The Dogs of War

[B-Man2]

This one is for all of the guys like myself who are dog lovers.
Please feel free to add some of your personal favorites.

1. Unknown
2. Unknown
3. Sgt James Hyde 132 Squadron
4. James "Johnny' Johnson" and Sally 144 Squadron
5. Adolph Galland
6. Unknown
7. Adolph Gysbert " Sailor" Malan
8. Unknown

 

[D97x7]

 

[Marv]

Number 2 is Flt Sgt George "Grumpy" Unwin of No. 19 Squadron with this dog Flash.

He survived the war and went on to become a Wing Commander retiring from the RAF in 1961.

 

[Smithy]

We have to have the most famous dog from the Battle of Britain on here, Susie from 504 Sqn...

 

[Smithy]

...plus Pipsqueak from 249, never mind Wilfred the duck!

 

[Smithy]

BTW Galland's dog was called Schweinebauch, a setter which he got in Spain whilst with the Condor Legion.

 

[Smithy]

Here's 331(Norwegian) Sqn's Varg. He's actually stuffed and at the museum here and regularly has to be treated for carpet beetles!

 

[Dover]

I'm sure many soldiers and airmen on both sides took comfort from their 4 legged friends.
Here is a picture of Czech airman Robert Bozdech and Antis. While flying with the French, Bozdech was shot down behind enemy enemy lines
and sought shelter in an abandoned farmhouse where he found the dog. He later flew with the RAF where the two were inseparable. It was said that
Antis had an uncanny ability to know when German bombers were inbound and would alert others. He flew alongside Bozdech on numerous
missions and was twice wounded. Both survived the war and Antis was awarded the Dickin Medal for animals displaying "bravery, loyalty and sacrifice"

 

[Dover]

Here's one more. General Patton and his bull terrier Willie

 

[Persimmon]

Guy Gibson and Nigger wearing the Iron Cross

and the cinema version of Guy Gibson with Nigger

 

[Smithy]

Guy's dog is always a bit of a conversation stopper Alan. You could hear a pin drop after you posted that!

I'll have to scan some photos but Sqn Ldr Marcus Knight of 485(NZ) Sqn's bull terrier Gus. Gus was the subject of many jokes by the Kiwis of 485. Gus had rather large and prominent genitalia and the boys painted the dog's name in permanent paint upon Gus's obvious "undercarriage" which caused a massive kerfuffle with the CO. Another time it was raining heavily and Gus wandered into the 485 dispersal. One wag got out his dye sachet which pilots carried in case of ditching in the drink as the powder upon contact with water caused a lurid orange stain on the sea making it easier for search and rescue aircraft to spot the downed airman. Anyway poor old Gus was liberally doused in the powder and then kicked out into the rain. This caused another major rumpus with the CO!

 

[dmar836]

LOL. Two great posts in a row!

 

[A2 B3au]

View attachment 3633 View attachment 3632 Guy Gibson and Nigger wearing the Iron Cross

and the cinema version of Guy Gibson with Nigger

Love it

 

[falcon_ib]

"Scotty" - mascot of the 372nd Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Group "Long Rangers" of the USAAF 5th Air Force

Here he is on Los Negros Island, early 1944

He even became immortalized as the 372nd's squadron insignia, and his likeness adorned their A-2s!

 

[Lorenzo_l]

Lt Ralph Kidd Hofer, 4th FG, and his dog Duke. Hofer's P-51 is named "Salem Representative"

Another very nice photo of Hofer and Duke:

These men were so young. Almost kids. No pun intended.

 

[Dover]

Here are a few more. The only pic that is
identified is that of waist gunner Harold Roger and Mister aboard the B-17 "Un Petit Peu"

 

[D97x7]

Just came across this, pic was taken in 1944 at Westonzoyland airport

 

[falcon_ib]

FIGMO of the 36th Fighter Bomber Squadron "Flying Fiends," K-13 airfield, Korea 1952-1953. Fits quite nicely in a boot!

 

[dmar836]

Didn't one of our members, Ray, fly T-6s out of K-13?
Dave

 

[Grant]

F/O Stanley Michel "Mike" Kolendorski - naturalized American, son of Polish immigrants. He had been living in California with his wife Charlotte May prior to enlisting in the RAF in Canada. His wife then filed for divorce because of this.
17 May 1941. After being scrambled early in the morning in Hurricane Mk IIb Z3186 XR* (71 (Eagle) Squadron) to intercept Ju88's and He111's coming across the channel.
At 20,000 ft they came across the escorting Bf 109s of JG 53 "Pik As" over the Thames Estuary, 'Mike' turned his aircraft sharply to intercept, but a second pair opend fire on him. A warning was given over the R/T but it was too late. It would seem that he was killed in his cockpit as no attempt to bale out was observed. The others saw his aircraft crash.
F/O Kolendorski's body was washed ashore in the Netherlands on 13th August 1941.