Contempory report on Coppings Loss from Kittyhawk Pilot by James ‘Stocky’ Edwards and Michel Lavigne
First Published in 1983

28th June 1942

“The order was given to evacuate immediately,” Eddie wrote. “All serviceable aircraft were flown off by the light of a few drums set on fire. They landed under similar conditions at LG-106.” The Kittyhawks landed at their new base about thirty miles east of LG-09 in the dark. It was about nine o’clock and the day had been long for most, but not long enough for F/Sgt Copping. He didn’t make it over the ground convoys who fumbled their way to LG-106 in
the dark, pushing their trucks through the heavy sand.
Fear gripped the fighter pilots when they heard their orders on 29June. “Retreat again,” was the command that came down. The-German spearhead had advanced confidently all day as the Desert Air Force moved further east. By nightfall, the Afrika Korps had reached an area twenty-five miles south of El Daba, providing the Luftwaffe with operational landing grounds close to the scene of the next battle. 260 Squadron of the RAF and the South African fighter squadrons were ordered back from LG-105 and LG-106 to LG-85 at Amriya during the day. ..

Just one note. The book later mentions that Edwards flew ET574 on “13 July 1942” however this could be a typo in book or his logbook (ET575 also on sqn) or the fact he listed his flights by Sqn code letter rather than Serial

Note: No mention of Copping flight to fix aircraft – maybe as this book was written 40 years later they just assumed he was paert of the retreat
Paul

Maybe.. A BIG BIG MAYBE

From KITTYHAWK PILOT

“The following day, 23 October 1942, the last day before the major Allied offensive, enemy fighters put forth a particularly fine effort. 260 pilots were involved in heavy dogfights and Sgt Cartwright recorded: “Pilots racing to go after recent victories. 1st show: 109’s shoot up Mink in N. Crash-lands. 2nd show: 109’s get going again and shoot down B and C — one pilot safe. 3rd show: they shoot down Sheppard (comes back O.K.) and damaged X and O badly. We only get one damaged and Shep got a Macchi.” Pilot Officer Mink, the American, was shot down in the first show by one of the German aces of Jagdgeschwader 27. Warrant Officer E. Tomlinson, one of the new Canadians with 260, was killed and Sergeant Colley was shot down in the second show. In the third show, Sergeant Sheppard was shot down and Kittys flown by P/O Thornhill and F/O Aitchison were badly shot up. It had been a good day for the Macchi pilots. No German claims were recorded for Tomlinson, Colley, Sheppard, Thornhill or Aitchison.
“The big push at Alamein started tonight when tanks advanced,” Sgt Cartwright wrote in his diary on 23 October 1942. The final battle for El Alamein had opened.”

Colley is F/Sgt (Pilot) John C. COLLEY – 1378464 – 260 Sqn (Nefatia, Libya), who died of wounds or injuries received in action 10-3-1943

Tomlinson is Canadian Warrant Officer Eric Tomlinson on El Alamein memorial

Colley forcelanded his aircraft on this date but got back ok…

PS do I see HS-B on Image Orbaz151?

Well Buz was spot on H87-A3 = P-40E-1CU

So Serial will be one of either 420

RAF ET100 to ET519 USAAF 41-24776 to 41-25195 C/N 19287 to 19706

or one of either 1080

RAF ET520 to ET1030 (ET1000-> ET 1030 Manufacturers Error became EV100 to EV130) then EV100 to EV699

USAAF 41-35874 to 41-36953 C/N 19707 to 20786

Not maybe

Yes

RF469 was DX-K

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ww2images/6898056801/

Do you know if and where there is a published photo of the Rechlin tested machine you mentioned showing it in 1+4 codes?

Foray

Sorry I personally have not seen a photo of this plane with the 1+4 codes but I have multiple references to it. Paul

Of course to the lay person, everything with a roundal is a Spitfire!

20 years ago, if the photos had said 1982 or 92 I would believe it more.

If one and the same and 20 years ago I would gues now long gone 🙁

Mark

Ok can anyone tell if those photos were taken using film or digital ??