Forgot I had this book

Fighter Squardon by Derek Palmer

5th Septmeber 1940

Eleven Spitfires of the Squadron led by Sdn Ldr Pinkham took off at 09:47 hours to Patrol Hornchurch at 15,000ft. The enemy formation of 40 Dorniers 215’s and 40 Me 109’s were sighted over the Chatham/Ashford/Medway/Maidstone quadrilateral.

Sqd Ldr Pinkham (Blue 1) (P9422) was seen engaging three Do215’s and is a casualty.

He took charge of the Squadron on 31 May 1940 replacing Sqn Ldr G D Stephenson who had been shot down and taken POW on the 26th (N3200). Pinkham arrived from Sutton Bridge in a Hurricane.

There’s very little mention of him until 1st July 1940 :-

Sqn Ldr Pinkham gave a lecture on the merits and demerits of the cannon equipped Spitfire. It was evident that new tactics would have to be developed to cope with the disadvantages and make full use of the new armament.

As far as I can see he gets one other mention on 3 September 1940

Eight Spitfires of the Sqn were ordered to patrol between Duxford and Debden at 20,000 ft. Operating in pairs, all aircraft were fitted with two cannons except Green Leader which had eight machine guns. The Sqn was still climbing when they were warned by sector controller of the enemy approaching from the South East and later that they were over North Weald. On reaching 20,000ft they saw explosions and clouds of smoke from North Weald. There were 50/60 bombers at 20,000ft, escorted by 100 fighters stretching from 20,000 to 25,000ft, with a single fighter ahead of and above the whole formation.

Sqn Ldr Pinkham (Blue 1) led the attack at two enemy aircraft and had fired only ten rounds from each gun when they jammed.

That same day they were informed that they were to be re-equipped with machine gun only Spitfires, this news was gratefully received by all Sqn members.

According to Franks FCL Vol 1 1939 -1940 it was 5 Setember 1940, shot down over the Thames Estuary at 10.15am crashing at Birling Kent, though he gives the serial as P9422

Ian

It was donated by its former owner, Bob Tullis.

Ah right, shame it was an air worthy example but I suppose there are quite a few still flying so we won’t miss one

Hi Anna, nice photo’s the P51 at Hendon is yet another example of the RAF putting an airworthy plane into a static museum.

Isn’t it on loan from it’s owner ?

In 2002 we raised a memorial to Sqn Ldr Robert Woodward and W/O Don McPhail two Whirlwind pilots lost off of the South Coast of Jersey, during my research I was told on several occasions that the local authorities had warned off previous attempts at placing a memorial to these two airmen, because there had been local fishermen in the area at the time, who had not gone to the aid of Woodward who was seen to make a controlled landing.

My point is, we ignored the authorities and went ahead with placing a memorial plaque. Today the families of these brave souls have a reference point where they can come and be with their lost relatives.

My advice is to ignore the negativity and go ahead with the memorial, I sure Snapper will back me up on this when I say that you won’t regret it.

I witnessed Paul doing a beat up at Old Hay in 2000, probably the last time I saw a Seafury. Was the airframe destroyed in the crash ?

Another pilot and aircraft at Old Hay that year that are no longer with us was Martin Sargent and PL985

…my “please guys give it a cut” post has disappeared too.. It would be kind if u mods, other than erasing, would drop a private message to explain the reason why, as a matter of politeness..

Alex

Simple it wasn’t avaition related.

P51D