General Browning……sameman?

Yes, Otterburn ranges are still in use by the Army as well as various air forces. No idea what targets are there but I have seen pics on various sites.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

If thats the way you think, fair enough. Two of the pilots in the above photo are in lighter suits, oddly they are also in all the pics taken in France. I presume then, from your replies, that the black suits were passed on by the press as photo props to the pilots of all the other squadrons that wore them. Some of them, oddly, not in France.
At the Empire Day 1939, they wore white. What was so special about the 1939 Summer Camp, apart from it being the last?

Best Wishes.
Robert.

There appears to be nothing official, or unofficial, on the use of black flying suits. I have access to various logbooks, photo albums and writings as well as the private papers of Viscount Runciman, CO of 607, 1930/39: if there had been anything at all, he would have had it. The photos of 607 pilots wearing these suits seems to begin with their arrival in France, 1939. Personally I think they were worn only as they were less likely to show the dirt of France: airfields were like a bog.
The connection with miners is very fanciful, auxiliaries were of a certain class and that did not include coal mining on their CV, at least prior to WW2.
The photo mentioned was not included in my book due to an editorial decision but there were others with the black flying suits. All of these photo’s were taken by the press on a visit to France. The photo shows at left: Will Whitty, Centre: Launce Smith, CO, Two to the right are Joe Kayll and Monty Thompson all with the black flying suits. The article in Hurrican Salute: ‘Blackadder’, also shows Blackadder and Mony Thompson with the black flying suits, this was a press photo of the same period.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

The yellow leading edge markings were a 1942 addition when the RAF adopted the green/grey upper surfaces, but the sky fuselage band and spinner came in early 1941.
Sky type S tail markings, acording to good old Harleyford date from December 1940.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

……..which is perhaps why Joglo described him as a “stiff upper lipped Englishman”. But c’mon, it was half a century ago and so perhaps one shouldn’t judge by modern standards. If Mel Gibson can get away with it……………….!

MEL GIBSON!!!! He had nothing on good old Michael Caine….as Alan Breck Stewart in ‘Kidnapped’ …’Och man, am I no a bonny fighter?’ Not a lot of people know that.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

According to Spitfire History and Jeffrey Quill this photo was one of a series taken June 18, 1936 at Eastleigh, after the engine had seized during a press view.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

Hi Andy,
According to Derek Waltons ‘Northumberland Aviation Diary’: Spitfire L1094 was flown by Sgt I.M.K Miller on a practice flight from Acklington. the pilot lost control, no mid-air collision, and crashed into boggy ground near Eglingham. not Edlingham which is quite a few miles south.
A footnote states that: ‘At the request of his parents the RAF revisited the site in the 1950s to recover the remains of the pilot.’

Best Wishes.
Robert.