“I was buying some paint the other day and somehow got round to mentioning aircraft. The lady I was speaking to has some of her fathers archive. The remainder went to Hendon upon his death.”

Suggest she contact the RAF Museum archive, so it can be reunited with the other items relating to the same gentleman.

Tony, did Stanley Sparks become a POW? In “Footprints on the SAnds of Time” there is a gunner Sgt. T.S. Sparks of 214 Squadron who was shot down over Holland 21.6.44. His aircraft was a Fortress SR382. There are other Sparks listed as taken prisoner but none others with the abbreviation of S.

Link to story from the Shropshire Star

http://www.shropshirestar.com/2008/02/mystery-of-the-missing-bomber/

Condover airfield and control tower for sale

If the link below doesn’t work, a google search for Condover tower sale brings up the Halls website. I have fond memories of horse riding at Berriewood and was always fascinated to see the control tower in the field. The riding stables actually use some of the old airfield buildings as stores. Let’s hope the tower goes to a sympathetic home.

http://www.hallsestateagents.co.uk/property.aspx?intPID=207&intTID=4&intContentID=138

Must admit I hadn’t spotted them. Absolute drivel. My apologies for the link.

According to Ray Sturtivant’s book “Flying Training and Support Units of the RAF” 1AGS in September 1943 had on charge 26+10 Ansons and 18+9 Martinets; although it also lists Master II DL289 as being on establishment at some stage. Galdri your eyesight is better than mine, even with a magnifying glass I cannot even make out the aeroplane in the background!
Dean, it is a lovely photograph, and is treasured I am sure. What strikes me is the youth of all of the trainees, apart from the chap on the extreme right of the middle row. I wonder if his nickname was “Grandpa” or some such….

At a guess, an Air Gunners School, rather than the Initial Training Wing, since the instructor appears to have the half wing brevet. Is that the sea in the background? Most of the AGS locations were coastal: Pembrey (near Swansea), Dalcross (near Inverness), Castle Kennedy (near Stranraer, Scotland), Morpeth, Stormy Down (near Porthcawl), Evanton (Scotland), Llandwrog (near Caernarvon), Barrow, Andreas (Isle of Man) and Bishops Court (N. Ireland). Sorry, I cannot make out the aircraft in the background. Anything else in your Uncle’s possessions to assist, a letter or log book?

I thought it was interesting to read Mr. Jackson stating that the film was not going to be a 2006 remake of 1943 events “The world of 1943 is very much where this film is going to be set, not the political world of 2006” yet he is still undecided about what name to call the dog. What other reason is there for not using nigger apart from the political sensitivities of 2006?