Spitfire pilot looking for photo of his aircraft

😮

wow cheers spit man!

thanks for that info dairwin,

i will pass it on to Baxter to see if he can remember any of that.

M9119 had a couple of adventures then!

Also in his old photo album was a photo of the famous 453 Sq plane, the letterings being “FU-K”. He says where ever it landed, everybody wanted a photo of it. WHY ????
cheers

A photograph of that very Spitfire is on Ebay!

Thats FU-K

thanks for that info dairwin,

i will pass it on to Baxter to see if he can remember any of that.

M9119 had a couple of adventures then!

cheers

A very close (now late) friend of mine was E.J. Tanner who was a Flt Sgt with Sq131 during 1944. He also had an experience with MD119. I don’t have ready access to his logbooks now, but from memory I recall him telling me:

Whilst strafing German ships in St. Helier harbour in the summer of 1944, his engine was damaged by anti-aircraft fire. He maintained flying control, but the engine would either provide full power or windmilling, with nothing in-between. A nearby Mk5(?) Spit was ordered to assist him as he attempted to reach Bolt Head (the nearest UK mainland he could think of from Jersey). However given the engine performance, the MkVII pulled away from the Mk5 when he opened the throttle, but was caught by the Mk5 when he closed it.

On reaching Bolt Head, the engine was now on fire. Speed of egress on landing was his concern, so he unbuckled his harness and with one foot on the instrument panel to brace himself he made a wheels up landing on the grass. Scampering across the wing and away, the station fire department put out the fire.

EJ Tanner was also on a Sq131 sortie in July 1944 supporting Sq609 who were softening up a target in Brittany. Sq131 were providing top-cover. He witnessed Pinkie Stark being shot down; pulling up with a white trail behind him before the engine ceased. He heard Stark say ‘see you chaps in about a week’ before bailing out. I understand it was a week or so later that Stark returned to Sq609 after the French resistance gained his escape.

In approx 2003, EJ Tanner and I attended a WW2 museum in Kent where Pinkie Stark was the guest of honour. We were able to meet Mr. Stark and the tale of his shoot-down was retold; much to Mr Stark’s amazement. Over lunch the chaps had a fine time discussing their exploits.

thanks for the pointers,

i was wondering if anyone was going to take the bait paulmcmillan!

😀

Baxter can remember the code for M9119 being MD119 “NX – T”

Also in his old photo album was a photo of the famous 453 Sq plane, the letterings being “FU-K”. He says where ever it landed, everybody wanted a photo of it. WHY ????

If you can get a copy of tha Ian Allen “Spitfire at war 3”, it has a chapter by Flying Officer Don Nicolson “D-day Top Cover” which is about 131 Squadron, 8 or so pictures, none of “T” though. It shows Flg Officer Hewlett, Flt Lt Ron Moody, and Sqd Ldr O’Meara with all pictures credited to Don Nicolson.

The Osprey “late mark Spitfire aces” by Alfred Price also has a photo of MD110 also credited to Flying Officer Nicolson, maybe there are more to be found?

Maybe that helps or is of interest ?

Baxter can remember the code for M9119 being MD119 “NX – T”

Also in his old photo album was a photo of the famous 453 Sq plane, the letterings being “FU-K”. He says where ever it landed, everybody wanted a photo of it. WHY ????

WHY?? FU-K Knows

Baxter can remember the code for M9119 being MD119 “NX – T”

Also in his old photo album was a photo of the famous 453 Sq plane, the letterings being “FU-K”. He says where ever it landed, everybody wanted a photo of it. WHY ????

Thanks for the pic, thats the very next best thing, much appreciated.

Im sure he will be happy with that.

In
http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/home.htm

it matches up with Baxter’s account that he crashed and was hospitilised, when he got out was posted to 453 Sqn

neil

MD range is correct

I have MD172 “NX-L” with 131 Squadron, and MD-114 at Scapa Flow with 312 Squadron (Czech) coded “DU-G”.

On Sept 30th, 131 was escorting B-26’s to a target near Arnhem and Flg Officer Baxter’s aircraft was the only loss of the day.

Abit of a long shot but you never know…………

John Russell Baxter flew with 131 Sqn in Spitfire M9119 and is wondering if a picture exsists.

Engine cut on escort mission crashlanded near Ghent 30-9-44

That second digit needs adjustment.

Looks to be MD119 which served with 131 Squadron.

Mark

ps. Rare Mk VII’s. It could be this one if you can match the code.