RAF fighter command ww2

[dinomartino1]

I think this will be a long thread, some to start with.

Senor Montero de Bustamante, Uruguayan Charge d'Affaires, speaking at the ceremony at Hornchurch, Essex to name a Spitfire ("Uruguay XVI") subscribed to by the people of Uruguay. Air Vice Marshal H W L Saunders, Air Officer Commanding No 11 Group of Fighter Command, is on the extreme left, with the Rt Hon H H Balfour MP, Under Secretary of State for Air (second from left) and Air Vice Marshal R M Hill, Air Officer Commanding No 12 Group (centre foreground).

Pilots of No. 64 Squadron RAF discuss their experiences on the fighter sweep they have just made over France, on returning to Hornchurch, Essex.

Pilots of the Hornchurch Wing attend a briefing by the Intelligence Officer prior to a fighter sweep over France, at Hornchurch, Essex.

Six Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I night fighters of No. 264 Squadron RAF based at West Malling, Kent, flying in port echelon formation.

One of Fighter Command's top night-fighting teams was that of Wing Commander J R 'Bob' Braham (right) and his navigator Flight Lieutenant W J 'Sticks' Gregory. Braham had shot down 19 enemy aircraft, mostly in Beaufighters, with another 10 claimed on daylight Mosquito sorties. Although the pair had staff appointments when this shot was taken at Benson on 19 May 1944, Braham still flew operationally whenever possible. It was on one such freelance excursion over Denmark on 25 June that he was shot down and captured.

An airman who has been put on a charge appears, under escort, before Group Captain C S Lott, the Station Commander at RAF Hornchurch, Essex.

The temporary Operations Room set up at Fighter Command HQ at Bentley Priory, Stanmore, Middlesex, 14 February 1940. This was in use until a purpose-built underground command centre was completed in March.

Pilots of No.222 Squadron RAF talking with the Station Commander at North Weald, Essex, while standing in front of one of the Squadron's Supermarine Spitfire Mark VBs.

Wing Commander D E Kingaby. Photograph taken at the Air Ministry Studios, London.
He was the only person to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal three times.
During an operational career of some 300 operations, Kingaby scored 21 air victories against enemy aircraft, as well as two shared victories, six probables and 11 damaged during the war.[ 14 of his solo victories came against the Messerschmitt Bf 109

 

[dinomartino1]

Pilots of No 452 Squadron RAAF, standing in front of a Supermarine Spitfire Mark IIA at Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire. This unit was the first Australian squadron to be formed in Fighter Command.

The station crash-tender, a Crossley Type 'T', and crew stand by ready for action at Hornchurch, Essex. The firefighter is wearing an asbestos suit and sits in front of the foam fire-extinguisher gear.

The result of a minor mishap suffered by Typhoon JR328/JX-X of No 1 Squadron at Martlesham Heath, 6 March 1944. The aircraft's brakes failed on landing and its pilot was forced to swerve sharply to miss a parked vehicle.

'Babs VI', a Typhoon of No 174 Squadron, coded XP-K, was photographed at Volkel on 9 February 1945, the day after it was written off in a wheels-up landing. Like so many aircraft crashes, this one was down to engine failure rather than enemy action.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-5, AX772, of No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft Circus) Flight based at Collyweston, Northamptonshire, on the ground at a USAAF base in England.

Junkers Ju 88A-5, HM509, of No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft Circus) Flight base at Collyweston, Northamptonshire, in flight with Flying Officer D G M Gough at the controls.

Junkers Ju 88A-5, HM509, of No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft Circus) Flight base at Collyweston, Northamptonshire, in flight over the English countryside with Flying Officer D G M Gough at the controls.

Ground staff in steel helmets refuelling and rearming a Hawker Hurricane Mark I of No. 32 Squadron, at a dispersal at Biggin Hill, August 1940.

The pin-up painted (or glued?) on the side of this Hurricane attracted the attention of a photographer at Drem on 15 April 1941. Unfortunately the image was deemed by higher authority to be unfit for publication and duly censored. 'Wee Jean' was an aircraft from No 260 Squadron, a recently formed unit that was about to leave Fighter Command for the Mediterranean.

 

[dinomartino1]

The Hawker Typhoon's devastating rocket armament was effective against tanks, gun emplacements, buildings and railways. Coastal shipping was another target, including this unfortunate tug caught in the Scheldt estuary in September 1944. In this case the shell splashes from the aircraft's four 20mm cannon assist the pilot in correcting his aim before unleashing a salvo of RPs

Airmen from No 504 Squadron RAF relaxing with a few drinks and enjoying a sing-song around the piano at a local pub in Middle Wallop, Hampshire.

Six Hawker Hurricane Mark IICs of No 3 Squadron RAF based at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, flying in formation.

Hawker Hurricane Mk IIb 'Hurribomber' 'AF-S' of 'B' Flight 607 Squadron being re-armed at Manston, 6 November 1941.

Westland Whirlwinds of No 263 Squadron in flight, December 1940.

Hurricane IIC BD936/ZY-S of No 247 Squadron, April 1942.

A Hawker Typhoon Mark IB of No. 56 Squadron RAF being serviced at Matlask, Norfolk.

Pilots of No. 43 Squadron RAF sitting round the stove in their dispersal hut while at readiness, at Drem, East Lothian.

Ground crew show off their stock of liberated 'smokes' as they decorate a 500 pound bomb at Eindhoven (B-78), October 1944. The Typhoon in the background, MN816, was on strength with No 438 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force.

 

[dinomartino1]

Pilot Officer James 'Ginger' Lacey DFM and Bar, hard at work on a model aeroplane in No 501 Squadron's dispersal hut at Colerne, 30 May 1941.
He was was one of the top scoring Royal Air Force fighter pilots of the Second World War and was the second highest scoring RAF fighter pilot of the Battle of Britain, behind Pilot Officer Eric Lock of No. 41 Squadron RAF. Lacey was credited with 28 enemy aircraft destroyed, five probables and nine damaged.

One pilot relieves another at the controls of Supermarine Spitfire Mark I, X4381 'SD-J', of No 501 Squadron RAF, at Colerne, Wiltshire.

Hurricane IIBs of Duxford-based No 601 Squadron in flight, 21 August 1941.

A pilot demonstrates the new 'K'-type one-man dinghy in the unlikely surroundings of Watford Public Baths, 19 May 1941.

Hurricanes of No 401 Squadron undergoing maintenance at Digby, 16 March 1941.

 

[dinomartino1]

Airmen holding down the tail of a Supermarine Spitfire Mark I, N3072, of No. 611 Squadron RAF during a firing test at the gun butts at Digby, Lincolnshire.

Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding talking with Group Captain D R S Bader and other veteran fighter pilots before they took off from North Weald, Essex, for the Battle of Britain Anniversary fly-past over London. They are (left to right); Wing Commander J Ellis, Wing Commander T A Vigors, Wing Commander D Crowley-Milling, ACM Lord Dowding, Group Captain D R S Bader, Squadron Leader R Buch, Wing Commander B Drake (partially behind Buch), Wing Commander P M Brothers, and an unknown pilot (behind Brothers).

Wing Commander T F "Butch" Dalton-Morgan, while leader of the Ibsley Wing, at Harrowbeer, Devon. From the time of his posting to No. 43 Squadron RAF as a flight commander in June 1940, until he was rested from operations in February 1942, by which time he was the Squadron's longest-serving Commanding Officer, Dalton-Morgan shot down at least 14 enemy aircraft. After his return to operations with the Ibsley Wing, he flew with the 4th Fighter Group, 8th USAAF, and then became operations officer with the 2nd Tactical Air Force. By the end of the war he had scored 22 confirmed victories

Flight-Lieutenant E P "Hawkeye"Wells of No 485 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF, sitting in the cockpit of his Supermarine Spitfire Mark VB, "Waikato", at Kenley, Surrey. He assumed command of the Squadron in February 1942, and later led the Kenley, Tangmere, Detling and West Malling Wings before being appointed the commanding officer of the Fighter Leaders School at the Central Flying Establishment in 1944. He finished the war having shot down 13 enemy aircraft.

Hawker Sea Hurricane Mark I, Z4936 'KE-M', of the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit, is fired from the training catapult at Speke, Liverpool.

Flight Lieutenant D R Turley-George (left) and the Flying Officer C Fenwick (spare pilot) of the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit, in front of their Hawker Sea Hurricane on board the SS EMPIRE TIDE at Hvalfjord, Iceland.

Squadron Leader K W "Bluey" Truscott, Commanding Officer of No 452 Squadron RAAF at Redhill, Surrey. He began his operational flying with the Squadron in August 1941, rising to its command in January 1942. When this photograph was taken, he had just received notice of his posting back to Australia, having shot down 16 enemy aircraft. He later commanded No 76 Squadron RAAF in the South-West Pacific area, and was killed in a flying accident on 28 March 1943.

Flight Lieutenants P W Townsend (left) and C B Hull of No. 43 Squadron RAF at Wick, Caithness, at the time they had shot down three enemy aircraft each. Hull became the commanding officer of the Squadron in September 1940 and was killed in action on 8 September having shot down at least 10 enemy aircraft. Townsend was to end his flying service with at least 11 victories, having commanded Nos. 85 and 605 Squadrons RAF. He then commanded RAF stations at Drem and West Malling, and No. 23 Initial Training Wing, before becoming Equerry of Honour to the King in March 1944.

Group Captain A G Malan, Station Commander at Biggin Hill, Kent, (left), talks to Squadron Leader E J Charles, Officer Commanding No. 611 Squadron RAF (middle), and Wing Commander A C Deere, leader of the Biggin Hill Wing (right).
Sailor Malan finished his fighter career in 1941 with 27 destroyed, 7 shared destroyed and 2 unconfirmed, 3 probables and 16 damaged. At the time he was the RAF's leading ace, and one of the highest scoring pilots to have served wholly with Fighter Command during World War II.

Three decorated fighter pilots of No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron RAF, standing outside the Officers' Mess at Duxford, Cambridgeshire. They are (left to right): Pilot Officer W L McKnight, Acting Squadron Leader D R S Bader (Commanding Officer), and Acting Flight Lieutenant G E Ball. By the date this photograph was taken these pilots had, between them, shot down over thirty enemy aircraft.

 

[dinomartino1]

Hurricane pilots of No 73 Squadron entertain a Greek newspaper correspondent at their base at Rouvres, December 1939.

 

[Changeling]

Great photographs and an interesting thread to read.

 

[Steve27752]

Who would have thought that a naked man would have gotten past the censor?

 

[dinomartino1]

Pilots of No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron RAF gathered by their Commanding Officer's new Mustang Mark III (FB387, PG-G) at RAF Brenzett, 2 August 1944. From left to right: Flying Officer Bożydar Nowosielski; Squadron Leader Eugeniusz Horbaczewski (CO); Flight Sergeant Stanisław Będkowski; Flight Lieutenant Gwidon Świstun; unknown member of the ground crew; Flight Lieutenant Michał Cwynar; unknown mechanic. Seated on the ground is Warrant Officer Tadeusz Jankowski

Spitfire Mark VB, AD233 'ZD-F', being flown by the Commanding Officer of No.222 Squadron RAF, Squadron Leader Richard Milne, when based at North Weald, Essex. On 25 May, AD233 was shot down by Focke Wulf Fw 190s over Gravelines, while being flown by Squadron Leader Jankiewicz.

Ground staff refuel a Supermarine Spitfire Mk VB of No. 64 Squadron RAF at Hornchurch, 7 May 1942

Fighter pilots in a dispersal hut at Hornchurch, Essex filling in time with a game of cards before the order to take off on a sweep over France.

Groundcrew from No. 122 Squadron RAF play a game of draughts while waiting for their aircraft to return from an operation over France, Hornchurch, 7 May 1942.

Group Captain Charles Lott Hornchurch's 35-year-old Station Commander, climbs into his flying kit before going up in a Spitfire, June 1942. Retrieving his parachute from the car is his WAAF driver, Leading Aircraftwoman Mary Ford.

Flight Sergeant Georges Nadon of No 122 Squadron was the focus of a photo-story taken at Hornchurch in May 1942. The Photographer's brief was to record the movements of a single pilot over the course of a day. The 27-year-old French-Canadian, seens striking a pose in the cockpit of his Spitfire, was asked to list his hobbies. Somewhat predictably, the response was 'girlfriends and beer'!

Flight-Lieutenant J H "Ginger" Lacey of No. 501 Squadron RAF, in the cockpit of his Supermarine Spitfire Mark I at Colerne, Wiltshire. At this time, Lacey had been credited with 23 victories, gained over France and the United Kingdom between May and October 1940. He became a flight commander shortly after this photograph was taken, and after a period as a test pilot and instructor, was posted to the Far East, where he commanded No. 17 Squadron RAF. His final victory score was 28.

Flying Officer F "Fifi" Verpoorten of No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron RAF starts up his Supermarine Spitfire Mark XIV at Lympne, Kent, for an early morning sortie over Holland. The aircraft still bears the unit codes of No. 130 Squadron RAF, having been recently transferred from that unit.

Defiant Mark Is, (N1536, ‘PS-R’ nearest), of No. 264 Squadron RAF, lined up at Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire.

 

[dinomartino1]

The Commanding Officer of No. 486 Squadron RNZAF, Squadron Leader J H Iremonger, standing by the cockpit of Hawker Tempest Mark V, 'SA-F'.

Squadron Leader Eugeniusz Horbaczewski, the CO of the No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron, standing by his new Mustang Mark III (FB387, PK-G) at Brenzett, Kent. He was shot down and killed on 18 August 1944, after destroying three Focke Wulf Fw 190s to bring his score to 16 and a half victories

 

[Smithy]

Wonderful idea for a thread.

I especially liked the photo of 64 Sqn's B Flight. This photo isn't the clearest but the tall blond fellow at the back is almost certainly my granddad's cousin.

On another note and a little recommendation, Dalton-Morgan's memoir "Tommy Leader" is an excellent read. Bit pricey but well worth it.

 

[dinomartino1]

Wonderful idea for a thread.

I especially liked the photo of 64 Sqn's B Flight. This photo isn't the clearest but the tall blond fellow at the back is almost certainly my granddad's cousin.

On another note and a little recommendation, Dalton-Morgan's memoir "Tommy Leader" is an excellent read. Bit pricey but well worth it.

Smithy mate you must have some library at home.

 

[Smithy]

Smithy mate you must have some library at home.

I actually stopped counting a few years ago Flynny. I can't have everything shelved in my man cave/study, so I have piles of books halfway up the walls and have a storage room which is full as well. I love it though and they do get used a lot for research (I'm currently doing research at the moment on coding and serials for aircraft flown by Aussies and Kiwis in the Battle of Britain after being approached to do so by an Aussie company).

I'm also happy to help if anyone is after anything.

 

[stanier]

Who would have thought that a naked man would have gotten past the censor?View attachment 18405

Our hero in the dinghy does have the look on his face of, “I’m not looking round!” As he makes his getaway!

This pic must be to Bob Dong what “The War Lover” is to Buzz Rickson...

 

[dinomartino1]

Spitfire F Mk.21, 3rd Prototype, LA187. Ground view.

Airmen of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron running from their hut for a scramble call at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, 26 August 1942.
Identified individuals are: Flying Officer Eugeniusz Horbaczewski (second from the door), Flying Officer Zygmunt Bieńkowski (second from the right). Note Misia, the Squadron's dog-mascot, running with the pilots.

Pilots of No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron by a German Panzer IV tank they have destroyed. Normandy, August 1944.Frome left to right: unknown; Squadron Leader Bohdan Arct (possibly); unknown; Flight Lieutenant Wacław Król (possibly); Warrant Officer Władysław Majchrzyk (No. 308 Squadron) and Flight Lieutenant Kazimierz Sporny

Flying Officer Jan "Donald Duck" Zumbach (left) and Pilot Officer Witold "Tolo" Łokuciewski (right) of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron being decorated with Polish highest military award, Virtuti Militari, by General Władysław Sikorski, the C-in-C of the Polish Armed Forces, 29 October 1941. Both pilots achieved an ace status during the Battle of Britain and were also decorated with Distinguished Flying Crosses.

Pilots of No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron enjoying a break in the Operation Room of RAF Ouston, 27 April 1941. The score board in the background displays several names of the pilots - S/Ldr Henryk Szczęsny, S/Ldr Piotr Ozyra, F/Lt Paweł Niemiec, F/Lt Tadeusz Koc, F/O Tadeusz Szumowski, F/O Andrzej Malarowski, F/O Stanisław Łukaszewicz, Sgt Tadeusz Baranowski, Sgt Stanisław Brzeski, Sgt Bronisław Kościk, Sgt Jan Malinowski.

Sergeant Ryszard Górecki of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron in the cockpit of his Spitfire, 29 August 1942. Photograph probably taken at the RAF Kirton in Lindsey.

Pilots of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron gathering around the inscribed tail-fin of their 178th victim, a Junkers Ju 88, at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, 26 August 1942. The five pilots are (left to right) - Sergeant Aleksander Rokitnicki, Flight Sergeant Kazimierz Wünsche, Flying Officer Zygmunt Bieńkowski, Flying Officer Eugeniusz Horbaczewski and Flying Officer Maciej Lipiński. In the background is Flight Lieutenant Jan "Donald Duck" Zumbach's Supermarine Spitfire Mark VB (BM144, RF-D), displaying a personal score of 11 destroyed and 2 probables

Spitfire F Mk.24, PK713. Viewed from the starboard front quarter

Pilot Officer Bolesław Drobiński being helped with his life jacket by Flying Officer Wiktor Strzembosz, both of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron, with the Spitfire IIA, 'RF-P' in the background. Photograph taken at RAF Northolt, 1941.

 

[dinomartino1]

The first production de Havilland Vampire F MK 1, TG274, at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, where it undertook extensive handling trials from July to October 1945.

Junkers Ju 88A-5, HM509, of No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft Circus) Flight base at Collyweston, Northamptonshire, is inspected by American personnel of the 8th USAAF at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, during the unit's 11th tour of operational stations giving flying demonstrations.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-5, AX772, of No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft Circus) Flight based at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, in flight. Originally '5F-CM' of 4(F)/14, this aircraft was intercepted by RAF fighters while on a reconnaissance mission on the morning of 21 July 1940. After being forced down near Goodwood racecourse, Sussex, it was taken to the Royal Aircraft Establishment and repaired with parts from another Bf 110C-5 forced down earlier. After handling trials with the RAE, it was flown to the Air Fighting Development Unit at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, as AX772 on 13 October 1941. On 5 March 1942, AX772 was transferred to No. 1426 Flight with whom it flew on a number of flying demonstrations and tours until moving to the Enemy Aircraft Flight of the Central Flying School at Tangmere on 31 January 1945. It was finally stored at No. 47 Maintenance Unit, Sealand, in November 1945

Junkers Ju 88A-5, HM509, of No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft Circus) Flight based at Collyweston, Northamptonshire, parked in front of the hangars at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, during the unit's 11th tour of operational stations giving flying demonstrations. Formerly 'M2-MK' of Kustenflieger 106, this aircraft fell into British hands on 26 November 1941 when its crew became disorientated following an abortive anti-shipping sortie in the Irish Sea and landed by mistake at Chivenor, Devon. HM509 joined No. 1426 Flight, then at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, on 11 December 1941, remaining with them until 26 July 1944, when it was struck off charge.

Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4/B, NN644, of No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft Circus) Flight based at Collyweston, Northamptonshire, parked at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, during the unit's 11th tour of operational stations giving flying demonstrations. This aircraft, 'White 11' of 10(Jabo)/JG26, was hit by machine gun fire while attacking a corvette in the English Channel on 20 May 1942, and was forced to make a wheels-up landing at Beachy Head. The aircraft was taken the Royal Aircraft Establishment and then delivered to No. 1426 Flight on 21 August 1943. It was transferred to the Enemy Aircraft Flight of the Central Flying School at Tangmere, Sussex, on 31 January 1945 and went into storage at No. 47 Maintenance Unit, Sealand the following Novembe

light Lieutenant Laurie of No. 222 Squadron, Royal Air Force starting up Supermarine Spitfire Mark V, BM202 'ZD-H' "Flying Scotsman", at North Weald, Essex. The aircraft was the second bearing this name to be paid for from donations made by LNER personnel.

A few words from a fellow pilot before the engine-start of Supermarine Spitfire Mark IX, BR600 `SH-V', of No 64 Squadron, Royal Air Force at Fairlop airfield in Essex

A Supermarine Spitfire Mark IX of No 64 Squadron, Royal Air Force undergoing an engine overhaul in a blister hangar on the north side of Fairlop airfield in Essex. No 64 was the first Squadron in Fighter Command to receive the Mark IX

A Supermarine Spitfire Mark IX of No 64 Squadron, Royal Air Force undergoing an engine overhaul just outside a blister hangar on the north side of Fairlop airfield in Essex. The aircraft had been pushed outside the hangar for the photograph.

 

[dinomartino1]

A pilot at Fairlop airfield in Essex has a haircut during a break between sweeps. A Supermarine Spitfire is in the background

An RAF pilot is rescued by the Royal Navy after being shot down during the air battle over Dieppe, 19 August 1942.

A No 174 Squadron Typhoon in a sorry state at Volkel. This aircraft, bearing fuselage codes XP-P, is believed to have been hit by flak on 22 February, and was wrecked on return to base. Note the wing armament access panels hanging open, and the No 274 Squadron Tempest parked in the background

Defiant Mark I night fighter, T4037 ‘JT-T’, of No. 256 Squadron RAF, on the ground at Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire. The retractable fuselage fairings aft of the turret have been lowered for firing. (Background of photograph censored

Whirlwind Mark I, P7116 ‘HE-F’ “Bellows Argentina No. 2”, flown by the Officer Commanding No. 263 Squadron RAF based at Colerne, Wiltshire, on the snow-covered airfield at Charmy Down, Somerset

Spitfire F Mark XIVE, RB151, on the ground at Eastleigh, Hampshire, following assembly by Supermarine Aircraft Ltd. The aircraft was delivered to No. 610 Squadron RAF at Exeter, Devon, for operational service.

The crew of De Havilland Mosquito Mark II, DZ757 'RA-Q', of No. 410 Squadron RCAF, Flight Lieutenant M A Cybulski RCAF (pilot, left) and Flying Officer H H Ladbrook (navigator), stand by their fire-damaged aircraft at Coleby Grange, Lincolnshire, after destroying a Dornier Do 217 east of the Zuider Zee on the night of 27 September 1943. Burning petrol and oil from the exploding German aircraft temporarily blinded Cybulski and engulfed the Mosquito, sending it into a steep dive from which Ladbrook managed to recover it after losing some 4,000 feet. Although the dive extinguished the flames, the port engine stopped and the aircraft became extremely difficult to control because of the damage to the rudder. The crew, nevertheless managed to steer DZ757 back on one engine over 200 miles to Coleby Grange, for which both were awarded the DFC

Fire-damaged De Havilland Mosquito NF Mark XVII, 'O', of No. 85 Squadron RAF, back at its base at West Malling, Kent, following the destruction of an enemy bomber on the night of 24/25 March 1944. Flying Officer E R Hedgecoe (pilot), and Flight Lieutenant N L Bamford (radar operator), flying 'O for Orange' intercepted the Junkers Ju 188 off Hastings, closing to 100 yards to deliver a burst of cannon fire upon which the enemy aircraft suddenly exploded, enveloping the Mosquito in burning oil and debris. The fabric covering of the aircraft caught fire and it was enveloped in flames. Hedgecoe ordered Bamford to bale out, but had second thoughts when the fire went out and he found the Mosquito to be stable in flight, despite the loss of rudder control due to the fabric being burned off. After wiping a clear patch in the soot-blackened cockpit canopy, Hedgecoe flew back to a safe landing at West Malling. Hedgecoe and Bamford were an experienced night-fighting crew, Hedgecoe having shot down eight enemy aircraft and Bamford taking part in the destruction of ten, before both were killed in a flying accident on 1 January 1945.

Wing Commander F W Hillock, Officer Commanding No. 410 Squadron RCAF (left), and Flight Lieutenant P O'Neill-Dunne (right), standing in front of their De Havilland Mosquito NF Mark II at Coleby Gange, Lincolnshire, with 300 feet of copper wireless cable which they brought back wrapped around the aircraft from an intruder operation over Holland. On the night of 15 April 1943, Hillock (pilot) and O'Neill-Dunne (observer) mounted a Night Ranger operation to the Ruhr valley. While flying at low level in poor weather they were suddenly confronted with the radio masts of Apeldoorn station. Hillock threw the Mosquito into a vertical bank and flew straight through the antenna, tearing several away in the process. He then continued with the mission before returning to Coleby Grange, whereupon it was discovered that, not only were they encumbered with the cable, but one wing tip had been sliced off by the breaking antenna and the other wing cut through to the main spar (damage visible on the left).

RAF armourers clean the barrel of a Hispano cannon removed from a Bristol Beaufighter NF Mark VI of No. 96 Squadron RAF, as WAAFs unload boxes of 20mm cannon shells by the aircraft at Honiley, Warwickshire.

 

[dinomartino1]

A WAAF corporal checks a delivery of 20mm Hispano cannon shells before they are loaded into a Bristol Beaufighter NF Mark VI of No. 96 Squadron RAF at Honiley, Warwickshire.

Pilots of No. 486 Squadron RNZAF wait for action in their dispersal area by Will's Farm. Standing at extreme left is the unit's Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader J H Iremonger.

 

[B-Man2]

Dino

These photos are the best I've seen in a while.....Thanks for posting them!

 

[Pilot]

Amazing!
thx for sharing.