Hi.
My name is Brian Bateman and I am an aviation artist back in the States. I am considering a painting regarding Colin MacFie and his shoot down of a Ju-87 over Dunkirk Harbor in his Spitfire Mk1a on 2/6/40.
Would any one of you have more information regarding MacFie and does anyone have any photographic evidence of the Spit he flew while achieving this kill? Any weather reports would also be welcome regarding this mission.
Any information or first hand accounts along with the markings of his mount is needed.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Below is a blurb of the combat report from a then 19 year old MacFie:
Combat Report P/O C.H.MacFie, B Flight, Green 3 Left Martlesham Heath 0720, Landed Digby 0920
‘I lost the rest of 611 while over Dunkirk and continued to patrol the town 14000’. While on seaward side I observed AA fire out to sea and on approaching ….?…. I spotted 6 Ju87 approaching land with escort of Me109 above them. I attacked rear Ju87 who broke formation and I followed him into billows of smoke …?… Dunkirk. I spotted him again attacking shipping off the town and got him on his pull out, firing long burst dead astern and then a deflection burst when he did climbing turn to right. Range 400-200yds. He continued turn, the nose dipped and he hit the water, breaking up on doing so. At about 0810 I saw Spitfire with no tail spinning into …?…’ (This would be F/O Ralph Crompton – see letter of J.McComb)
Time Attack delivered 08:00 ½ mi off Dunkirk 10000 – Sea Level
Thank you for your time.
You can view my art at http://www.batemangalleryupdate.blogspot.com or http://www.batemangalleries.com.
Thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
Brian
By: gedburke3 - 9th March 2010 at 11:10
Hi Andy,
Thanks for sharing that picture.
It is a great shot, very casual.
All the best
Gerry
By: Andy Mac - 9th March 2010 at 09:54
I’ve uploaded the photo to my wife’s Flickr account where it can be seen by everyone – it really is an atmospheric picture . . .
By: Andy Mac - 9th March 2010 at 09:02
Just found this thread . . . I have a photo of McFie and his groundcrew standing infront of P8651 in the summer sun. I’ll gen-up on posting pics and post it here:D
By: RAF Pilot - 7th May 2009 at 22:45
P/O Colin MacFie
Macfie,
Colin Hamilton
Son of Dr Ronald Bute & Nini Macfie.
Married (1947) Beatrice Mary Hogg (1922-1975); two daughters, one son.
12.06.1920
Cheltenham
–
07.12.1981
Attadale, Strathcarron, Wester Ross
(A) P/O
12.03.1939 [90657]
P/O
27.07.1939
F/O
03.09.1940
(WS) F/Lt.
03.09.1941
F/Lt.
01.07.1946
(T) Sq.Ldr.
01.01.1946, seniority 01.07.1944
Sq.Ldr.
01.01.1952 (retd 18.10.1963; medical unfitness)
DFC
08.08.1941
*
* This flight commander has carried out many operational sweeps over enemy territory. He has at all times displayed efficiency and qualities of leadership which have proved of great value. He has destroyed two and damaged a further three of the enemy’s aircraft.
12.03.1939
first commission Auxiliary Air Foce (General Duties Branch)
12.03.1939
–
(09.1939)
611 (West Lancashire) Squadon RAF
09.1940
–
05.07.1941
“A” Flight Leader, 616 Squadron RAF
[shot down, during “Circus 33” in his Spitfire IIb P8651 QJ-N “St. Helens” which crashed in the village of Pitgam, 15 km south of Dunkirk, France; Macfie baled out safely and was captured, probably in the village of Eringhem]
05.07.1941
–
1945?
prisoner of war in German capitivity
01.07.1946
transferred to RAF (permanent commission)
05.1947
–
11.1949
CO 3 (Fighter) Squadron RAF
Best Regards.
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th May 2009 at 22:03
Dear Brian, Colin Macfie was my father. I believe the Spitfire he flew was called “Spirit of St Helen’s” – that was the one he was shot down in, anyway (the remains of which were discovered a couple of years ago in France). His father was a doctor in Liverpool, hence the name.
My brother has his log books, so if there is anything else we can help with, let me know.
Jennie
Jennie
Without wishing to hi-jack Brian’s thread about his excellent artwork, I was fascinated to read your post.
First, the Spitfire in which your father was shot down was “St Helens” and not “Spirit of St Helens” and carried the serial P8651. He was shot down and POW on 5 July 1941 and baled out to land with a badly sprained ankle. This Spitfire was a gift of the people of St Helens, on raising the sum of £7,222.00 and alloted to 616 Squadron on 28 June 1941 – so not the one that will be depicted in Brians painting. I think it unlikely (although I stand to be corrected) that his earlier Spitfire carried this name.
Currently, I am writing a book with two well known aviation authors (Chris Goss & Norman Franks) on RAF Fighter Command in 1941 and your father will feature therein! So, aside from Brian, I would like to get in contact with you. My e -mail is [email]sndz338@aol.com[/email] Also, would love to know where his Spitfire was found in France and when
I have somewhere some pictures of your father at Tangmere, I think.
By: AV8RART - 7th May 2009 at 21:23
Jennie-
Hello!
What a Godsend! 😀
Thank you for replying and yes, I could use information on your father’s plane on the 2/6/1940.
The person who commissioned the painting and myself have been looking everywhere for his code number on this particular aircraft. We have the unit code FY but need the last digit behind the roundel (national mark).
If his log book has this code I would be most thankful to you both as I need this to be as accurate as I can creating the painting.
Again, thank you for finding this and hopefully you or your brother have something more concrete that can help me from Colin’s logbook.
Must respect and appreciation,:)
Brian
By: J Macfie - 6th May 2009 at 09:01
Colin Macfie
Dear Brian, Colin Macfie was my father. I believe the Spitfire he flew was called “Spirit of St Helen’s” – that was the one he was shot down in, anyway (the remains of which were discovered a couple of years ago in France). His father was a doctor in Liverpool, hence the name.
My brother has his log books, so if there is anything else we can help with, let me know.
Jennie
By: AV8RART - 5th April 2009 at 05:52
Understood. Thank you for your encouragement and I will try the forum mentioned also. I appreciate your kind words regarding my work.
Brian
By: Seafuryfan - 30th March 2009 at 15:05
Hi Brian,
I enjoyed your website, some very evocative paintings there 🙂
Don’t be too dispirited about a lack of response. Sometimes, the resident experts will not be around to browse the forums and will pop on every now and then. You might wany to try a similar forum, Plane Talk, which you find through google.
Regards and all the best for your project,
SFF
By: AV8RART - 30th March 2009 at 00:56
Wellington 285-
Thank you sir! I appreciate the info and this will help solidify the research with a colleague as we are working on the MacFie painting.
I appreciate your kind words regarding my artwork. 😀
By: Wellington285 - 24th March 2009 at 05:46
Hi Brian nice paintings
Got some info for you.
The weather on the day that Colin Macfie shot down the Stuka was sunny with clear blue skies, with little or no cloud cover. If you go to 611 Squadrons website there is a photo of Colin Macfie and a potted history of him, also you can see what the Squadrons code letters were at the time.
The Stuka an Ju87B belonged to 1/StG2 and crewed by Uffz’s W Bierfruend & H Schloffel. was shot down whilst attacking shipping east of Dunkirk and crashed at 0800. This could be the Stuka that Macfie claimed as all the other Stuka losses happened an hour earlier
Hope this helps
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March 20, 2009 at 2:47 am