Sir Alan Smith passes

Full obituary in today’s DT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/air-force-obituaries/9908401/Sir-Alan-Smith.html

Is that really Bader on the wing of D-B? In shorts??? Not sure it even looks like him!

Why is there not a photo of Alan Smith up there???

The way this is written, Sir Alan gets rather overshadowed in his own obituary – in my opinion…..

I have a childhood memory of Alan Smith turning up on Johnnie Johnson’s “This is Your Life” as his wingman, presumably after Bader had been shot down/collided – can anybody confirm?

The Telegraph website.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9906923/Sir-Douglas-Baders-wingman-Sir-Alan-Smith-dies.html

Sir Alan Smith

You can read more about Westhampnett and Sir Alan Smith in “Westhampnett at War”, a great book, http://napoleon130.tripod.com/id755.html

Irvine Gaze

I was reliably informed that Irvine was scrambled to intercept a couple of 88’s and yes he did fly into the downs during fog, although I do not have times or dates to clarify this, he was only a young lad when he passed as were most of them. There were numerous accidents at Westhampnett at that time, one notable occasion being when Scott was watching Bader circle to land along with two young pilot officers in tow when he made a crazy manoeuvre over the airfield causing the other two spits to collide, needless to say Scott was not impressed and the incident never left him or his contempt for Bader for causing the accident.

I have a feeling that Bob Large was post-Bader, but I may be wrong. I’ll check.

Good that he is still with us.

I may be wrong, but I think he must be the last of the Tangmere Wing from 1941…

Last Sunday I had the great pleasure of talking to Bob Large, a 161 Squadron pick-up pilot, during an event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Jean Moulin’s flight to (and rather bumpy arrival at) Tangmere with Hugh Verity.

I know Bob flew with the Tangmere Wing in 616 Squadron during 1941 but perhaps he arrived after Bader’s loss and so doesn’t qualify as a member of the BBC?
PP

Well done for notifying the CWGC of the poor headstone condition. Glad they dealt with.

I have Plt Off Irvine Scott Owen GAZE, 60097, lost in Spitfire P7685, 610 Sqn, when he flew into the South Downs in bad weather two miles NE of West Dean, West Sussex, at Whitelands Farm on 23 March 1941. I do not have any note that this was an operational flight, and do not have a time for the incident – but have not consulted the ORB. However, on that same date a Ju 88 was shot down by 238 Sqn (Morris and Bernard) at Poling just a few miles distant so I am wondering if poor old Gaze was up after this raider?

Can you confirm the time and any other details if you have looked into it?

Irvine Gaze

I was asked by an old friend of Tony’s in Auz to find his brothers grave Irvine Gaze over here a few years ago. he was shot down over the Downs near Goodwood after chasing a couple of marauding 88’s that were doing low level strafing on the coast, I did locate it and together with his buddy David Wood notified the war graves commission to have the stone cleared and cleaned, of which they did.

That certainly sounds absolutely fascinating, Zorglub.

Yes , Australia .

The best about him is this link , with nice interview at the bottom of the page :

http://www.tonygaze.com/

Oddly I’ve treasured the gun camera ( with film ) of his crash-landed Spit lost on 4 Sept. 1943 .

Zorglub

Yes, I had forgotten about Tony Gaze. How could I have done?! He must be the last, though.

I think he is in Austalia?

Tony Gaze

Tony Gaze was with Mr Bader at Westhampnett

Hello Andy ,

I think ace Tony Gaze is still with us .

Rest in peace Sir. Another of our true heroes gone forever.

I may be wrong, but I think he must be the last of the Tangmere Wing from 1941 – known then as the BBC or Bader’s Bus Company.