was this news long distance information !?

Saw him twice in the seventies in London – about the time of “my ding a ling” – fabulous, and good to see him still rocking.

Allan

R.I.P. Baz – pity I have only just found this thread as I live a couple of miles from Penmount, and would have gone along to celebrate his life.

I first met Baz when his Spitfire IX was on display in 132 (City of Bombay) Squadron markings in Truro city centre in September 2005 as part of a display to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the war, and it was fully Invasion striped up. Baz kindly let my, then, young daughters up on to the platform and wear helmet, goggles and flying jacket which he kindly loaned them.

The location was on Lemon Quay not far from the site of H.T.P. Motors Ltd, part of the civilian repair organisation, and several photos of Spitfire parts being repaired were on display, and the site is still in use as the local pannier market to this day.

Blue Skies Baz

Allan

Hello Trumper

Without wishing to be pedantic, please note that 432 (Leaside) Squadron is an Article XV RCAF squadron and not an RAF Squadron.

Formed on 1 May 1943 at Skipton on Swale, as the 12th R.C.A.F bomber squadron, and part of No. 6 (R.C.A.F.) Group. I would tend to agree with Eddie that it would be in standard Bomber Command dull red letters, and camouflage scheme for the time.

I have only two small photos, neither in colour, and neither of a Wellington – sorry!

Cheers

Allan

Not taxpayers money – the initial memorial will be paid for out of the LIBOR Scandal fines, although I believe that taxpayers money will be needed for the upkeep.

Like the Bomber Command memorial in London I think this is a case of – too little – too late – as anyone actually serving on D-Day would have been a minimum of 18 (officially, although we know of people being younger) or older, so if still alive the youngest will be 93 in 2019, to be able to visit and remember their fallen comrades, more likely it will be the families of the fallen who will visit.

Allan

No problem, happy to have helped complete his story.

Hello Dave

I had a look in “Spitfire against the odds” by Ronnie Ashman, a Sgt pilot who joined 130 in about March 1945, with no operational experience, which was rare for an XIV squadron posting at this stage of the war. April 1945 “On one sortie, Flying Officer Finbow was unlucky. I saw him hit by flak as he passed over the last vehicle, but fortunately he crash-landed inside our lines and quickly sent to hospital” that’s the only mention of him, and confirms that I was correct in him being posted to 130 after 610 disbanded.

Allan

Hello Dave

610 (County of Chester) Squadron was disbanded on 3 March 1945 whilst at Warmwell for an APC, so “He flew operationally with the squadron from mid-1943 through till after the end of the war” is not factually correct. Do you know if he was posted back to 125 Wing, then at B.78 Eindhoven/Holland, possibly as a reinforcement for 130 (Punjab) Squadron or 350 (Belgian) Squadron, the other Spitfire XIV Squadron, 41 Squadron, was detached to 122 Wing at B.80 Volkel at the time, and replaced 610 at the Warmwell APC a few days later, or he was posted elsewhere, perhaps from 83GSU?

many thanks

Allan
Many thanks