How about an Austrian? (Austrian-American perhaps)

Hi Daz

S/Ldr Franz Ferdinand Colloredo-Mansfeld DFC* served on both 611 and 132 squadrons – lost on 14 Jan 1944 KIA crossing French coast (Commanding Officer of 132 (City of Bombay) Squadron, 125 Airfield, 15 Wing at the time) in Spitfire IX MH978 – Ramrod 453 am shot down near St. Pol and crashed by Berck sur Mer around noon. CWGC states:

In Memory of Squadron Leader Count FRANZ FERDINAND COLLOREDO-MANSFELD DFC and Bar

112005, 132 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 33 on 14 January 1944.
Son of Count Ferdinand Colloredo-Mansfeld and of Countess Colloredo-Mansfeld (nee Iselin); husband of Countess Colloredo-Mansfeld, of Welham, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Remembered with honour BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY

cheers

Allan

British Forces in Russia after WW1

Interesting replies, thanks chaps. Just to go off topic a bit – I recall being told years ago that after the Armistace in 1918, the British Army moved on the Russians and fought them till 1919 to keep communism out of Europe. Is there any truth in this? I’ve only heard it the once.

Hi Dave

Type in RAF+Russia+1919, British Army+Russia+1919 and Royal Navy+Russia+1919 in Google and you will get plenty of background material. 🙂

including http://www.orbat.com/site/history/historical/uk/ops1919-39.html for example about the British Army

cheers – Allan

It will be screened at 10 p.m. on Friday 13 May on BBC2 entitled “Nation on Film” 🙂

Very enjoyable – especially the dogfighting of course – but the quality all round was superb. cheers – Allan

First Air war VC’s – 12 May 1940 (Garland & Gray)

Hello Marc – Interesting to read what your father went through – one loss has it’s 65th anniversary tomorrow (12th) and they are all buried at Heverlee war cemetery, Leuven – in a collective grave (Coll. grave 6. F. 14-16.)

On 12 May 1940, over the Albert Canal, Belgium, one bridge in particular was being used by the invading army, with protection from fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft and machine-guns.

The RAF was ordered to demolish this vital bridge, and five Fairey Battle bombers were despatched with Flying Officer Donald Garland (12 squadron) leading the attack. They met an inferno of anti-aircraft fire, but the mission was accomplished, due to the expert leadership of Flying Officer Garland and the coolness and resource of his navigator (Sgt. Thomas Gray). With both Garland and Gray being awarded the first air VC’s of the war.

Only one bomber managed to get back to base, the leading aircraft and three others did not return – The third man of the crew (the LAC gunner, classified W/Op (Air) Lawrence Royston Reynolds) did not receive a medal because he was not occupying a “decision making” position. cheers – Allan

Spitfire painting

Hi. I’m a part time aviation artist living in the UK. I’ve just finished a painting featuring 602 Sqn Spitfire MkI’s and would really appreciate any comments. Matt Curtis

Hello Matt

Do you mean a further painting of 602 (City of Glasgow) squadron Spitfire Mk 1’s as the top one on show “champing at the bit” is of 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, as you state yourself. Have you forgotten to add it to the site ?

That is really good – as are the others.

cheers

Allan

What a beaut! It really looks the part, too. (thinks – must watch Tora! Tora! Tora! soon!)

Too late Daz – it was on ITV on Sunday 24th April, you have just missed it!! 🙂 Still a good film – cheers – Allan

Hi Dave – Schumacher still getting closer !! ref. your comment “Around 30 are probably going to lose their jobs – just when we are already desperately short of cops.” maybe you could apply for one of the vacancies, providing you don’t tell them you use this site of course!! 🙂

Did you see the new Pope moving into his quarters at the Vatican ? – another German moving swiftly into former Polish territory 🙂 – cheers – Allan

Hi Dave – I see that Phil Lamason warrants a piece in the book, but was very surprised by the comment “Thousands of New Zealanders fought and died in what proved to be one of England’s most potent weapons – Bomber Command.” – whilst I might have expected that in an American report I would have thought that a Commonwealth country would have known the difference and put Britain’s !! – cheers – Allan