I for one will be sad to see the Miss Velma scheme go as I corresponded almost daily with Frank Birtciel before, during and after Operation Bolero II to keep him in the loop on progress, but glad we have the Mustang back on the circuit.

Also had the pleasure of meeting him and Velma in 2008. Frank sadly passed away in late 2015 but I have a wonderful memento to remind me of that time

cheers
Chris

Think that is Colonel Lefty Gardner next to Lloyd Nolen

Chris

The link below has the photo being taken on 22nd June ’44 (scroll to sixth image)

http://www.thescale.info/news/publish/Spitfires-Canadian-Squadrons.shtml

Makes sense of the invasion stripes being reapplied

cheers
Chris

Came across this better quality version of the photo on ‘WarThunder’. Did a crop on what serial we can see as well

As there is a letter/number to the left of the ‘4’ or ‘M’ I would imagine it is a ‘4’. Looks like a straight edge so more likely MJ754 if Peter’s three serials are what we have to choose from

or is it an ‘M’ and the rest of the serial is covered by the invasion stripe??

Chris

[ATTACH=CONFIG]256223[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]256222[/ATTACH]

I first came across Brian Ellis’s account of events back in 2010 while looking for details of his aircraft WJ223 for a profile after meeting him and Peter Davis at a signing in 2009

And after a quick search it seems FlyPast carried an article around 2001 by Rowland White – see link below on the subject

http://archive.is/2s51P

cheers
Chris

Here’s the link

https://www.facebook.com/hawkerrestorations/posts/852873924859647

I am not on Facebook and it works OK for me (2 vids and a photo)

Chris

it was actually Mildenhall 1998 when I first saw Shipley. A mere 19 years ago this May

Pretty sure Ed Shipley flew with Reg Urschler (Gunfighter pilot) at Mildenhall ’98

Reg chalked up well over 3000 hours on the P-51

Chris