Do I detect the presence of a fellow Spitfire XII fanatic? 🙂

The pilot second from the left is actually Free French F/O Jacques Andrieux who was with 91 Squadron at the time. The rest of the guys on the left are 41 with 91 being on the right. No idea why Jacko was over on the left. The pilot on the far left is F/O Clive “Jumbo” Birbeck who got into the RAF at 16. He claimed a few kills in XIIs and was shot down and made a POW dive bombing sub pens in a Spit IX. He wasn’t really happy about that.

F/S Jimmy Payne is on the far left on the wing. F/L Ian Matthew of 91 Squadron, later 41 Squadron CO is on the prop. 41 Squadron CO Bernard Ingham, Later Tangmere Wing CO is the tall guy just below Matthew’s right leg. I believe its the Station CO next to Ingham’s right. F/L Bruce Moffett RCAF is peeking over the Station Commander’s right shoulder. F/L, Later 41 Squadron Co A. A. “Pinky” Glen is to the right of the Station Commander. The quirky 41 Squadron IO Lord “Gizzy” Gisborough is over Glen’s right shoulder. Not sure who is to the right o Glenn. F/L Dave Fearon is to the right of the guy in the Mae West. Not sure on the next two. F/O Ron Loweth is two to the left of Keith Curtis and I’m not sure who is betwen Curtis and Loweth. Thought it was Tom Slack, but he told me it wasn’t.

I’ll hold off on the Wing Co and the 91 guys for now 🙂

I’ve got photos of Balasse, Van Goens and Refshuage around too. They aren’t in this photo as far as I have been able to determine.

In fact, since I’ve got it on the computer, here’s one of Balasse taken in the fall of 43. F/S Peter Graham is behind him

Dan