According to 242 Squadron “The Canadian Years” Bader took over 242 on June 24, 1940 at Coltishall. So it would appear he was not at Duxford at the beginning of July 1940

Dan

Originally posted by EN830
Doe’s he list his operations in detail, I’d be interested to know if he operated around the Channel Islands.

I think I’ve mentioned before that 41 Sqn lost two MkXll’s in action around Guernsey in 1944, Amercian Herb Wagner on 2nd June 44 (POW) and Irishman Kenneth Robinson on 7 June 1944 (KIA). Steve Brews site features pictures of both of them.

I’d be interested to know if you log book mentions these two actions.

The photo of “Wag” on Steve Brew’s site is from my collection. I corresponded with Herb Wagner back in the mid 80s and in fact talked to him on the phone a couple of months ago.

He took a flak hit from Guernsey on June 2, 1944 while flying MB843 EB-K and went into the Channel. There was a mad dash to try and rescue him but the Germans got their first. He got roughed up a bit by the Germans as they thought he might know something about the pending invasion and then got the cold shoulder in the POW camp at first as he was in RAF uniform and speaking with an American accent. They thought he was a German spy planted in the camp for a time.

Robbie Robinson also went into the Channel. He was seen in the water, unable to get to his raft. Jimmy Theile and others tried throwing their rafts to him as they orbited overhead, but sadly by the time the Walrus got there he had died of exposure. He had been flying MB881-EB-S

Quoting a letter from Jimmy Theile “One incident does come to mind reading my log. June 7, 1944 reads ‘Escort Typhoons to Guernsey-Robbie in the drink’. I remember quite vividly as we all circled him and saw him lose his dinghy. Some of us managed to get our rafts which we say on out from under our bums(quite and effort in the cramped cockpit of a Spit), and drop them. Unfortunately although he got one, he was unable to get into it, and died before the Walrus was about to get to him. I remember the Walrus boys deserved a medal, landing in huge seas under the German guns. The seas were so rough in fact that the Walrus could not take off and was taxied and towed back to England.”

Dan

Check the link. Photos of the Tiger and the Thunderbirds with an explanation. Brains flew it at one point, Penelope too before Alan ended up landing it. Parker was the one in the struts and then the tree.

Nice work Septic 🙂

http://www.thunderbirdsonline.co.uk/episodes/films/t6/

Dan

Originally posted by JDK
Upper case.

“Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V B”

The issue starts to come in with later marks XVIE and the like, and I think the trend for using a smaller font, but upper case crept in to avoid muddling letter and roman numerals. Another reason why the use of roman numerals as a stupid pretentious over-classically-trained idea. The early PR Spits starting with the letters (e.g. ‘D’) didn’t help, but at lease someone avoided the Spitfire VD.

Wasn’t Spit VD the unofficial service reference for the “Clipped, cropped and clapped” LFVs. Seems like I’ve seen that in any number of places 🙂

Dan

Re: Band of Brothers II

Originally posted by crazymainer
Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone has heard if their is going to be a second installment of this great program.

I remember reading that Mr. Hanks was looking to do another with a Pacific theme. Either being a Carrier based Squadron or a Land based one.

As anyone heard anything How about it Mark12 you seem to get all the Info.

From an American perspective, if they were to do another “Band of Brothers”, I’d think basing it on the book “Flag of our Fathers” would make a lot of sense. Ironically, it’s another Easy Company, E Company, 2nd Bt, 28th Marine Regt, 5th Marine Division, but their experience on Iwo was really something. There is another book on Iwo by Richard Wheeler who was an E Company vet that is also very good as a resource

Long before reading either book when I was in college, I worked in a nursing home where the security guard at night was a former Marine and E Company vet who’d been on Iwo and if I asked just right and showed him I knew a bit about Iwo, I could get him to talk just a little about his experience. Some really frightening stuff.

Now if it was from an English perspective, I bet Snapper could make a good case for 609 Squadron, and I’d probably push for 41 Squadron myself 🙂

I’ll confess to not knowing nearly enough about British Army History to make a case for any particular unit.

Dan

Boring and predictable, but there is something about this pair of Spit XIIs from 41 Squadron in April 44 really appeals to me.

Don Smith in EB-B. Not sure who is in EB-D

Dan

Re: PS890 and Torque

Originally posted by Mark12
Shackleton engine and prop suitably modified eqauls cheap installation, thus lifting some aircraft into the flying category, in this case an ex Thai A/F mk XIX

With reference to the torque, lack of it, and the accident of Tim Wallis – the opposite rotation of Merlin, either RR or Packard, to the Griffon means opposite torque reaction and the rudder trim has to be set accordingly. I believe that one of the principal causes of Sir Tim’s accident was that the trim was set for Merlin application but he was flying a Griffon. On take off the aircraft rolled into the ground.

Mark

A classic first time Spit XII pilot’s mistake from what I’ve heard. Lots of near misses on hangers and such

Dan

Re: Its is reported that…

Originally posted by Mark12
A/some time expired Seafire 47(s) were launched pilotless from a carrier with the throttle strapped right back and the outer wings removed.

To the astonishment and concern of some and to the amusement of others, said machine, freed of the effect of torque with the contra-prop managed a presentable circuit before hitting the water short of the ‘Island’, and it must be said to the extreme relief of those more senior.

Any confirmation of this piece of ‘FAA folklore’ would be appreciated.

Mark

I saw film of that somewhere, and I can’t for the life of me remember where. I know it was surprising how far it went with no outer wings. It was a show about carriers and had nothing to do with Spits and they weren’t identified, but clearly were Spits although I thought they were high back Seafire 45s

Dan