Who was with P/O Ian Blair on Feb 21st 1944 at Skeabrae?

A slight aside, anyone have Code/serial tie ups for the 602 Sqn mk VIs?

A you sure it was the 21st Feb, the 602 Sqn ORB has the 20th.

I looked this one up recently at the National Archives in the 602 Sqn ORB and it was and Blair’s No.2 was Flt Lt Bennets (Red 2), Blair being Red 1.

Ian Blair gave an excellent presentation to Air-Britain Stansted Branch last week about his time in the RAF.

In summary he started off at 16 as an armourer and moved on to become weapons officer flying operations in Iraq and North Africa (Bleheim 1s). During his ops in Egypt he saved his aircraft and crew after the pilot was killed, for which he recieved the DFM.

Having shown the aptitute to fly he was put forward for multi-engined pilot training (in various places in Southern Africa) before returning to the UK. On allocation to a squadron, (106 in South Wales I think) he found it was a Spitfire Squadron, where he opted to stay and after some additional training (on Masters) he stayed on Spitfires for the rest of his time in the RAF.

He served at various places as in the South mainly in a tactical (ground attack/bomber escorts) role leading up to D-Day. The incident in Shetland took place when his squadron was posted there for R & R.

A fine, modest gentlemen who experiences were most interesting to listen to and it was a pleasure to have met him.

Phil

Was this something interesting/significant? (Not in any way seeking to belittle an “insignificant” interception). Thanks Don

‘Tussle in the Stratosphere’ as it has become known, two pressurised Spitfires intercepting a high altitude Me109 over Orkney, Ian Blair bringing it down.

Mark

… it was he and ‘Bennetts’ that made the interception …

Was this something interesting/significant? (Not in any way seeking to belittle an “insignificant” interception). Thanks Don

I spoke with Ian this morning.

He says that it was he and ‘Bennetts’ that made the interception. He flying the only Mk VII and ‘Bennetts’ in a Mk VI.

He says that Closterman was, how shall we say, being economic with the actualité in the first edition of his book, but this was corrected/adjusted in later editions. Ian smiled and put it down to ‘authors license’ but confirmed that he had the full document trail.

Mark

Was it Clostermann as his book The Big Show (Tussle in the Stratosphere) suggests or was it Fl Lt W G Bennetts as Douglas McRoberts’ book Lions Rampant suggests?

Seems certain that Blair was flying Spitfire Mk VII DU-G MD114 of the Skeabrae Station Flight. Any idea what the other Spitfire Mk VII was serial/codes??

Thanks

Ian Blair.

I was talking with him just this last Saturday at DX.

I will also see him tomorrow, Wednesday, at a Spitfire book launch in London.

Mark