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Random Cool Photo Thread

Lorenzo_l

Lorenzo_l

Well-Known Member
Smithy said:
And whilst I'm on the subject of the Battle of Britain and "random cool photos" here's easily my favourite BoB snap because he's from my family. No known grave but never forgotten.

xj8gxOq.png
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Sorry to hear about your loss, Tim. What's his story?
 
Smithy

Smithy

Well-Known Member
Lorenzo_l said:
Sorry to hear about your loss, Tim. What's his story?
Click to expand...

Hi Lorenzo. Tom flew Spits with 64 Sqn during the Battle of Britain and afterwards with the 1941 air offensive over France and the Low Countries. He was transferred to 92 Sqn in North Africa. He actually flew as Neville Duke's wingman for a time. He was killed by friendly fire from a British warship he was trying to protect whilst attacking Ju88s on the day of the invasion of Sicily (10 July 1943). He was just 23 years old.

I got a phone call out of the blue many years ago from Tom's wingman on the day he was killed. The fellow had tracked me down and got my number from the treasurer of the 92 Sqn Association. A hugely emotional telephone conversation as he could tell me blow for blow what happened that day.
 
Lorenzo_l

Lorenzo_l

Well-Known Member
Smithy said:
Hi Lorenzo. Tom flew Spits with 64 Sqn during the Battle of Britain and afterwards with the 1941 air offensive over France and the Low Countries. He was transferred to 92 Sqn in North Africa. He actually flew as Neville Duke's wingman for a time. He was killed by friendly fire from a British warship he was trying to protect whilst attacking Ju88s on the day of the invasion of Sicily (10 July 1943). He was just 23 years old.

I got a phone call out of the blue many years ago from Tom's wingman on the day he was killed. The fellow had tracked me down and got my number from the treasurer of the 92 Sqn Association. A hugely emotional telephone conversation as he could tell me blow for blow what happened that day.
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That's some story, Tim, thanks for sharing. So much experience and he was only 23 when he passed away.
Goes to show that even your own side posed a serious threat in that kind of environment. And that call from his wingman out of the blue. Must have been mind-blowing.
 
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Smithy

Smithy

Well-Known Member
Lorenzo_l said:
That's some story, Tim, thanks for sharing. So much experience and he was only 23 when he passed away.
Goes to show that even your own side posed a serious threat in that kind of environment. And that call from his wingman out of the blue. Must have been mind-blowing.
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It was apparently chaos Lorenzo, lots and lots of flak and Ju88s trying to bomb the invasion force. Tom had already just shot down one Ju88 (which was confirmed by his wingman afterwards) and was going after another which was attacking a ship. He was hit by defensive fire from the ship and crashed into the sea off Avola. It was quite a blow for 92 as he was a flight commander and had 4 and 1 shared destroyed and 2 damaged.
 
B-Man2

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
Smithy said:
It was apparently chaos Lorenzo, lots and lots of flak and Ju88s trying to bomb the invasion force. Tom had already just shot down one Ju88 (which was confirmed by his wingman afterwards) and was going after another which was attacking a ship. He was hit by defensive fire from the ship and crashed into the sea off Avola. It was quite a blow for 92 as he was a flight commander and had 4 and 1 shared destroyed and 2 damaged.
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What a story, but more so, what a true Patriot and hero.
 
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