I have been lucky enough to speak to a BoB veteran (groundcrew) on several occasions. He was on 615 (aux) squadron, based out in France then made his way back across (not via Dunkirk) to England. He was then at Kenley, before getting posted to Montrose (not sure which squadron). He kept a diary all the way through the war and I was wondering if there are any other groundcrew accounts of life on a fighter squadron during Battle of France/Battle of Britain? I think he should maybe look at getting his account published.
One interesting, albeit gruesome, recollection was having a drive out to look at a Dornier 17 which had been shot down during an attack on Kenley and crashed not far from the airfield. His enduring memory is that the charred corpses of the crew looked tiny, because they’d shrunk in the fire. The way he recounted this was incredibly matter of fact, quite shocking really.
Bob
By: mantog - 17th November 2010 at 21:39
I printed off the pictures and showed him tonight but sadly he didn’t really recognize them, his eyesight isn’t very good at all, although he did spot the KW ;). He was with 615 from just before the war (I think) through to December 1940…when were these pilots with the squadron?
By: Thunderbird167 - 17th November 2010 at 17:25
I have the diary of a 607 squadron member from the Battle of France period.
I also have a typed up account from another groundcrew member from 607 squadron who was in France. This was given to me when he attended his first reunion at the age of 82. He was very grateful that I was interested to listen to his story, as he was only 18 at the time of joining the squadron. He was also very pleased when the following day he was able to introduce me to his son and after many years was able to have it confirmed that he was not just telling war stories and that the events he witnessed were true.
I regret that I did not spend more time recording the recollections of others when they were alive.
I would urge you to encourage your contact to make at least an audio record of his experiences if he can not committ them to paper. First hand accounts from the Battle of France are quite rare.
By: mantog - 17th November 2010 at 16:55
I’ll print em off and ask him if he recognizes them!
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th November 2010 at 16:30
Can he name these 615 Sqn pilots, I wonder???
I think Gerry Burke put a name to them for me….but I forgot!
Gerry, btw, is quite “into” groundcrew stories, I think?
I expect he will be here soon…..
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November 17, 2010 at 4:03 pm