Evening all. I’m a visitor from the commercial forum needing help over here.
My father was a pilot during WW2 (initially Hurricanes, then Spits and finally Meatboxes with the auxiliary until his squadron was disbanded). I have just inherited nearly 100 quality photos he took during the war and post-war years of his military service and need some help in identifying the circumstances. Is it acceptable for me to post these scanned images here? Unfortunately I seem to be having difficulty posting pics at the mo but would like to start when things are back to normal.
By: grounded - 7th March 2005 at 22:10
Wow, someone sure started something here. I am new to this site and my navigation is a bit hairy, however I am going to try posting an unusual view of a Spitfire.
By: IndianaTony - 7th March 2005 at 13:09
Hi Ian,
Good to see another 615VGS old boy around. 😀
I think the Spitties line abreast is actually Kenley , remember the dip? Also, those trees on the boundary look very familiar. I think we’re looking from the old contol tower end, down towards Whyteleafe Common , so Hayes Lane is on the left as we look at the photo, and the Officers mess is out of shot on the right.
The second photo I think , is the revetment farm on the Hayes lane side (Near the current crash gate and observatory. The Spitfire parked furthest from the camera , is in the “1940 strafing” spot. If you look closely at the photo, you can see the rising ground in the far distance, of the other side of the valley.
Isn’t the house just off Whyteleafe Hill?
Anyway, thanks for posting , real blast from the past there 🙂
By: grounded - 3rd March 2005 at 23:29
Wonderful to see those mark 24s having serviced them for two and a half years with 8o squadron.
By: Steve Touchdown - 24th February 2005 at 12:27
My first reaction to the location of ‘post 25 image no 1’ was that this was Kenley.
Well Germany maybe, I am open minded – it was 47 years since I was last at Kenley.
Having just had a peek at some of the ‘Reach for the Sky’ Kenley material I have on file, those revetments, runway and wooded background all look mighty similar.
Mark
Mark/All,
for what it’s worth my hunch for the location of a couple of these excellent shots is Biggin too, as Leornato said someway up the thread. I know the view that you’re thinking of for the shot in post 25, but you’d be able to see the officers’ mess in the background if that were Kenley. If you can make out the small blister hangar in the treeline, I’m pretty sure that survived for a number of years post-war, or another, similar structure took its place in the same spot. The wood it’s tucked into is called Cudham Lodge.
I think the two shots below were probably taken from roughly the same vicinity at Biggin: looking almost due East across runway 11/29 with the dip in the first also being a big clue for anyone that’s used it!
My best guess for a rough location of the photographer for the two shots below is indicated by the orange arrow on the online map at:
Lastly, the house is vaguely familiar to me. If it’s not in Golf Road (just off the perimeter at Kenley), then there’s one very much like it there. I’ll try to remember to take a look next time I’m up there: could be at the weekend if the snow’s still here!
Anyway, great set of photos so thank to you and Wysiwyg for providing them on here.
Steve
Reason for edit: Map link added.
By: Maple 01 - 24th February 2005 at 11:16
Blimey – some of those pilots are wearing the pilot 2/3 rank patchs! Not something you see every day
By: DJ Jay - 24th February 2005 at 05:44
Amazing Photos
The one of the formation is now my desktop wallpaper!
Jay
By: VoyTech - 22nd February 2005 at 13:23
Pic 8 of the last lot – that’s dad still wearing his flying gear just beyond the officer inspecting!
A huge thank you to Mark12 for posting these photos for me. i spoke to dad this evening, unfortunately he really can’t remember a great deal however I shall show him this thread again and hopefully that will trigger the grey cells. My mum has found more pictures in the attic which I am due to collect next tuesday. Apparantly there are also some items (photos?) from my dad’s uncle (RN) who was lost in the Battle of Jutland (Great War)!
Just got back to the forum after a couple days and of course I started with this thread. Still as good as the first time!
wysiwywg, please come back with any photos your parents find in the attic or elsewhere.
By: wysiwyg - 17th February 2005 at 22:05
Pic 8 of the last lot – that’s dad still wearing his flying gear just beyond the officer inspecting!
A huge thank you to Mark12 for posting these photos for me. i spoke to dad this evening, unfortunately he really can’t remember a great deal however I shall show him this thread again and hopefully that will trigger the grey cells. My mum has found more pictures in the attic which I am due to collect next tuesday. Apparantly there are also some items (photos?) from my dad’s uncle (RN) who was lost in the Battle of Jutland (Great War)!
By: DazDaMan - 17th February 2005 at 22:01
Great stuff. Pity that black blob (whatever it is) is in the last shot, as that surely would have been a stunning image.
Even with their new wing shape and bigger tail surfaces, you can still tell it’s a Spit from a mile off! 🙂
By: Mark12 - 17th February 2005 at 20:17
…and the final batch for the time being.
Mark
By: Auster Fan - 17th February 2005 at 15:34
Sorry, I am a bit late reading this thread. These are an absolute delight to see and I agree with all the comments that have gone before. The post-war period during the late 40s/early 50s is one of my favourite RAF periods. Quite wonderful! More please, more!
By: WebPilot - 17th February 2005 at 14:09
In the last batch:
pic 3 – I have no idea what the significance of this building is. Any ideas?
.
There is a squadron crest on the window ledge by the Front door – so probably it was used as a squadron HQ – most auxiliary squadrons had a venue they used, often off base.
By: wysiwyg - 17th February 2005 at 14:05
In the last batch:
pic 1 – Dad is third from right, front row
pic 2 – second from right, back row
pic 3 – I have no idea what the significance of this building is. Any ideas?
I think Mark12 is posting the final 10 this evening. I believe there may be many more to come soon.
By: DazDaMan - 17th February 2005 at 12:41
A little off-topic, but it’s interesting to see the Spitfire XVI in that shot has later-style roundels. I always assumed the aircraft in the film wore the correct (for the period) red-blue roundels. I don’t think the aircraft in the film are seen close enough, though.
By: Mark12 - 17th February 2005 at 12:38
[QUOTE=WebPilot]
I’m not sure now…Some looks very like Kenley (though 615 were based at Biggin post war), others don’t…
So…..maybe these were taken at a variety of locations.
I am sure these are a ‘collection’ and not all from one photo shoot.
I was specifically referring to the ‘German shot’ being at Kenley.
My judgement would be a combination of Biggin and nearby Kenley
Attached a shot from Kenley during filming of Reach for the Sky.
Mark
By: WebPilot - 17th February 2005 at 12:23
[QUOTE=Mark12]
Fantastic stuff. I’m guessing the airfield is in Germany what with that combination of forest and hangar/shelter.
My first reaction to the location of ‘post 25 image no 1’ was that this was Kenley.
Well Germany maybe, I am open minded – it was 47 years since I was last at Kenley.
Having just had a peek at some of the ‘Reach for the Sky’ Kenley material I have on file, those revetments, runway and wooded background all look mighty similar.
Mark
I’m not sure now…Some looks very like Kenley (though 615 were based at Biggin post war), others don’t…
So…..maybe these were taken at a variety of locations.
By: VoyTech - 17th February 2005 at 12:15
This is close to being one of the best threads we’ve ever had.
Quite!
By: Mark12 - 17th February 2005 at 12:04
[QUOTE=DamienB]Fantastic stuff. I’m guessing the airfield is in Germany what with that combination of forest and hangar/shelter.
My first reaction to the location of ‘post 25 image no 1’ was that this was Kenley.
Well Germany maybe, I am open minded – it was 47 years since I was last at Kenley.
Having just had a peek at some of the ‘Reach for the Sky’ Kenley material I have on file, those revetments, runway and wooded background all look mighty similar.
Mark
By: DazDaMan - 17th February 2005 at 11:12
How many more pics are we getting?? 🙂
By: Andy in Beds - 17th February 2005 at 11:07
This is close to being one of the best threads we’ve ever had.
The last group are superb.
Thanks again
Andy.
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February 11, 2005 at 9:07 pm