Can you identify the place and date?

Contact details

PM sent.

Thanks. Does he have an e-mail? The web page does not give anything. Send me a PM if you can.

Jack Collins

Thats a kind thought. I know Jack’s son, Mike, and will drop him a line.

Thanks. I am just looking up the story of Léo de Soomer. He became Belgian Military Attaché in London and died in England very young, in 1956. Jack Collins has a “family” web page, but there are no contact details. Although my photo is folded through him, I thought his family might like a copy.

3 sqn history

Your best published source of 3’s Typhoon era is ‘A View From The Office’ by R.W.Pottinger, who joined the Squadron soon after they received Typhoons. Published 2004, ISBN 0-9546180-0-4.

Thanks Cranswick. I am really pleased to get that information. I know Dad was at Manston, but was not sure of the squadron. He died last Summer so I cannot ask him! He was an AC, instrument fitter. He is just below the propeller to the right of the photo. I shall now check out 3 Sqd history.

3 Squadron

Yes, its is Manston, but 3 Squadron, not 609. The CO is Sqn Ldr L.F.de Soomer (Belg), centre front row in the forage cap. To the right (partly hidden by the crease) is Flt Lt Jack Collins (who later would command 245 Sqn and was KIA in Normandy. To the left of de Soomer is Flt Lt W.A.MacKichan would command 56 Sqn on Tempests in the last months of the war. Time is summer 1943 – possibly August – to mark the occasion of de Soomer leaving the Squadron.

Thanks Mark. I agree. I think it might be 609 Sqd at Manston, but cannot remember what Dad told me! Who is the Sqd Ldr at the front? His face looks familiar but I cannot place him.

Appears to be a Typhoon.

Mark