29 August 2020
Group Captain Peter W TOWNSEND CVO DSO DFC* (11+e/a)
36, 43, OC 85 & 605, 611 Sqns Battle of Britain, on day & night fighters, Stn Cdr West Malling & Drem, Equerry HM King George VI 1944-52, HM The Queen, Elizabeth II R 1950-53
29 August 2020
Group Captain Irving Stanley ‘Black’ SMITH CBE DFC*
RNZAF 151& 487 Sqns, HURRICANE & DEFIANT (8+ e/a) led 487 Sqn MOSQUITO raid on AMIENS Gestapo Prison 18Feb44 (OPERATION JERICHO) and on Vincey
29 August 2020
Destroyed an enemy aircraft from the ground during one of the hardest days of the Battle of Britain “During an air raid on RAF Kenley 18 Aug 1940, Aircraftman 2nd Class Roberts was in charge of a […]
29 August 2020
185 Mrs Claire QUILL (née Wq Off LEGGE WRAF): for Lord DOWDING's FIGHTER COMMAND and its proven CONTROL and REPORTING system and here, in particular, those many WAAF ground control PLOTTERS and FIGHTER CONTROLLERS in and beyond the BATTLE of BRITAIN, often hearing through their headphones the savage cut and thrust of battle and too many final silences. Also recalled here is her popular late TEST PILOT husband, Jeffrey QUILL OBE AFC and the outstanding development by the Vickers SUPERMARINE team of designer Reginald MITCHELL (died 1937 at age 42) and then Joe SMITH, of the SPITFIRE. The power, take off weight and climb rate of the “SPIT” were doubled, with a five fold increase in firepower - the SEAFIRE 47s were the last of a total of 22,890 SPITFIRES produced. Claire Legge was a key adviser ensuring the 1940 period authenticity, particularly of the WAAFs in 1968/69’s "Battle of Britain" Film.
29 August 2020
Squadron Leader AH ‘Peter’ PIPER DFC
236 Squadron BLENHEIMS. Peter re-trained as a pilot and flew transport supply.
Representing all other aircrew, and non-fighter aircraft types, in and beyond the BATTLE OF BRITAIN.
29 August 2020
Wing Commander Thomas F ‘Ginger’ NEIL DFC DFC* AFC AE (17 e/a)
249 Sqn HURRICANES, BATTLE of BRITAIN, then to MALTA in May off ARK ROYAL to Dec4l; in l944 shared 16 e/a strafed + USAF 9th AIR FORCE Representing the NIGHT-FIGHTER WAR
Wing Commander Bransome A ‘Branse’ BURBRIDGE DSO* DF'C* DFC (US) (21 e/a & 3 V-1s)
Top scorer, with Sqn Ldr FS ‘Bill’ SKELTON, on MOSQUITO in UK and 100 GROUP long range support
29 August 2020
Air Vice Marshall C George LOTT CB CBE DSO DFC (5 e/a)
“One of the very first of the few”. Halton, 1 of only 3 airmen taught to fly on 19 Sqn trial, 41 Sqn, Iraq, OC 43(F) Sqn, lost eye on eve of BATTLE OF BRITAIN combat, CO Hornchurch, Sector Cdr & RAF Delegation to USA
29 August 2020
Squadron Leader Miroslav A ‘Tony’ LISKUTIN DFC
RAF, fighter pilot and later post-war RAF & civilian flying instructor
In memory of friends FRANTISEK, KUCERA & SMIK and representing all CZECHOSLOVAKS + 511 Czechoslovak WW2 airmen killed.
29 August 2020
Colonel Henri Lucien LAFONT Cdr Légion d’Honneur, Comp. de la Libération, G.Off de l’Ordre de Mérite, Croix de Guerre
Dramatically escaped Vichy-held Algeria for England, flew HURRICANES, one of 13 French pilots in the BATTLE of BRITAIN. 1938-65 L’Armée de l’Air & RAF 245, 615, 341 Alsace Sqns.
In memory of his friends Commandant René MOUCHOTTE, Bernard DUPÉRIER, and some 300 FRENCH pilots killed in the war.
29 August 2020
World War Two fighter pilot James Harry "Ginger" Lacey is being honoured with a blue plaque this weekend at his birthplace - now the site of a German-owned supermarket. While WW2 pilots like Douglas Bader and Guy Gibson became household names, Lacey's story is less well known.
29 August 2020
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29 August 2020
Wing Commander Ronald G KELLETT DSO DFC VM AE*
RAF Flying Ace.
Representing Auxiliary Air Force & Polish contribution: Nos 600, 616, 249 Sqns, founding OC 303 Polish Squadron, the most successful Battle of Britain Squadron & OC 96 Sqn
29 August 2020
Air Vice-Marshal James E ‘Johnnie’ JOHNSON CB CBE DSO** DFC* (c.38+ e/a)
700 operational 1941-1944 sorties: 19, 6!6, OC 616, Wg Ldr Kenley & 127, 125 &124 Wing top Fighter Commander Representing SPITFIRE Squadrons & in memory of Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader CBE DSO* DFC* 23, 19, 222, 0C242
29 August 2020
Aircraftwoman (later Flight Sergeant) Avis J HEARN (Parsons) MM
One of only 6 WOMEN’S AUXILIARY AIR FORCE members during the war honoured with the Military Medal. 4’11” of courage: in BATTLE OF BRITAIN, 18Aug40, stayed at reporting post as secret POLING RADAR station bombed: “about 30 planes dropped about 90 bombs on us.”
(The scene was replicated in 'The Battle of Britain' film)
29 August 2020
Wing Commander HJL ‘Jim’ HALLOWES DFC DFM* (c. 19+ e/a)
43, 96, 43, 65, OC of 122, 222, 165 & 504 Sqns after Halton 1932 & Sgt Pilot 1936; in BATTLE OF BRITAIN destroyed his Bf-109 attacker once when on fire, Stn Cdr Dunsfold
29 August 2020
Wing Commander W J ‘Sticks’ GREGORY DSO DFC* DFM VR
3 CATERPILLAR, l GOLDFISH.
In memory of Wing Commander JRD ‘Bob’ BRAHAM DSO** DFC** and representing 29, 141 & 107 Sqns (29+ e/a) and BEAUFIGHTER/MOSQUITO OPS
29 August 2020
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Grandy, GCB, GCVO, KBE, DSO, KStJ (8 February 1913 – 2 January 2004) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. He was the only officer who fought and commanded a squadron during the Battle of Britain to reach the post of Chief of the Air Staff.
29 August 2020
Group Captain Denys GILLAM DSO** DFC* AFC (8 e/a)
RAF Fighter Pilot Ace. 29, 616, 312, OC 306 & 615 Sqns & 146 Wg Ldr & Hurricane flakship buster, with fastest enemy a/c victory on take-off from Speke (Ju88); Typhoons & 2TAF
29 August 2020
Squadron Leader John AA ‘Johnny’ GIBSON DSO DFC* (e/a 12)
RAF & RNZAF (destroyed c.14, damaged l2 e/a) for NEW ZEALAND in BATTLES of FRANCE & BRITAIN, 501SQN, No.53 OTU, in PACIFIC, RHINE CROSSING at REES, 5th time shot down, BURMA, VIP pilot
29 August 2020
Group Captain Sir Edward FENNESSY CBE BSc FIEE FRIN Representing the vital operation and repair of early RADAR GCI stations in BATTLE of BRITAIN & later development of the NAVIGATION and BOMBING AIDS
29 August 2020
Wing Commander JFD ‘Tim’ ELKINGTON. RAFC Cranwell 1939-40, No.1(F) Sqn in Battles of France & Britain, went with 1941 No.151 Wing Hurricanes to VAENGA RUSSIA and on catapult Hurricane Atlantic CAM ships.
29 August 2020
Squadron Leader Boleslaw H DROBINSKI VMKW DFC (7 e/a)
Polish flying ace. 65, 303, 317, OC 303 Squadron &
Representing POLISH airmen, in RAF known as ‘Ski’, victories were in Spitfires May 1941-March 1942; later when OC 303 flew Mustangs
29 August 2020
Group Captain Billy DRAKE DSO DFC* (20 e/a) No. 1(F) Sqn HURRICANES in FRANCE, 213 Sqn, 421 Flight BATTLE of BRITAIN, SPITFIRE FR, OC 112 Sqn KITTYHAWKS WESTERN DESERT, Wing Ldr MALTA, then 20 WG TYPHOONS and at SHAEF HQ
29 August 2020
“There’s only one thing to do: break formation – and have a go” Alan Deere is perhaps New Zealand’s most renowned Fighter Ace and was the second highest scoring Kiwi Ace in World War Two. His […]