Back in the Winter I picked up this fantastic Pre- War Irvin. It was made by Irvin Air Chute and dates to the mid 1930s. The sleeve zips are the very rare Dot Deco type, with an American Patent number. Dot zips were made under licence in the UK from United Carr. The main zip has "Dot British" marked on the slider bucket rather than more common "Dot Made in England". The jacket is a decent size, most likely a size 6 and there are no issues with it at all. No repairs or wear to the fleece at all.
It belonged to the Australian Wing Commander Christopher Willans Goldthorp (43964) of 225 Squadron who was promoted to Flight Lieutenant (R.A.T.A)
on 1/7/ 1942 and acting Wing Co on 29/12/44.
Here is some information about 225 Squadron:
The squadron was reformed on 11 October 1939 from No 614A Squadron (which had been formed from 'B' Flight of 614 Squadron eight days earlier) at Odiham. Its Lysanders were mainly used in Army exercises except for some coastal patrols conducted from June 1940. Lysanders remained its equipment until January 1942, when Hurricanes began to arrive, although it was July before the last Lysander left. However, by that time, Mustangs had also started to be taken on strength and both types were operated on tactical reconnaissance operations.
In October 1942 the squadron joined the forces for Operation 'Torch', the Allied invasion of North Africa. It provided tactical reconnaissance support to 1st Army until the end of the Tunisia campaign, beginning conversion to Spitfires in January 1943, the Hurricanes leaving in April and the Mustangs in August. By the time the Mustangs left, the squadron was in Sicily and the following month moved to France. In August 1944, the squadron took part in the invasion of Southern France, returning to its Italian operations the following month, where it remained until the end of the war. Retained as part of the occupation forces, the squadron eventually disbanded on 7 January 1947 at Campoformido.
It belonged to the Australian Wing Commander Christopher Willans Goldthorp (43964) of 225 Squadron who was promoted to Flight Lieutenant (R.A.T.A)
on 1/7/ 1942 and acting Wing Co on 29/12/44.
Here is some information about 225 Squadron:
The squadron was reformed on 11 October 1939 from No 614A Squadron (which had been formed from 'B' Flight of 614 Squadron eight days earlier) at Odiham. Its Lysanders were mainly used in Army exercises except for some coastal patrols conducted from June 1940. Lysanders remained its equipment until January 1942, when Hurricanes began to arrive, although it was July before the last Lysander left. However, by that time, Mustangs had also started to be taken on strength and both types were operated on tactical reconnaissance operations.
In October 1942 the squadron joined the forces for Operation 'Torch', the Allied invasion of North Africa. It provided tactical reconnaissance support to 1st Army until the end of the Tunisia campaign, beginning conversion to Spitfires in January 1943, the Hurricanes leaving in April and the Mustangs in August. By the time the Mustangs left, the squadron was in Sicily and the following month moved to France. In August 1944, the squadron took part in the invasion of Southern France, returning to its Italian operations the following month, where it remained until the end of the war. Retained as part of the occupation forces, the squadron eventually disbanded on 7 January 1947 at Campoformido.
