A handful of 609 Squadron photos

Spitfire PR-E at Catterick, 1940.
Sydney Hill and Frank Howell with part of a Ju.88 fin – 609’s 100th kill, Warmwell 1940.
The groundcrew with the same fin, Warmwell 1940.
Tommy Rigler DFM showing trhe mess a 20mm makes when fired from a Me109E. Mind you, he made a mess of 3 during that fight. Biggin Hill June 1941.
Spitfire taxying in Biggin Hill 1941.

Hi Snapper

Do you have the original of the photo of Frank and Sydney with the 100th kill? I only have the one if DM Crook’s book ‘Spitfire pilot’ so it would be good to have a copy of the acual photo. I have also never seen the photo of the ground crew with it – interesting to see it does not have the names on it, so maybe it was the ‘first’ photo before Frank and Sydney got their names on it! It would be good to have that too.
My cousin Jeniffer ( Frank’s daughter) has spent a long and fruitless search for the original and had never traced it – any clues, anyone??? Someone must have it in a loft, garage, etc!!!
There is a photo of the mascot on the mess wall, at Warmwell. Quite dark, but no denying it is the souvenier!

Chris Howell

Hello,
and also Luc Javaux (ex BoB),KIA 18/10/1943 at Ranchi INDIA.
Ettrick 40

Belgian Pilot Flying in the Far East

Hello Snapper,

Christian Ortmans was not the only Belgian Pilot to fight in the Far East. F/Lt Zeger VAN RIEL, DFC flew also there. Unfortunatly he died onboard his Mosquito when his plane crashed at Mauripur Sind airfield, India, 7 November 1943.

Best Regards,

Serge

Absolutely brilliant Snapper , keep this thread 🙂 going as long as you have photos to post , well done mate.

ouch !

does PR-U mean “Prang Research Unit” ?

hmmmmm…
Martin

… 🙂

RAF 0 Bicycle 1 😀

“Still a bit late on the round-out Hoskins”

… 🙂

Snapper,

I just want to echo what has been said already, and mention that these are some absolutely cracking photos. This doesn’t surprise me of course – that Turbinlight photo you sent me is still one of my favourites – but I’m grateful to you for taking the time and effort to post such a fascinating selection of 609 Sqn images. With everything from refuelling, to maintenance, to crashes, there’s certainly something for everyone, even the Spitfire fanatics. 😉

Just as an aside. Ensign G-ADSR made a dead stick landing at RAF Bicester on 8th March 1938 whilst on her 5th test flight. Reason being poorly labeled fuel cocks.
Snapper absolutely fantastic set of pictures.
Thanks
OAW

G-ADSR, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y and Z were all AW.27 Ensigns

I think the “York” is actually an Armstrong Whitworth Ensign

I think you’re right. It’s certainly not a York.

I think the “York” is actually an Armstrong Whitworth Ensign

TOP!.
I just addore that goat Billy! 😀

I hope you don’t give up quickly Snapper. I know 1500 photos are a lot to post. But I think many of us love to see such a daily life pics from that period.

Thanks again.

J.V.

Airmen with a Fairey Battle. Yeadon 1938?
Billy with Tiffy. Thorney Island 1944.
Avro York at Yeadon.

I say Ma’am…
Nijmegen, 1944?
White Horse Whisky Truck. Requisitioned. Northolt 1940.
JC Quinnell inspecting the airmen, Yeadon 1938 or so.
Pilots and Hind, Yeadon 1938?

Somewhere in Europe, 1944
Archibald Sinclair (Sec of State for Air) “Have you returned from an operation?” ‘Cheval’ “No sir, I was visiting a friend”. Manston 1943.
Tom Leslie and Roy Payne playing cards outside Dispersal, Manston 1943. Leslie was killed later.
William and Johnny Wells.
Jimmy Stewart DFC’s parking, Manston 1943. (Please don’t mention at Legends!)

There’s around 1500 or so. But I do have to sleep sometimes…

That’s all for now folks, ta very much.

For now? Is there still more to come? 😉 Seems like you enjoyed posting those nice pics here.

Also a Thank you for Snapper!

J.V.

Refuelling. Drem perhaps?
The Scylla at Drem. Tie down anyone?
Jock Shillito – Blenheim pilot – with paul Richey
Jean Offenberg and friends. Digby, 1941
Moose Evans disputes territorial rights for bathing at Ashby Hall, Digby. It was winter.

That’s all for now folks, ta very much. I needed to post them as someone needed to see them, but couldn’t handle them by email. Rather than post them on my site I figured I’d give you lot the opportunity too. Glad you’re liking them – there’s around 400 in ‘609 at War’. A little bird tells me that there might be some at Legends on the AABAV stand…..

In the Mess at Biggin
Pilots and mascots, at Biggin again
Two brothers in the same squadron. The Ortmans – Vikki and Christian. Vicki was shot down and captured. Christian thought he was dead. Christioan, as wingman to Paul Richey was the only Belgian to fly in the Far East. He was shot down, baled out, and is believed to have been shot in his harness by paratroops. Probably Biggin
A proper aircraft, at Chievres in 1944
The airmens barracks at Drem, 1940