Dear all,
Who can please help find pictures and further information on the following man and his machine.
P.O Geoffrey Hill, 61046, 65 Squadron, Spitfire Mk II P7665:
Hill joined the RAFVR in late 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot (745896) and was called to full-time service on September 1 1939. He was posted to 3 ITW, Hastings in October, went to 11 EFTS for his elementary flying training and then to 6 FTS, Little Rissington to complete it.
In June 1940 Hill joined 65 Squadron at Hornchurch and served with it throughout the Battle of Britain. Commissioned in November 1940, he was shot down over France on February 5 1941 and made PoW.
Hill was flying Spitfire Mk II P7665. presumably shot down by German Ace Walther Oesau. Hill was held at various times in Stalags Luft I, II and III and finished up in Colditz (PoW No 405). Freed in May 1945, he was released from the RAF later in the year, as a Flight Lieutenant He was made an MBE for distinguished service whilst a PoW. Pictures of and further information on this Spitfire, and P.O. Hill are greatly appreciated.
By: Nige GSX1400 - 27th July 2006 at 22:22
Re model of YT-L Spitfire MK II
Off-topic a little, but I seem to recall a model kit with these (or similar) markings doing the rounds a few years ago…
Yep it was Revell. I am just finishing building it. The date is 1982 and judging by the models standard its average for that period.
The Kit No is Revell 4324 in 1/48 scale.
Cheers
Nige
By: DazDaMan - 2nd September 2004 at 13:41
Off-topic a little, but I seem to recall a model kit with these (or similar) markings doing the rounds a few years ago…
By: VoyTech - 2nd September 2004 at 11:17
Bert, I have no idea where the photo originated. This is a decent scan of a passable photographic copy. The print I scanned had no caption. All I know about it is what I can see.
Re. why your photos were in Oesau’s album if he is not in them, nor this Spitfire was shot down by him:
Having seen a number of personal photographic albums of WWII airmen, I find no particular rule. Some photos were in albums because they showed the owner, some were taken by the owner, some showed (girl)friends, relatives or commanders of the owner, some were simply considered interesting/funny/representative enough to be included. Sometimes the only reason to include photos of an apparently unrelated downed enemy plane was “I do not have a photo of the one I shot down, but here are similar shots of the one downed by my mate”.
By: Bert van Dalen - 1st September 2004 at 21:53
Youre probably right Kevin… never thought about that way, and it also explains why i’m seldomly in the family holiday pics… 😀
By: kev35 - 1st September 2004 at 18:24
Bert.
Maybe the pictures were in Oesau’s album because he took the photographs? Just a thought….
Fantastic photos all the same.
Regards,
kev35
By: Bert van Dalen - 1st September 2004 at 18:04
Spitfirne YT-L from Walter Oesaus photo album?
Here are the two pictures of the downed YT-L i have, that are claimed to be from Walter Oesau’s personal album.. However the only one on this picture looking remotely like Oesau is the one with cap looking into the cockpit.
His face though changed dramatically over the years, as happened with so many pilots who endured the strain of combat over several years..
Would be interested to know who the luftwaffe pilots on this picture are..
Luftwaffe claims on february 5th, 1941 in France in the area of St. Omer include:
Lt. Helmut Meckel 2./JG 3 Spitfire Code unknown Time 10 1 km. N.W. St. Omer
Lt. Helmut Meckel 2./JG 3 Spitfire Code unknown Time 11 5 km. N.W. St. Omer
Ofe. Robert Olejnik 2./JG 3 Spitfire Code unknown Time 5 10 km. N.W. St. Omer
Fw. Ernst Heesen 2./JG 3 Spitfire Code unknown Time1 10 km. N.W. St.Omer
Fw. Hans Ehlers 2./JG 3 Spitfire Code unknown Time 5 10 km. N.W. St. Omer
Interestingly not Oesau… so why would a pic like this be in his album?
More open ends to my story..
By: Bert van Dalen - 1st September 2004 at 13:59
Great..
Absotutely fantastic! Thanks Voytech..
I have two more like this, do you know the source??? I don’t but am told mine are copis form Oesaus album sold by fmiliy in the 90’s. But this is without any proof…
Bert
I’ll post a bit later..
By: VoyTech - 1st September 2004 at 11:43
Thanks, this is the one I have as well.. Anymore? 🙂
Yes. That one was before. This is after.
By: Bert van Dalen - 31st August 2004 at 15:27
Thanks, this is the one I have as well.. Anymore? 🙂
By: Swiss Mustangs - 31st August 2004 at 13:41
Hi
this is a photo (from somewhere on the WWW) of what is believed to be P7665 with No. 65 Sqdn.
As per my information, it is a IWM photo.
Regards
Martin / Swiss Mustangs
By: VoyTech - 31st August 2004 at 13:35
P7665 – I am sure I have seen this Spitfire in a photo. I’ll try to find it.
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August 31, 2004 at 11:12 am