I have a list of the pilots and Spitfires that took part in Operation Spotter, on 7 March 1942, can anyone confirm which pilot flew which aircraft to Malta ?
Also does anyone have any photographs of the Spitfires on HMS Eagle ?
Thanks
By: EN830 - 30th December 2004 at 08:20
I found what I was looking for, Sim flew AB332 from Eagle, this aircraft survived in Malta until 18 October when is was lost with it’s Canadian pilot with 126 Sqn.
By: Dave Homewood - 29th December 2004 at 23:30
Dave – presumably the other book that you refer to is ‘Malta Spitfire’ by George (known as ‘Buzz’ or ‘Screwball’) Beurling?
No, not that one. Sorry, I got a little muddled with the title late last night. It is called “Hess: a Kiwi Malta Ace Story” by James Sutherland (Christchurch [N.Z.] : Regal Books, 2000. ISBN : 0473068605 (pbk.))
The subject is RNZAF pilot Raymond Brown Hesselyn (1921 – 1963), who was known to all as Hess.
Hess was one of the pilots that took part in Operation Spotter. See more on him here
http://www.nzfpm.co.nz/aces/hessely.htm
By: EN830 - 29th December 2004 at 20:46
Hi Mike
I have Malta the Spitfire Year and Aces High, I don’t have Spitfires over Sicily.
I’m trying to find the my paper work on Simm, I have a great filing system, NOT
By: Kye - 29th December 2004 at 17:57
The book ‘Fortress Malta’ might shed some light for you as it focus a bit on the ops the Eagle did before it sadly sunk
By: Dave Homewood - 29th December 2004 at 13:57
Ian, I can’t recall if I checked this book when you asked me to look into Robert Simm, but perhaps “Spitfire: The New Zealand Story” by Gerald S. Morris will reveal which Spitfire Simm flew off the ship. It has just that sort of detail in the book.
I don’t have a copy – does anyone here have the book? Mark12?
Also, Ian, did you track down a copy of that “Malta Spitfire Ace” book I told you about. I forget the author’s name offhand, but he flew with Simm in Malta. It may reveal something.
By: EN830 - 29th December 2004 at 13:14
Thanks Swiss Mustang and Dave.
My interest is in New Zealander Sgt Robert J Simm who flew one of the aircraft, and also William Raoul Daddo-Langlois who was of Channel Island extraction and flew with 249 Sqd during the battle of Malta.
By: Swiss Mustangs - 29th December 2004 at 13:04
…and for comparison, Spitfire taking off from USS Wasp – note the different flight-deck – a good recognition aid
Martin
By: Swiss Mustangs - 29th December 2004 at 12:59
Here’s a photo
source:
http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Malta%20WWII/Spitfire.htm
Martin
By: Dave Homewood - 29th December 2004 at 12:55
Hi Ian,
Not the same date I’m afraid, but the same ship and circumstances – but perhaps this may be of interest…
Clarence Lloyd Kelly, RNZAF (of Cambridge, NZ, known to all as Lloyd) embarked on aircraft carrier HMS Eagle with No. 1235 Squadron.
On the 21st of July 1942 he made a 2 hour, 45 minute flight in Spitfire VB (EP260) from Eagle to Luqa, in Malta. In his log book Lloyd noted, “Got off carrier successfully. Good trip. Established record for trip”.
Lloyd flew Spitfire VB EP201 on two ops from the Island, and two more in a Spit thats serial was EP336 it seems. He was killed on that last op on the 8th of August 1942
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December 29, 2004 at 12:43 pm