It would great to view the items you have collected.
I think there are many who would also be interested.

Could you let me know when and where to look when you
have them posted?

Thanks
Tom

Well, finally got around to scanning in the pics etc. I was sure I had some more somewhere. If I find them I’ll post them. Meanwhile, check out the new thread for the pictures.

If Hay-on-Wye isn’t too far (106.2 miles according to Autoroute) then it’s well worth the trip. A lovely village in beautiful countryside with low flying military jets and more book shops than you can shake a stick at. Mmmmmm…..! Lots of opportunities to pick up bargain out of print titles too. 🙂

Was the cheque rubber then?

Paul

You mean Vulcanised? 😀

Tom, as I recall the internees may well have been earlier on in the war but the circumstances are very similar, including their apprehension. I’ll have to delve into my files to be sure.

I’ll also dig out the photos I took. I’ve got a copy of the book I mentioned, “Island Camp”, published by Susan M Hawthorne and Bryntaeg Comprehensive School. It’s probably long out of print – it was published in 1989 originally. There’s a copy available on Abebooks website – $42.00 plus shipping!!!! Wish I’d bought a few copies now!

Dean

I have seen the BBC account of the March escape and I have just finished reading the book Come Out Wherever You Are about this escape.

The odd thing about it is that my Dad insists that some of the escapees where rounded up at sea..headed for Ireland…in a stolen tug (or tender).

Apparently they were discovered by search aircraft and finally apprehended by the Royal Navy (March 12 1945).

This event does not appear to be mentioned in either the book or the TV documentary.

Can anyone shed some light on this puzzle ???

Thanks,

Tom

Tom, are you sure that the escapees were POW’s from Island Camp? A group of several internees from the Isle of Man were rounded up in almost exactly the same manner you described. Any more info?

I noticed the ATC Cadets listed.. wonder what the story was with them ??

A number of Air Training Corps cadets were killed whilst on familiarisation/training flights with RAF units during WW2. The first of these I have been told was killed on the Isle of Man. I don’t know how many were killed in total but I would imagine that sadly 4 such individuals have no known grave hence, their names too on the memorial.

Great pictures and a poignant time to post them – brings back poignant memories of my last visit there. I too only lived a few miles from the Memorial but only finally made time to visit when I moved to the Isle of Man! No excuse.

Let’s look at the potential likelihood….

Duxford at a public day – legality, shouldn’t be an issue per se as it is perfectly legit to fire fully automatic MG42’s, Brens, .30 Brownings etc. at living history events with a much closer crowd line than is being suggested. I think the shear thought of 8 Brownings even firing blanks though would cause a cocern to HSE et al, although personally I don’t see why not. The road behind the butts would be an issue.

Getting hold of live .303 Browning aircraft guns – quite possible.

Recoil damage to any Spitfire, static or otherwise – others may be better placed to say but I would imagine this is a genuine possibility.

If considering anything remotely like this, personally I’d go for the History Channel type suggestion and load live ammunition and strafe some range targets at Otterburn or similar with wing gun cameras etc. Easy to say though as I don’t own a flying Spit and the CAA would probably have a cow at the very mention of such a hair-brained scheme.

Nice idea but probably unrealistic. Please prove me wrong though Phillip!

Just found this reference in the Gazette:

“Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Appointments to commision. As Plt. Offs. on prob. (emergency):

Wt.Offs.
1271729 John Willoughby Vickers (190554)”

6 March 1945

I would imagine that is “your” man in the cockpit. I’ll check the service number and see what it tells us.

I see our posts have crossed – it was just a way of seeing whether the Maple Leaf was “his” or belonged to another.

Dean