I have attached some of my grandads photographs. Grandad probably gave me these around 25 years ago, as a pre teen I was more fascinated with the photographs rather than the stories behind them, later when I moved back to the area and had the opportunity to ask him about them his memory had faded and his failure to recollect events from this time frustrated him.
From his photographs and snippets of what the remaining family know I have managed to identify that he served with 40 Squadron RAF (Wellingtons) in the armoury. As a child I was always told that he made sure the bombs went off when they were meant to! Chronologically the first photos are from a voyage to Malta in 1941, (he was born in July 1922 so he would have been 19 at the time). There are a collection of photographs of aircraft, personnel and miscellaneous items through the war with locations and dates starting on the voyage to Malta, then Malta, North Africa and Italy. Especially Wellingtons including some destroyed examples. If there is interest I can post some more of his collection.
On with the photos, I have no idea which aircraft this is of so would appreciate any suggestions, the caption on the back of this one is Second World War, not very helpful I know.
The second one is “Winnie, Egypt, August 1942” looks like location is Abousuria s/n of the aircraft could be EW989
The final two were taken at LG.104 in November 1942, I am not too familiar with gliders and the captions on the back fail to give much detail apart from location and date.
thanks for your time,
Bert
By: Donnie - 22nd May 2013 at 14:19
Bert,
That is certainly the correct date and place! I’m excited to see the other pic of the plane. Is there any chance you could send me some high res copies as there is a high chance my uncle is there.
All the best, josh
By: SRH - 22nd May 2013 at 11:12
Hi Josh,
I sent a PM to Dave yesterday about this, the Photograph has Shaluffa 1942 written on the back. I also have a scond photograph of what is probably the same aircraft from the front three quarters view. So you see some more faces in this one. The prints are quire small at 3.5 inch by 2.5 inchs
Does this date and location fit in with you uncle?
Bert
By: Donnie - 21st May 2013 at 20:15
Hi Dave,
Josh here!
Bert, me and Dave know each other as our uncles served in the same crew during the war. So as with Daves, my uncle also flew in this aircraft and could well be in the photo. Thanks for posting, I await any information with interest.
Josh
By: SRH - 20th May 2013 at 12:33
Hi Dave,
I have some deadlines to get done for today but will have a look tomorrow at the prints to see if there is any more information I can find out
If you pm me your address I will be happy to send a scanned copy of the print over to you, it would be incredible if it was your uncle. The collection came from my grandad who servedwith the Royal air force in North Africa and Italy
best wishes bert
By: DAVE BERTRAN - 20th May 2013 at 12:23
Bert. Plane was HX366
By: DAVE BERTRAN - 20th May 2013 at 12:13
Bert. My uncle Ross Bertran with 38sq flew this plane several times in 1942. He latter went missing with 221sq out of Malta. This may be him in the pic. Was anything written on the back of pic. Also where did you get it. I would like to get a high resolution copy. Any help you can provide would be appreciated. Thanks. David Ross Bertran
By: longshot - 29th January 2012 at 18:33
Thev IWM have a pic of Churchill arriving at AHQ in Egypt with Tedder and Coningham in Lodestar EW992 which they call a Hudson
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205208946
By: Peter D Evans - 28th January 2012 at 21:24
Fantastic set of images again Bert… many thanks for sharing them with us 🙂
Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator
By: ian_ - 28th January 2012 at 20:29
Thanks for taking the trouble to post, interesting images. Particularly the ring and bead sight on the Baltimore.
By: D1566 - 28th January 2012 at 20:25
Cracking pics, thanks. 🙂
By: kev35 - 28th January 2012 at 20:23
Your Beaufort is a Baltimore.
Regards,
kev35
By: longshot - 28th January 2012 at 20:21
SRH….#3 and#4 are Martin Baltimores …..they look more like official photos than amateur ones….thanks again
By: SRH - 28th January 2012 at 20:11
thankyou for so many informative replies especially providing some references as well
The Caproni 311 is a lovely looking aircraft, I think the twin on the left is a Wellington, Pagen thanks for thePathe link i will have a look at this and see it if I can spot him, I have some contemporary photos of him in uniform so I have an idea of what he may look like.
I must admit I thought Hudson as well, but happy to be directed the right way on this one as well
The Gotha 242 intreagues me as well to the manner in which it has been dug in, it does look like an entrance to the front. Unfortunately no markings at all that I can find looking through a loupe on the original so no idea if it did end up in the Uk, I have attached some views of the 109’s that I assume are in the background, the caption indicates that these were taken at LG.104
longshot, I cannot find any reference to BAw on any of the Wellingtons i’m afraid
Don thanks for the corect spelling, I have trouble reading the writing and I guess he may have been writing it phonetically but interesting that the station is still used by the Egyptian Forces
I attach a couple of more photos that I hope have some interest, a couple of 109’s from LG.104,
I think that this is a Beaufort but the intake above the engine looks enlarged, was this a Desert modification? The first two letters of the Serial looks like they have been stencilled ontop of a repainted square?
Finally a Wellington of 38 Squadron, HX366 “Godamit”
thanks,
Bert
By: DaveF68 - 28th January 2012 at 14:22
Nice pic of the Caproni, there are a few about but that’s the first I recall showing the undersaide so clearly.
I wonder if the Gotha is the example that was given the serial ‘SL538’ and it’s structure examined at the RAE (Report EA43/2) in July 1943?
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January 27, 2012 at 8:32 pm