool.

When Rory died, Johnny took over as leader of the Hurricanes. We're pretty sure that's what Ringo is referring to with "keeper of the plane".

So those are all our thoughts on "Electricity"

Ultimately, it's very clear Johnny held a special place in Ringo's heart even many years after his death. To us it sounds fairly romantic, maybe even akin to "Here Today," but it could also just be an ode to a good friend who had passed.

What do you think?

Flying legends! Spitfire & Hurricane. (FTP)

Two different Hawker Hurricane's.

Hawker Hurricane at Little Gransden Airfield

@ron_eisele via X

Hawker Hurricane Mk I

©Artwork by ?

Finally DONE with my first model! Spoopy plane boi. Credits to @zeke-the-kamikaze for designing the character.

Another build another going fucking insane with oil paints

The Hawker Hurricane. Almost looks better on the ground. Almost. Oshkosh 2021