From my own collection. Not a well known picture, in fact I’m not sure it’s ever been published, but there are enough clues in it to come up with an ID for the Spitfire experts I would think.
extra points for the ID of the Dog, as in name and who he belonged to.
There are a number of fairly well known Spit drivers in the picture as well
Dan
By: Moggy C - 9th June 2003 at 22:48
Are you absolutely sure that’s Balasse?
Looks a lot like George Formby to me.
(This comment possibly fails to cross the Atlantic particularly well)
😉
Moggy
By: Dan Johnson - 9th June 2003 at 18:30
Do I detect the presence of a fellow Spitfire XII fanatic? 🙂
The pilot second from the left is actually Free French F/O Jacques Andrieux who was with 91 Squadron at the time. The rest of the guys on the left are 41 with 91 being on the right. No idea why Jacko was over on the left. The pilot on the far left is F/O Clive “Jumbo” Birbeck who got into the RAF at 16. He claimed a few kills in XIIs and was shot down and made a POW dive bombing sub pens in a Spit IX. He wasn’t really happy about that.
F/S Jimmy Payne is on the far left on the wing. F/L Ian Matthew of 91 Squadron, later 41 Squadron CO is on the prop. 41 Squadron CO Bernard Ingham, Later Tangmere Wing CO is the tall guy just below Matthew’s right leg. I believe its the Station CO next to Ingham’s right. F/L Bruce Moffett RCAF is peeking over the Station Commander’s right shoulder. F/L, Later 41 Squadron Co A. A. “Pinky” Glen is to the right of the Station Commander. The quirky 41 Squadron IO Lord “Gizzy” Gisborough is over Glen’s right shoulder. Not sure who is to the right o Glenn. F/L Dave Fearon is to the right of the guy in the Mae West. Not sure on the next two. F/O Ron Loweth is two to the left of Keith Curtis and I’m not sure who is betwen Curtis and Loweth. Thought it was Tom Slack, but he told me it wasn’t.
I’ll hold off on the Wing Co and the 91 guys for now 🙂
I’ve got photos of Balasse, Van Goens and Refshuage around too. They aren’t in this photo as far as I have been able to determine.
In fact, since I’ve got it on the computer, here’s one of Balasse taken in the fall of 43. F/S Peter Graham is behind him
Dan
By: Mark12 - 9th June 2003 at 17:39
Who is that second from the left? Van Goens, Refshuage or Balasse perhaps.
By: Dan Johnson - 9th June 2003 at 17:19
You are definately on the right track. Peter Cowell is standing fourth from the left between American F/O Herb Wagner and Canadian P/O Keith Curtis.
It’s both 41 & 91 Squadrons BTW
I don’t know the ID on the Spit XII, but if I was a betting man I’d say it’s the WingCo’s aircraft, MB836 RH.
Any ideas on what the occasion might have been for this gathering and where it was taken?
Dan
By: Mark12 - 9th June 2003 at 17:11
Four blade prop. Left hand tractor… Mk XII
41 or 91 Sqd.
I think I can see Peter Cowell so 41 Sqd. then. EB-?
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June 9, 2003 at 4:54 pm