Sidney Cotton remembered.

Anyone have an update on the Lockheed?
It was recently for sale in Texas and I’ve heard it was sold to someone in Europe.

The Barker book had high recommendation, although I’ve not read it myself. Watson’s bio is more recent, and I think he got to some material that was not available to Barker. I suspect either book would be a good intro, but both would be needed for rounding out more detail.

I wonder did you have much of a look at his papers when you handled them?

A bit, but there’s a lot, and they’re not all ‘papers’; I didn’t request the boxes of aerial photos for instance. I don’t recall anything relating to the visit or period you’re asking about, but I was mainly focussed on his just-post PDU phase, 1940-1.

I may well be in Canberra at the AWM in a month or so; have a search on their catalogue, and if anything looks likely for a closer examination I may be able to do something. They’re all on ‘call’ with limited files able to be drawn at a time and IIRC there’s about 10+ boxes, mostly ‘misc’. I was concentrated on letters and memoranda – some storming arguments with famous names in there!

HTH

[QUOTE=JDK;1767202]IIRC,
Many of his papers are in the Australian War Memorial; I’ve handled them myself, and there are several reasonably reliable accounts of his life and a film; the book and film ‘Last Plane Out of Berlin’ are worth seeking out.

Regards[/QUOTEJ

James,
I wonder did you have much of a look at his papers when you handled them?
On 28 July 1945 he arrived at Collinstown (Dublin Airport) in the Lockheed 12 Bu no 02947 later GATGL flown by Lt Dold also on board were Sgt Hale and a Mr Jonasses. They had dinner with an Irish Senator and left next morning for N Ireland but force landed in Co Mayo, no injuries. Have not succeeded in finding out the object of the visit, am wondering is there any reference to the incident in his papers?
Regards
Tony K

Might I suggest anyone interested in the life of Sidney Cotton should read: “Aviator Extraordinary: the Sidney Cotton story” by Ralph Barker a very good read.

Indeed a ‘great’ in the history of the RAF and the world of photo reconnaisance. If ever the was an aircraft that belonged in the RAFM it should be his Electra Junior.

One of Cotton’s L12 Electra Juniors is currently for sale.
It’s being offered through my friend Simon Kidston:
http://www.kidston.com/kidston-cars/131/1941-Lockheed-Electra-12A

Cheers,
Tim

Indeed a ‘great’ in the history of the RAF and the world of photo reconnaisance. If ever the was an aircraft that belonged in the RAFM it should be his Electra Junior.

My apologies, it was Kesselring! I’ve just checked my copy of LPOOB (Jeffrey Watson, Hodder) and it’s confirmed in there. The airfield commandant and the Maiden Aunt was Rudolph Bottger of Tempelhof, and the aunt that didn’t exist was at Mannheim.

IIRC, it was actually the Commandant of a German airfield aboard, but the story griows in the telling.

Cotton was an amazing man, perhaps best described as a privateer adventurer, and there’s a fair number of great myths about him; however the truth is often more interesting, and can be found, despite the article’s claim.

Many of his papers are in the Australian War Memorial; I’ve handled them myself, and there are several reasonably reliable accounts of his life and a film; the book and film ‘Last Plane Out of Berlin’ are worth seeking out.

Regards