In early 1940 Flying Off Taylor was detailed to do a flypast for Press photographers. He flew so low that the assembled party threw themselves flat and didn’t get any photos, while he continued through a tree at the far end. Inspecting the damage to the wing, with a branch driven back into the main spar, are D. A. “Dandy” MacLean, my father and Sgt. Clarke. MacLean was killed on the night I was born: see post 3286 dated December 16.
The Coles crane, apparently with civil registration, positions to lift the damaged mainplane. Note the 250lb bombs on the bomb dolly in front of crane, bombs that would be bravely but vainly delivered to the advancing Wehrmacht. Branches were used as camouflage.
