Sqn Ldr Gerald (Stapme) Stapleton

I met him about three years ago at the Lincs Lanc Members Day.

He autographed my yearbook on one of the Spit pictures.

A fine gent and as has been said,he felt he was just another bloke
who got on with the job.

My mate Tug Wilson has found a picture of the painting that was
done of Stapme overflying Von Werra’s Messerscmitt on it’s belly
in the field.
He was hoping to get him to autograph it for him the next time
we met him.

I guess Tug is just a little too late.

RIP Sir,hopefully you’re having a beer with the rest of “The Fighter Boys”.

It is mentioned in his Wikipedia entry, which is very interesting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Stapleton

‘The One That Got Away’

I read somewhere that ‘Stapme’ was thought to be the pilot that shot down Franz Von Werra over Kent during the Battle of Britain. Thus it would mean that Von Werras’ captivity and depiction in the film ‘The One That Got Away’ was the result of this dogfight with ‘Stapme’. Can anyone confirm this as I might have read it in his book but cannot remember?

I was also fortunate enough to see him at Duxford a few years ago on the same day Muriel Pavlow who played Baders wife in RFTS was there.

He came across as a guy who didn’t realise that he was a hero, merely just another guy who got on with the job in hand.

One of Blighty’s finest.

RIP Sir.:(

Met him a few times at Aces High and Duxford, im pretty sure he told me he drove to Duxford in his Skoda and told me the mpg!!!, he also told me once the tale of crash landing in a field in Kent, the picnic and the pub when he was at the Vector stand on his own. Will miss his Hat and tie he always wore.RIP

Very sad news indeed. Meet him quite a few times over the past 5/10 years at various BBMF functions/do’s. First time I met him was at fighter pilot do at Lakenheath where we had a Spit on show during the meal and speeches. I remember he jumped straight into the cockpit and then we had a devil of a time to get him out again, firstly because he didn’t want to and secondly because he couldn’t.
Will be sorely missed by all at BBMF.

I particularily enjoyed his interview on “disc 2″ of the BoB DVD ” I’ll tell you what gets you killed, flying with a stiff neck gets you killed” RIP another brave soul.

A true gentlemen when i met him. Had a very interesting chat about Hornchurch and the lack of any monument to show it was even there.

Inevitable, but still sad.

Moggy

Deeply saddened – he was one of the finest, and his example should be an inspiration to all of us.

Blue Skies…

Sad news indeed.Had the pleasure of meeting him at Duxford a few years ago,he was only too pleased to chat and sign a Spitfire photo for me.

Another true hero gone.

damn sad news, another great man has left us.

may he rest in peace.

Very sad.

I never met him, but he always came across as a real character in documentaries and magazine articles….

Blue skies, “Stapme”….

What a shame as I met while on a tour of the bbmf hanger :(:(

Sad news indeed 🙁 such chaps are getting very thin on the ground now sadly