RE: Spitfire Question
Actually, it wasn’t in Crooks book, it was in the diary kept by F/Sgt Tich Cloves, a pre-war regular sergeant fitter with 609 (West Riding) Squadron. He was i/c of one of the flights. I quote (with some context):
11th June. The 9 aircraft at Warmwell were detailed for a very important convoy job. None other than escorting a couple of Fleming’s full of VIPs including Mr Winston Churchill, Mr Anthony Eden and Sir John Dill who were on their way for a conference. They landed at an unknown aerodrome at Briare. Here there were no starter trolleys and no petrol.
12th June. Petrol of unknown vintage was made available at Briare for the return journey. Starting up was accomplished with Poilu’s on the starting handles and some assistance from the aircraft batteries. The pilots arrived back at base, unwashed and unshaven, but full of beans – with bottles of champagne etc. This was shared out between the deserving cases – Flt-Sgts etc, who appreciated it very much.
13th June brought another important escort duty. This time escorting Mr Winston Churchill and Lord Halifax to Tours. There must have been a lot of talking going on. There was no stopping the night this time and pilots arrived back the same night. Extract from Squadron SRO’s Ser No 80:
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