Merry christmas to all. Still hoping santa brings me a spade grip, but I think he’d have to sell rudolph for venison to raise the cash.

At least one other Battle of Britain Stuka crew carried more exotic sidearms. locals picking through the remains of a JU87 shot down at Portesham in Dorset found bits of an MP40, the grip an folding stock of which were hanging in the local Blacksmith’s shop back in the 60s. Neither blacksmith nor MP40 are there now unfortunately.

Try mark Ansell “Bolton Paul Defiant” mushroom model magazine special ISBN 83-89450-19-4. Lots of excellent turret photos taken of the Hendon Defiant and some good manufacturer’s pics. the whole series are very lovely.

Definately bomb rack, but ‘light’ rack for 100Ib and 120Ib bombs. As fitted to Fairey Battles! Were they fitted to Tempests, or have you found a Battle?

Here’s a cheeky scan that lovely 4+ book. Looks pretty convincingly wellington.

Hello Graham, have you seen your free advertising in the back of aircraft illustrated magazine? under the heading ‘own a piece of Spifire’ they’ve posted your poss MkIII airspeed indicater. Tomorrow the World!

There is a big report on the Flamingo loss in the AVIA files at the NA (I think its the same one) it certainly mentioned the loss of Soviet diplomats and gave the impression it had to be proved to be an accident! I think there were photos of the wreckage included and certainly plans of it’s distribution.