The incident on August 13th 1940 when the escort for the German raid on Eastchurch got the recall and turned back, but the bombers carried on is well known. I don’t have a source to hand (it’s called being at work!), but either the fighter leader (Huth?, rings a bell) or the bomber leader (Fink, I think with a bit morer certainty) had a wooden leg, having lost it either in WW1 or Spain.

Can anyone fill in the gaps?

Adrian

This would be Swiss born German national Hptmn Walter Rubensdoerffer Grpn Kmndr Erprobungs Gruppe 210, killed on the 15th August: he had one leg. Skipping back a bit to WW1, Mick Mannock, 74 & 85 Sqdns could only see with one eye.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

I remember seeing ‘Very Important Person’ but it was years ago.

I looked it up and was surprised that the method of escape in the film was to impersonate the members of an inspection party from the Swiss Red Cross and to ‘simply’ walk out while the real Red Cross were still in the camp.

This (of course) was actually tried for real by POW’s during the war.

WA$.

POWs also tried to walk out dressed as guards: as these two did. Scene is Stalag Luft 1, January 15, 1942. Man at far left was Sqdn Ldr Dudley Craig, former CO of 607 Sqdn, man second from right was Sqdn Ldr W.H.N. (Willie) Turner, former (B) Flight Commander 51 Squadron, other two were real thing. They were caught at the gate.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

Excellent TDK and Pogno. Plainly seen in the front of the pic is only one aileron actuator and it sits central to the aileron, this damns it from being a Battle. For those still unconvinced take a look at this Battle.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

Hi Tom,
The records contain full photocopies of all documents. Again I can only speak from personal experience. My relative flew on 19 bombing missions. His records show everything from where and when he attended school. All training and courses are shown: there should be one ‘mug shot’ photo, in my case two but I have been told some of these may be missing. There is even a shot of the folder that holds the records, some eleven pages in all. There was even a letter of request from his mother, applying for a brooch, on the death of her son.
Hope this is of help to you.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

Hi Tom and Kev,
I have known people who seem to have had a lot of trouble in trying to get hold of these records. Most seem to pass on great amounts of details to Innsworth and get nothing in return.
I can only go off personal experience here. I wrote and gave the name, rank and number of a serviceman I was interested in. I got a simple form in return. Keeping it simple I merely entered his name, rank and number. Where it asked for details of next of kin; I wrote NONE. Within two weeks I had the records. The cost then was £25 but I think it has gone up to £30.
I think the main thing is to keep it simple. What a great pity they were not Australian, you get there’s on line for nothing!
Hope this helps….Seasons Greetings to you both.

Robert.

JagRigger,
Should be two pics here of the Harrier. One facing left is XV744 other one, over St Pancras Station is XV741. According to F. K Mason’s Harrier, both were of number 1 Squadron. Hope this helps.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

Hi Ivan,
I think the book you refer to is; ‘Bomber Squadrons At War’ by Geoff D. Copeman and published by Sutton Publications November 20 1997, ISBN 0750917105. This is a history of 57 Squadron and its connections with 630 Squadron. Address of Sutton is: Phoenix Mill, Thrupp. Stroud. Glos. GL5 2BU. Hope this helps.

Robert.

Save you one phonecall with this: RAF Boulmer, Northumberland.

Robert’