Bob Pugh

My father, Bob Pugh, now 89 was with Airwork in Saudi Arabia from ’68 to the mid/late ’70’s.

He was squadron commander on the first basic jet training course, flying Strikemasters, at the Air Academy, Riyadh. After conversion training in the USA he transferred as senior instructor to the fighter OCU with T33 and F86 jets, at Dahahran. After the T33 and F86 were phased out in about ’73/4 he went to Tabuk with BAC as Administration Manager and was there for a couple of years.

After his return to England he became a course organiser and lecturer at the Centre for International Briefing in Farnham where he was able to put his knolwedge and experience of working in Saudi to good use.

My main memory from this period, when I was aged 7 to 13ish was the growing collection of fossils and Seiko watches that he brought back every 7 months or so!

Anyone out there recall working with, or have knowledeg of my father in those Airwork years?

S/Ldr T P Pugh 263 Squadron

Joe,

I am a nephew of the late W/Cmdr Thomas P Pugh, DFC who served with 263 Squadron between June 1940 and February 1942 and as S/Ldr was Commanding Officer from August 1941.

Prompted by having recently made a good copy of the audio from a BBC recording from January 1942 on 78rpm 12” vinyl of Uncle Tom giving an account of a sortie to a German airfield in coastal France, for my father for Christmas, I have been doing some research on Uncle Tom.

Going through 263 Squadron records it appears that Uncle Tom flew Whirlwind P6994, among many others and in particular was the pilot who baled out of P6984 on 29 January 1941 due to double engine failure. For a short period when he was Squadron CO, P7116 was his “personal mount”. Whilst I haven’t made a full tally I note that others included P6977, 6990, 6995, 6996, 7004 and 7007.

My father has a few pictures of his brother but I would be really interested to know if you have any other images that might include Uncle Tom or the aircraft that he flew during his time with 263 Squadron and if you might be able to make any available. Uncle Tom is seated second row, fourth from the left (black sheepskin flying jacket) in the Squadron photo attached to one of your posts (I have a version of this photo).

Uncle Tom was later W/Cmdr with 182 Squadron operating Typhoons and was KIA on 2 August 1943 divebombing a destroyer in Dunkirk harbour. My father S/Ldr Robert M Pugh AFC RAF (Ret’d) flew Wellingtons with Coastal Command in particular with 38 Squadron in Libya in 1943. His other brother P/O John C Pugh was killed in a Spitfire crash in 1940.

It would certainly be great to be able to gather some images to accompany the copy I have made of the recording.

Thanks in anticipation.

Anthony

Went through the Ashworth photo/neg collection and he has about 80 Whirlwind aircraft prints, and another dozen negatives. Thought I might be able to help. But I am certain this neg and print have wrong ID. They ID this as 6994 and I am fairly certain it is 6984. Thought I would offer it here for enjoyment AND.. confirmation? There are a number of photos that only show the side lettering Reg #s and not the SNs numerals on the lower rear fuselage. (so a few are not yet ID’d) I am assuming (never ASSUME! :eek:) that 6994 only had the SN numerals and no reg lettering, when it was shipped to U.S.? Rob traded for many of his negatives and photos and almost always listed the source, if so. Some of these prints have notes on the back “please do not publish.” and the original owner’s name and early date of photos from their own album. Many others will be familiar photos such as the prototypes and armament details, and a few crashes.

Paul,

I would be obliged, thank you. Please e-mail me at [email]apugh@o2.co.uk[/email].

I think I will transcribe the recording of Uncle Tom giving an account of the raid on Lannion if this might be of interest to Forum members.

Thanks again.

Cheers

Anthony

Thanks Shed Man, PM received.

I will drop Jim an initial contact e-mail and see where we go from there. I am sure my father will be fascinated to hear of this project.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers

Anthony

Soggy,

If you have a look at the website dedicated to 263 Squadron (link given in my earlier e-mail) this gives a detailed history. It could certainly be Warmwell from the chronology indicated.

Cheers

Anthony

Shed Man,

Happy with that.

I have only just started a bit of research since getting the recording sorted out for my father. Came across this website about 263 Squadron yesterday, might be of interest if you have not seen it; http://homepage.ntlworld.com/laurieburley/jeff/index.html
http://www.rafcommands.com and forum has lots of good stuff too, ogoing Whirlwind thread there too.

Regards

Anthony