Please click on the link below to donate to the RCAF Museum

 40th Death Anniversary of a brave Ceylonese Airman

As part of my project for the Communications Technology Class at school, I had to design a webpage for a local charity and drive web traffic to it through social media sites. I chose the National Air Force Museum of Canada (in Trenton, Ontario).

www.airforcemuseum.ca/

I chose this museum for several reasons. This museum preserves the military aviation history of Canada. It has a number of great aircraft on display including the Spitfire, Hurricane and it has the only restored Handley Page Halifax bomber in North America.  With the 100 year anniversary of the First World War coming up in August 1914, I believe there will be a lot of interest shown about Canada's role in Military aviation. The First World War was the first time airplanes were used in combat. Canada produced some notable Aces in that war, including Billy Bishop VC.

I also chose this museum as the recipient of my donation page as I wanted to honour a brave Ceylonese airman, Rohan Amerasekera, who served as a Navigator with the RAF, He flew 52 operations, mostly over Germany. His ops were flown in the Halifax bomber aircraft. March 20, 2014 will be his 40th Death Anniversary,

I hope you all will donate generously.  Please share this link with your friends and family.

For more details about Rohan Amerasekera go to:
http://www.ceylonmedals.com/rohan.htm 

New Playstation System (PS4)

Everyone across the world is talking about the new PS4 even my friends are talking about it. The Sony Entertainment have built this game console for the future replacing the PS3. As this console has finally created new games are ready for the console including the franchises like Killzone 4, Infamous Second Son, even probably Call of Duty: Ghosts. I upload the trailer of the PS4 which Sony released. The release date for the PS4 is November 15th. People will probably buy it once it's released and some people will wait for the price to go down. And another thing is this the end of PS3? Are anyone going to replace it, keep it, or both? Leave your comments below.

Call of Duty: Ghosts releases Tonight!!!!

I heard news from a friend of my that told me that Call of Duty: Ghosts is being released tonight on November 4th this week. EB Games, Future shop, Wal-Mart, and other video game stores are giving out Call of Duty: Ghosts in Xbox 360 and PS3. For those who missed it  can get it tomorrow since the release date for Call of Duty: Ghosts is on November 5th. Call of Duty: Ghosts will be available for the new consoles. For Xbox One the release date is in November 22nd and for PS4 November 15th or 29th. Fans of Call of Duty are probably buying the game right now but I suggest to wait until the price goes down. What do you think so far? should you buy it right now or are you going to wait for the price to go down? Leave your comments below.
  

New DLC Pack (Apocalypse) and new Personalization Packs

           Hey everyone this is Stormjedi calling here and i'm terribly sorry for some of the big delay I had spend some time with my family at a four day trip in the U.S. But today is the fourth and the last DLC for Black Ops 2. The fourth Map Pack is called Apocalypse and it includes four multiplayer maps and a brand new and excellent Zombies experience. The four new Multiplayer maps are "Pod", "Frost", "Takeoff" which is a remake of a Black Ops 1 multiplayer map from the First Strike called "Stadium" and "Dig" which is a remake of a World at War multiplayer map called "Courtyard". The zombies map "Origins" will take player to World War I at Northern France in 1918 and guess what ... the original zombie characters Tank Dempsey, Nikolai Belinksi, Takeo Masaki and Edward Richtofen are finally back fighting and killing of the army of the undead but somehow they look younger and different. Anyway back to the Personalization Packs there are six brand new skin packs that players would really love to personalize their weapons in multiplayer. The DLC will be released in August 27, 2013 first on Xbox. I have attached 3 videos. The first one is the review of this DLC. The second one is a trailer of the personalization packs. And finally the third one is a cinematic of an intro of the Origins zombie map. Do you want buy this DLC to enjoy the multiplayer maps or continue the next or final part of the Zombies story? Let me know in the comments below.         

New DLC Pack (Vengeance) and Personalization Pack (The Two Winning Camos) for Black Ops 2 including the new release information for Call of Duty Ghosts

How's it going Call of Duty fans sorry for this huge delay I got myself doing work in summer school to past a missed course. So anyway Treyarch had made another new Map Pack "Vengeance" as the third DLC available for Xbox on July 2nd and for PS3 and PC on August 1st. Includes four all new multiplayer maps and an all new Zombie experience. The Four multiplayer maps are "Cove", "Detour", "Rush", and "Uplink" which is a remake of an old Black Ops multiplayer map called "Summit". The new Zombies map called "Buried" takes players to an old abandoned Western Mining Town to continue the chapter of this Zombie story. Treyarch had made a bonus Zombie weapon called "The Ray Gun Mark II" which is a similar version of the original Ray Gun and is available in all of the Zombie maps. I just heard about the new Personalization Pack about the 4 new camos including Paladin, Cyborg, Comics and Dragon and this time Treyarch allows online players to vote and the two best camos will be released in which it already passed and the two winning camos Cyborg and Dragon for Xbox and PS3, Cyborg and Paladin for PC. The new Call of duty game "Ghosts" is coming out on November 5th and I have experienced some players have pre-ordered it because people who pre-order Call of Duty Ghosts will receive a ghost camo in Black ops 2. I have attached 4 videos the first one shows the review of the DLC, the second is the trailer of the new Personalization Pack, the third is the trailer of the of Buried and finally the fourth shows the trailer of Call of Duty Ghosts. So what do you really think will you wait get these or will you buy them now feel free to comment.

New DLC Pack (Uprising) and Personalization Packs for Black Ops 2

Hey guys Stormjedi here and I hope you had a great March Break again i'm terribly sorry for my absence it was really busy at school so again I had to neglect my blog.

 Now moving forward to the blog. The all new map pack Uprising is the second DLC that Treyarch ever created and is coming tomorrow on Black Ops 2 on April 16 first on Xbox 360. Uprising includes four multiplayer maps and an all new zombies experience, the four multiplayer maps are "Magma", "Encore", "Vertigo" and "Studio" which is a remake of an old Black Ops multiplayer map called "Firing Range". The new Zombies map call "Mob of the Dead" takes players back in somewhere in 1920s-1930s in Alcatraz. Also there are Personalization Packs, Calling Cards Packs and Extra Slots Pack which were available on April 12th for Xbox 360 and PS3. The Personalization Packs has 9 weapon camos, 9 Calling Cards, and 27 reticles 3 for Reflex, 3 for ACOG, and 3 for EO Tech. The Calling Cards Packs has 5 packs which are flags of different countries all around the world. Finally the Extra Slots Pack increases the number of customizable Create-A-Class slots to 10 sets of 5 slots and significantly expands media storage capacity, allowing players to archive 20 more emblems, 32 more films and 40 more screenshots. I also have attached 3 videos the first video shows the review of this DLC map pack. The second video shows the trailer of Mob of the Dead. And the last video shows the trailer of the Personalization Packs. As I said before on the first DLC I would probably wait for a while before getting it. What would you think? Will you guys buy this as soon as it comes out or wait a little longer? Please post your comments.

 

Limited Edition White PS3 - available for the first time in Canada!

Sony has announced a Limited Edition PS3 in WHITE. It will be available for the first time in Canada on Sunday January 27th. Both Best Buy and Future Shop has it listed at $299.99. It comes with a 1-year subscription to Playstation Plus with instant access to 12 games and it has a 500 GB storage.

To pre-order on  Best Buy:

 

.http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/playstation-3-playstation-3-limited-edition-500gb-playstation-plus-bundle-white-99179/10236912.aspx?path=2848875c3efeef3a9158a474da2cacf6en02

To pre-order on Future Shop:

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/playstation-3-playstation-3-limited-edition-500gb-playstation-plus-bundle-white-99179/10236912.aspx?path=bab0e4ffe22b0aa96bf589c5d34cce62en02


Any comments are welcome.

The "Uncharted" Series - One of the Best PS3 Franchises

One of my favourite video game franchise is the Uncharted series. Made exclusive for the Playstation platform, the 3 PS3 games have movie qualify graphics and sound. I have played the 3 PS3 games and they are some of the best in the action-adventure genre. If you have played them, or the PSVita game of this franchise, please post your comments.

The Uncharted video game series is developed by Naughty Dog and and published by Sony for Playstation. It is a third-person shooter action-adventure series about treasure hunters Nathan “Nate” Drake and Victor Sullivan, and journalist Elena Fisher, who travel the world looking to uncover various historical mysteries.
The series includes the following three PS3 games::

Uncharted – Drake’s Fortune
            The journey of Nathan Drake, supposed descendant of the explorer Sir Francis Drake, as he seeks the lost treasure of El Dorado in South America. He is accompanied by Elena Fisher (a journalist) and Victor "Sully" Sullivan (his mentor and fellow treasure hunter). They are pursued by pirates led by Eddy Raja and later on by a group of mercenaries led by Gabriel Roman and Atoq Navarro.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
            Drake travels across Nepal and the Himalayas in a search for the lost city of Shambhala. In addition to Elena Fisher and Victor Sullivan, we meet new characters Chloe Frazer (a new love interest who has history with Drake), Harry Flynn (a shifty former partner of Drake's), and Zoran Lazarević, a Serbian war criminal and the game's main antagonist. This game also introduced the multiplayer mode to the series.





Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
            The story focuses on Nate's relationship with his mentor and father figure, Victor "Sully" Sullivan. Here he is searching for a legendary lost city that leads him to the Arabian Peninsula and the vast wasteland of the Rub' al Khali Desert, also known as the Empty Quarter (also known as “Iram of the Pillars” and the “Atlantis of the Sands”). Elena Fisher and Chloe Frazer feature again but with smaller roles, and the game introduces new characters such as Charlie Cutter and Salim, Nate's newest allies, and Katherine Marlowe, Talbot and Ramesses who serve as the game's main antagonists.

The series also includes Uncharted: Golden Abyss (for PS Vita); Uncharted: Fight for Fortune (an "action-adventure turn-based card game" for PS Vita); Uncharted: Drake’s Trail (now defunct online web game from 2007); Uncharted: Eye of Indra (a 4 part adventure series); Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (motion comic); Uncharted: Drake’s Journal – Inside the making of Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (a behind-the-scenes book featuring motion capture); Uncharted: The Fourth Labyrinth (a novel). A comic book series and a movie are also in the works.
 

The All New DLC Pack (Revolution) for Black Ops 2

 

Hello All, Hope you had a very happy New Year. The last week of the holidays and the first week back to school was very busy, so I had to neglect my blog. Sorry.

Now back to the blog. There is an all new Call of Duty Black Ops 2 Revolution DLC map pack coming out on January 29th, first on Xbox 360. It has 4 new multiplayer maps, "Hydro", "Grind", "Downhill" and "Mirage" a new map called "Die Rise" and game mode called "Turned" for zombies and a brand new weapon called "The Peacekeeper" for multiplayer as well. Seasons Pass holders who buy this map pack will receive a free calling card in multiplayer mode. I have attached a video below for those who are interested. It provides a good review of this pack. I would probably wait for a while before getting this. How about you guys?  Will anyone buy this as soon as it comes out? Please post your comments.

  

The New Wii Mini - Lower Price but Less Functions?

Merry Christmas everybody! I hope all of you got all the games and gadgets you wished for.

Nintendo came up with the new Wii Mini in time for Christmas hoping that the new low price of $99 would attract new customers. However they took out the online functionality of this unit. Nintendo believes that most gamers do not use the online function. I for one would rather pay the extra $50 and buy the regular Wii because it can be used as a device to watch Netflix online.

How do you feel about this unit?  Would you buy the Wii Mini for the lower price or prefer the regular Wii at the higher price, but with online capabilities? Oh, by the way this unit is available only in Canada!    

For more information: 
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-57554664-235/surprise-nintendos-got-a-$100-wii-mini-for-canada/
 

WonderBook - The latest addition to PS3 Accessories

Wonderbook is an augmented reality book designed for the Playstation 3 console and it is now available for sale. The user holds a physical book-like object and stories come to life as the software displays digital content on the screen using the PlayStation Eye camera.

The first game to utilize the Wonderbook is “The Book of Spells” based on Harry Potter and designed by Sony in collaboration with J. K. Rowling.

Sony's Worldwide Studios also announced that they are working with BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs and Disney on upcoming titles.

My sister, aged 7 really enjoyed this game and I think Harry Potter fans will love this.

If you have played this game or have any comments, please feel free to write.    

Call of Duty - Black Ops II...The Action Continues!

Call of Duty Black Ops II

Now that Halloween and the Remembrance Day are over I want to go back to my favourite topic… Video Games!

Last week we saw the release of the latest installment in one of the most successful video game franchises ever, Call of Duty.

I was fortunate enough to get my copy on the weekend and played it mostly in the multiplayer mode. I too experienced some freezing that many players have commented online. Other than that I think this is an awesome addition to my favourite franchise.

It’s currently priced at $59.99 at most dealers but Toys-R-Us has a sale where you can save 15% if you buy one game or 20% and 25% if you buy two or three games respectively.

Do you enjoy playing Black Ops II? If so please write in your comments.   

Leonard Birchall - The Saviour of Ceylon

 Air Commodore L.J.Birchall CM, OBE, DFC, OOnt, CD

I want to end my series of Remembrance Day related posts with one dedicated to Len Birchall, a Canadian airman who came to be known as the Saviour of Ceylon.

Birchall                                                           (CFpilots.com)

On 4 April 1942, only two days after arriving in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) Squadron Leader Leonard Birchall, a native of St. Catharines, Ontario, was flying a PBY Catalina flying boat, patrolling over the Indian ocean off the south of Ceylon. Eight hours into the mission, as he and his crew were about to return to base, ships were spotted on the horizon. Investigation revealed a large Japanese fleet, including five aircraft carriers, heading for Ceylon, which at that time was the base for the Royal Navy’s Eastern Fleet.  Birchall’s crew managed to send out a radio message to Ceylon, but the Catalina was soon shot down by six Japanese Zero fighters from the carrier Hiryu. In spite of the warning, the Easter Sunday Raid went ahead, but the British fleet had largely withdrawn to a secret base in Addu Atoll.  Three of his crewmen were killed in the action and the others, including Birchall, spent the rest of the war as prisoners of war. Birchall was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his part in warning Ceylon of the impending Japanese raid.  He was also appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for the role he played as a senior officer in the POW camp, standing up to the brutality of the Japanese guards.

For more details about Birchall, please visit the following sites:

 http://wartimehouses.com/the-homefront/the-armed-forces/air-commodore-leonard-birchall/

 http://www.thestar.com/news/obituary/atog/article/107924--leonard-birchall-89-canadian-war-hero

 http://canadiansrilankanpartnerships.wordpress.com/2012/08/15/leonard-birchall-the-saviour-of-ceylon/

Birchall’s medals are on display at the RCAF Museum in Trenton, Ontario.

For Outstanding Ability and Devotion to Duty

 

Rohan Amerasekera DFC*

Air Vice Marshal Ekanayake Edward (Rohan) Amerasekera DFC and Bar (RCyAF)

Today being Remembrance Day, I want to write about another Amerasekera who had served in World War 2.

Ekanayake Edward Rohan Amerasekera was among the first batch of volunteers from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to join the Royal Air Force (RAF). He served with distinction as a Navigator in the RAF Bomber Command, taking part in 52 operations over enemy territory, mostly over Germany.  My dad has written a lengthy article about him on his website which you can find here:

Rohan Amerasekera was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) twice.

The DFC Citation states "This officer has displayed a high degree of courage and determination in navigating his aircraft to the target and back, often under great difficulties. In November 1943 whilst on a flight to a distant target, the oxygen supply failed early in the sortie. P/O. Amerasekera, though suffering from lack of oxygen and extreme cold continued his duties and the mission was successfully completed. This officer has proved himself to be a navigator of outstanding ability."



DFC and BAR

The Citation to the Bar to the DFC states: "This officer has completed his second tour of operational duty. In December 1944, whilst on route to Essen, his aircraft was engaged by searchlights and heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered causing severe damage to the aircraft. Despite the fact that shell splinters penetrated his compartment, F/O. Amerasekera took evasive action and completed his allotted task. His other targets have included the Ruhr Valley, Chemnitz and Hanover. On all occasions, F/O. Amerasekera has set a fine example by his tenacity and devotion to duty."

Jeeves' crew

After the war, he returned to Ceylon and joined the Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF) at its inception in 1951. He had the distinction of becoming the first Ceylonese to command the RCyAF, with the rank of Air Vice Marshal.

Rohan Amerasekera’s medals are as follows:

Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar, 1939-45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star with France & Germany bar, War Medal, Defence Medal, Coronation Medal of Queen Elizabeth II, The Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal and the Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal.

My Grandfather's War Service

 



2nd Lt. D.C.O.T. Ameresekere

This month, where Remembrance Day falls, I thought I’ll write about my grandfather, D.C.O.T. Ameresekere, who served as a young soldier during World War 2.  He had joined the Ceylon Garrison Artillery (CGA) as a Gunner before the war (in 1938) and served throughout the war, rising through the ranks to be commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant in 1945.  The Ceylon Garrison Artillery was part of the Ceylon Defence Force and saw action when the Japanese attacked Ceylon on Easter Sunday 1942. 

He had enlisted in the 1st Coast Regt. CGA (Regt.No. 1763) as a Gunner on 1 Oct 1938. He was mobilised for War Service on 2 Sept 1939 and was appointed Acting Lance Bombardier on 6 June 1942; Lance Bombardier on 26 March 1943; Temporary Bombardier on 1 Nov 1944 and Bombardier on 1 Feb 1945.

He was commissioned in the CGA as a 2^nd Lieutenant (#987) on 28 Oct 1945. He was awarded the Efficiency Medal [Ceylon] on 20 Aug 1948, the War Medal and the Defence Medal. He was posted to the Reserve on 1 Oct 1948 and resigned his commission on 22 Feb 1951.

 
He was also very active in the Boy Scouts movement, St John’s Ambulance Brigade and the Lion’s Club, both in Sri Lanka and here in Canada.

You can find full details about him on my Dad’s website at: www.ceylonmedals.com/dcot.htm

Unfortunately, I never met my grandfather as he passed away a few days before I was born.



CGA Badge                        [MilitaryBadgeCollection.com]

  




Remembrance Day - Lest We Forget

  Since it is November, I thought I will write about Remembrance Day which is also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day. It is observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the soldiers, sailors and airmen who have died in the line of duty.

Remembrance Day is observed on November 11^th to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month," in accordance with the Armistice.

John McCrae

We are studying about the Great War in our History class this semester so I am a bit more familiar about it than before. The Great War was called the War to end all wars, but that didn’t happen and about 20 years later, in 1939, the world was at war again.

The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields" written by the Canadian poet, physician, artist, author and soldier John McCrae. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.

 

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has an excellent website www.cwgc.org where you can search and find details about men and women who died in the service of Britain and the Commonwealth in the two world wars.

Do you have any relatives that fought in the two World Wars?  Please feel free to write your comments.
 

Disney buys Lucasfilm - Good news for Star Wars Fans?

Last week it was announced that Disney was buying Lucasfilm for $4 billion, adding the legendary Star Wars franchise to the entertainment giant's stable of characters. With the sale of Lucasfilm which is 100% owned by founder George Lucas, he will receive 40 million Disney shares from the deal and will be the second-largest non-institutional shareholder of Disney. The 68-year-old Lucas will serve as a creative consultant but plans to retire.

In this publicity photo released by Disney, CEO Robert Iger, left, and George Lucas of Lucasfilm sign the deal Tuesday letting Disney acquire the "Star Wars" studio for about $4 billion.(Photo: Rick Rowell, AP)

 
What does this do for Star Wars fans like me?  Disney plans to make more Star Wars movies, which is good news.  But will they remain true to Lucas' vision?  We'll have to wait and see.

Assassin's Creed III - The Saga Continues...

Today I want to write about the latest installment in the Assassin's Creed franchise which was released on October 30th, 2012. Assassin's Creed III is set during the American Revolution in the late 18th century and it introduces a new main character, Connor Kenway, birth name Ratohnhaké:ton, who is the new voice for justice in the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars.The advertisements and videos for this game looks awesome. I will definitely get this but first I have to get the other games in this franchise, namely Assassin's Creed - Brotherhood and Assassin's Creed - Revelations. I have already played Assassin's Creed I and II and really enjoyed them. This game is also available bundled with the new 50 GB Playstation 3 Console.  See details below including an excellent review.

Are you a fan of this franchise? If so, which games do you own and what was your favourite game?

These games are like flashbacks of  Desmond Miles' ancestors, which reminds me of a posting done about Deja vu by my friend Carlos on his blog "Life is Golden". He writes some very interesting and thought provoking posts and had included one on Slender Man / Halloween. Please visit his blog at    www.awesomewayoflife.blogspot.com.    

Happy Hallowe'en from: Slender Man

Happy Hallowe'en Everyone!

Hope all of you are having a great time today. Great costumes, yummy candy and lots of fun!

I made a Slender Man costume to wear to my school today. It came out very well. I have attached a photo below

How was your costume? Was it home-made or store bought? Please post your comments.
Hope you all have a great evening!

A Visit to the RCAF Museum –Trenton, Ontario

Handley Page Halifax

 Last summer my family and I have visited the Royal Canadian Air Force Museum in Trenton, Ontario. My dad wanted to see the restored Halifax bomber plane. This Halifax was recovered in a Fiord in Norway and was restored in Trenton. My dad had visited the restoration in 1997 and wanted to see it fully restored. He was interested in the Halifax because his relative Rohan Amerasekera had flown as a navigator with the RAF in one of them during WW2 (more on that later, in another post). We also saw lots of different kinds of aircraft from the Second World War and the Cold War eras. I really liked checking out the Spitfire and the Hurricane, which were the most famous aircraft of the Battle of Britain.

 The museum was fun to visit and my dad also took photos of the medals belonging to the Canadian pilot, Len Birchall, who was known as the Saviour of Ceylon, which will make an interesting story for another post.  With Remembrance Day coming up in November, I will do some posts on these people and about my grandfather.

Here`s a video I took of the Halifax aircraft:

Hawker Hurricane

Supermarine Spitfire

Have any of you visited the RCAF Museum in Trenton or the Aviation Museum in Ottawa?  Did you enjoy it?  Do you have a favourite aircraft or a story about one?  Please post your comments.