Spitfires a-plenty….

Great to hear, Jules. Also looking forward to a then and now!

Jules

That really is good to know.

Any chance of a “Then & Now” photograph?

Well, after a brief look today, all be it misty, i’m almost certain this is Starveal Farm, all the hedge lines tie up, beyond the Spitfires in the foreground, is a hedge ( with tent to left) than field, ( this formed part of the flying field) then the vehicles are all parked up flanking the track up to the Hanger, which sadly is just out of the camera shot, to the mid left.
beyond are the woods towards Charlbury.
Did not get a photo today, will next weekend.

This is really exciting for us, locally, as we have never seen any photos taken during the war. I spoke with a friends Father in Law this morning and he confirmed seeing Spitfires parked up in that field late in the war.

Are there anymore IWM pictures in this range that could be taken at Starveal ?

I am in touch with the Land owner, and will get that photo !

Cheers

Jules

Well I’m very happy to bow to local knowledge, Andy. But Redhill was certainly the first thought that popped into my head upon seeing it.

83 Group Support Unit – location of photo – still a mystery!?

Andy

Thanks for the update – maybe we are back with the suggestion from Jules, and it could well be 39 M.U., 2SLG Starveall Farm, Oxfordshire, as NH265 came to 83 G.S.U. from 39 M.U., I posted some links earlier, so perhaps others could take a look at them to see if they agree with his comment – date, best guess, still late May ’44.

cheers

Allan

The weather June 1944 is described as inclement. I don’t think they would be walking around in only their shorts on the 7th. It looks like it was taken during the ‘exam period’, those glorious sunny days in May when you are sitting your exams. Typically the day after sitting your last the weather changes for the rest of the summer.

Just had this from a pal who has an aviation business at Redhill and knows the area like the back of his hand and grew up there. He is not convinced the photo is at Redhill:

“Re the Spitfire photograph. I’m not convinced it is Redhill.

•The rising ground in the top right looks a bit like the hill between Coopers Hill Road and the M25 where we used to go kite flying but then to the left the Ridge should be visible and its not.
•Just behind the Spits on the right there is a hedge with a gate in it. If this is a lane it is fairly straight going off into the distance. I wondered if this was Kings Mill Lane and the Spits were in the field next to the lane, off of the aerodrome – Scatts side of the Lane and looking towards the Ridge but the slope is wrong and again the Ridge is not there.
•The only other lane that is straight is Masons Bridge road looking South but I dont believe there is any high ground to the right as shown in the photo.

I will continue to have a think about it but at the moment I don’t believe it is Redhill.”

Damn, I thought that was Howard Cook 😡

Moggy

I thought it was ‘Captain Slow’ with a false moustache. 😉

Naaaa… They’ll all be MkXIV’s won’t they…?

With traces of Burma soil in nooks and crannies?;)

Gifts of War

Hi Snoopy

I would hate to drag a thread off-track, which could be painful, so happy for you to pm me or send me an e-mail at allan(dot)hillman(at)btinternet(dot)com, replacing the obvious of course, which might be quicker, especially as the world did not end at 11.11 gmt this morning, so I am reasonably free this afternoon now as my plans to stay in a bunker have changed – Strictly along the lines of research of course !! 🙂

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-20803579 🙂

cheers

Allan

Presentation Spits.

Atcham – Blisters – painful in the extreme – poor Muriel, hope Robin sorts them for her !! 🙂 or should that be 🙁

Snoopy – I have “Gifts of War” – so if you have any specific questions fire away, it does have a “numerical check list of presentation Spitfire names” giving the presentation name and serial numbers, and an “alphabetical list of presentation Spitfire donors” but they stretch from page 357 to page 381, so whilst I will check for you I definitely won’t scan them!! 🙂

cheers

Allan

Thanks to those who responded with guidance. I do remember that book now it’s name is mentioned. Allan; – I’ll take you up on that offer. Shall I PM you to save dragging this thread off-track?
S.

I particularly like Charlie Brown’s sartorial elegance in this shot.

Damn, I thought that was Howard Cook 😡

Moggy

Careful, the collective fine for such comments might arbitrarily equate to the losses on a certain event in Surrey.

I particularly like Charlie Brown’s sartorial elegance in this shot.

:D:D:D:D………………..:diablo:

Yes, I’d guess it had better stop here.

After all we wouldn’t want a knock on the door from the Waffen SS late on a Friday

Moggy

I don’t think I’ll join this discussion….!

I remember what happened last time 😮

You would need a volunteer support group.

You could call it ‘The Plastic Spitfire So… perhaps not.

I’m sure that a mould could be borrowed from somewhere to keep the costs down.