Unseen images of Battle of Britain heroes off-duty

Robert,
Thanks for the info, (thinking about it; the BOAC skipper was ex-Coastal Command)

Is that the same Francis Blackadder that was (later, 1950’s?) a Captain with BOAC?

Hi Martin,
No not the same man. Francis Blackadder, this one, rejoined 607 Squadron in September 1946 staying with that squadron until retirement in December 1948. He had no further flying after that. He took command of the Northumberland Wing of the ATC and left that in February 1951. He then did some lecturing at Newcastle University: he died in 1997.
Photo from left 3rd Sgt Spyer, 4th Sgt Cunnington, 7th Blackadder, 8th Milne Irving, 10th P/O Young: Tangmere September 1940.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

bit off tread but has anyone seen a series of genuine WW2 colour films (made approx 10 years ago) on Sky Military over the last few days? Can’t think of the name and the listing has gone !

some fine colour film of Spits in the Med & Lancs.even if it was only a few mins well worth a look and it wasnt this “colour by numbers” crap we have seen recently !

A bit fuzzy….Hurricane P2874, AF-F flown by Francis Blackadder

Is that the same Francis Blackadder that was (later, 1950’s?) a Captain with BOAC?

That’s a dirty old bird…but she’ll still fly like a dream

1940 Biggin Hill

A long time ago I found this picture on the web.
Best Regards.

Superb photo’s, thanks for posting them up…….nice to see Brian Kingcome in post 28.

Another ‘chute on tailplane devotee?

Two great pics there Robert.
There must be hundreds out there waiting to surface.
Gerry

A bit fuzzy….Hurricane P2874, AF-F flown by Francis Blackadder from June to December 1940. Most of Blackadders flights during the battle were carried out in this Hurricane. Unusual marking: ‘F’ repeated on fin in white. Statement on back of photo states that, patches around tail cover bullet holes from previous days patrol, August 15, 1940, when Luftflotte V attacked the North East.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

607 Squadron, Tangmere, September 1940. Jim Vick CO and Will Gore.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

Susie with an ‘S’, as written by John Sample. Mascot of 504 Squadron, Squadron Leader John Sample never had a dog.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

Robert. Brilliant many thanks for that.
G.

Cheers Wellington,
I believe ‘Suzie’s owner was Squadron Leader John Sample, is that correct?
Another fine image, makes you wonder just how many there are out there tucked away in drawers gathering dust.
Gerry

Susie with an ‘S’, as written by John Sample. Mascot of 504 Squadron, Squadron Leader John Sample never had a dog.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

Still on the doggy theme post BoB Luftwaffe a bunch of them.
G.

How about J J Booth of 600 Squadron and his companion Minnie.
Sorry for the poor quality of the press cuttings but it is the best I have.
Gerry

Here is Jack Potter, for instance….

Blimey…..:eek:

That ‘looks’ like a 43 patt KD top which later on in the war were dyed to become the well known ‘jungle green’ kit used in the far east….but…:confused:

We need a scratching head smilie 🙂

Very suave, Tim! Sartorial elegance if I ever I saw it…and I love the pose.

What all well dressed fighter pilots should have worn….!

Or even golfing jackets?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/photo04/RAF2/601341-1.jpg

= Tim

Indeed, Firebird.

The Brian Lane example also looks quite “lightweight”, not the usual heavy weave (barathea) of the usual battledress and so I wonder if it is some other made-up example. 19 Squadron did seem to wear some odd and non-issue clothing. Here is Jack Potter, for instance….

I am pretty sure there are other images showing 19 Sqn pilots wearing some fairly strange garb.

Tim – I am sure that must have been so!

These 1940 shots of pilots in battledress are interesting, though. Since battledress (apparently!) had not yet been issued to the RAF or aircrew I wonder if these were private tailored jobs?? Certainly there are quite a few pilots photographed in 1940 wearing them. Here is another….

At least, Brian Lane (centre) seems to be wearing something very much like battledress.

Brian Lane’s is an oddity, as it looks a bit darker, but, the early one posted of Fg Off Hardacre is clearly made of officers barathea (not wool) and therefore a tailored job, the brass button’s being a give away too.
All officers had to pay for their uniforms anyway (they weren’t issued as such), and as BD patterns had existed in existed in mil tailors for a few years already, it’s not surprising that a few of them chose to have a uniform made in BD style o/o officers barathea to suit wearing in a confined fighter cockpit.
Quite what the top brass may have thought of it at the time is another matter.