Thought this might interest some of you
Peter,
I've had my Dad looking at your photos, he was 272 around El Alamein time (late 1942) then went on to 603 in 1943. He says
Needless to say, we're both awaiting any more photos that you may be able to post
I've had my Dad looking at your photos, he was 272 around El Alamein time (late 1942) then went on to 603 in 1943. He says
I'm amazed by photos that have come to light in recent years. We were always told photography was forbidden, but obviously it didn't mean much to Allied servicemen. My old friend Reub Giles (Len Coulstock's pilot) was an avid cameraman, and I guess I should have followed his bad example.
Needless to say, we're both awaiting any more photos that you may be able to post
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To all of you, thank you for the comments, I will carry on posting what I find, and hope your interest will continue, one thing I came across when I was about 12 years old (about 1957, whilst moving house),it was a neatly folded Red handkerchief with white lines around its border, it had a ragged hole in it so that when you opened it it had a hole in each quarter, I asked Dad what it was, .. after a great deal of difficlty and tearful eyes Dad explained to me that it was in one of his friend pockets when they found him and his a/c, the hole it seems was from some sort of projectile amongst a few more that had done for the poor flyer, it took me a further 10 years before I realised what that scrap of useless material meant to him, many years later when we parted for the last time, it went with him.
The six years of that conflict did a lot more damage than just altering the landscape!
Vfr
The six years of that conflict did a lot more damage than just altering the landscape!
Vfr
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Vfr
As said before many thanks for sharing your Father's photographs with us they really are fascinating. You mentioned your Father's camera being a Kodak, perhaps it was one of these?
Mel
As said before many thanks for sharing your Father's photographs with us they really are fascinating. You mentioned your Father's camera being a Kodak, perhaps it was one of these?
Mel
Last edited by MReyn24050; 31st Jan 2006 at 08:02.
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MR, yes it was very similar to that one, with the exception that it had a sort of prisim that you looked down through and saw what the lens would also be seeing.
PeterR-B
Vfr
PeterR-B
Vfr
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The pictures I am attempting to post tonight should have been posted before the earlier one's showing the burnt Wellington, for these are the actual raid in progress and show some remarkable sights,
this picture is of the first part of the attack on 148 Sqdn at Kalbrit,
Wellingtons burning well, note the 4000 lb bombs at the ear of the wellington in the forground, I suppose thats why everybody hid behid things
This shows two Wellies burnng well, the white puffs are the bombs going off inside the Wimpeys note the chaps lurking behind the blast walls!
This shows one of the Wimpeysburnt out and still burning, with more that were mssed over the top of the blastwall,
next to the buning A/c is the petrol dump, missed by the attackers
This Airfield is at" Edku" which I think was Egypt about 20 miles from Alexandria, the buildings are the dispersal area and above the solitary tree you might be able to make out the profile of a Blenheim about to "Beat Up" the drome,
A trio of Toppish looking Bass in front of one of 272 Sqdns Beaus, not sure where though, perhaps Johns father might recognise these people.
A pair of 213 Sqdn NCO's in Cyprus at their office meeting!!
I hope as before these are of interest to you, and hope that I have got the size right now!
Many regards
Peter R-B
Vfr
this picture is of the first part of the attack on 148 Sqdn at Kalbrit,
Wellingtons burning well, note the 4000 lb bombs at the ear of the wellington in the forground, I suppose thats why everybody hid behid things
This shows two Wellies burnng well, the white puffs are the bombs going off inside the Wimpeys note the chaps lurking behind the blast walls!
This shows one of the Wimpeysburnt out and still burning, with more that were mssed over the top of the blastwall,
next to the buning A/c is the petrol dump, missed by the attackers
This Airfield is at" Edku" which I think was Egypt about 20 miles from Alexandria, the buildings are the dispersal area and above the solitary tree you might be able to make out the profile of a Blenheim about to "Beat Up" the drome,
A trio of Toppish looking Bass in front of one of 272 Sqdns Beaus, not sure where though, perhaps Johns father might recognise these people.
A pair of 213 Sqdn NCO's in Cyprus at their office meeting!!
I hope as before these are of interest to you, and hope that I have got the size right now!
Many regards
Peter R-B
Vfr
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Tempus Fugit, sadly I seem to run out of time all to easily in order to sort through these files of my fathers, a lot of the pictures now comming out are of people and odd pictures of equipment and convoys in the Desert, when any more of an aircraft type of interest come out I will post them straight away,
Interestingly though I found a website put up by the son of a Pilot from 272 Sqdn, in which he has several links to other people who had connections with 272, amazingly I have found a reference to my father whilst he was acting as Navigator for a Pilot called Group Captain JRD "Bob" Braham, and on the same site a good well written account of the attack and subsequent sinking of the Italian Liner, REX by no more than a handfull of 272 Beaufighters.
Its quiet amazing what can be found on the internet.
My regards
Peter R-B
Vfr
Interestingly though I found a website put up by the son of a Pilot from 272 Sqdn, in which he has several links to other people who had connections with 272, amazingly I have found a reference to my father whilst he was acting as Navigator for a Pilot called Group Captain JRD "Bob" Braham, and on the same site a good well written account of the attack and subsequent sinking of the Italian Liner, REX by no more than a handfull of 272 Beaufighters.
Its quiet amazing what can be found on the internet.
My regards
Peter R-B
Vfr
Peter,
This photo of yours,
are you able to tell from the original whether the nearest Beau has "H" as the Squadron letter? "H" for Humdinger was a 603 cab flown by Reub Giles in 1943, the squadron ID letters would be 'XT' for 603, 272 was 'BJ'. Dad is obviously interested, since if it is 603, he'd be flying one of the other two aircraft!
This photo of yours,
are you able to tell from the original whether the nearest Beau has "H" as the Squadron letter? "H" for Humdinger was a 603 cab flown by Reub Giles in 1943, the squadron ID letters would be 'XT' for 603, 272 was 'BJ'. Dad is obviously interested, since if it is 603, he'd be flying one of the other two aircraft!
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Absolutely fascinating.
This is what the Internet was designed for.
It really is amazing what the people of these times went through. These stories need re-telling however mundane they may seem. I too have experienced the reluctance of this generation to relay the exact events, emotions and feelings of this time but have slowly learnt how dramatic and traumatic these times were.
If only we could learn!
Whatever else you have Peter or anybody else has, I'm sure it would be appreciated here. Thanks for taking the time out to post.
This is what the Internet was designed for.
It really is amazing what the people of these times went through. These stories need re-telling however mundane they may seem. I too have experienced the reluctance of this generation to relay the exact events, emotions and feelings of this time but have slowly learnt how dramatic and traumatic these times were.
If only we could learn!
Whatever else you have Peter or anybody else has, I'm sure it would be appreciated here. Thanks for taking the time out to post.
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Peter,
I have only just noticed a name you mentioned in your post a couple up from here. That of Bob Braham. He became the subject of a conversation at my GatBash when I invited 15 former BoB pilots in 2000. It seems that Paul Farnes, one of the pilots, was with BB during the battle, quite how I cannot remember, when he flew Blenheim's. I was amazed to hear that BB had at war's end had received 2 DFC's 2 DSO's and later gained more when he flew Beaus. His rank of GC would suggest it is the same one. Whoever heard of Bob Braham, I hadn't, but he was a true hero.
Anyone got any info on BB? And Peter, please keep the photos coming. They are some of the best I have seen since starting the forum.
I have only just noticed a name you mentioned in your post a couple up from here. That of Bob Braham. He became the subject of a conversation at my GatBash when I invited 15 former BoB pilots in 2000. It seems that Paul Farnes, one of the pilots, was with BB during the battle, quite how I cannot remember, when he flew Blenheim's. I was amazed to hear that BB had at war's end had received 2 DFC's 2 DSO's and later gained more when he flew Beaus. His rank of GC would suggest it is the same one. Whoever heard of Bob Braham, I hadn't, but he was a true hero.
Anyone got any info on BB? And Peter, please keep the photos coming. They are some of the best I have seen since starting the forum.
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When I served on 29 the squadron had a Jerry Killers tankard.
Bob Braham's name featured regularly on it.
I don't know if it still available but I have his memoirs titled "Scramble" by W/Cdr J.R.D. Braham. DSO, DFC, AFC, CD, Belgian Order of the Crown, and Croix de Guerre.
Bob Braham's name featured regularly on it.
I don't know if it still available but I have his memoirs titled "Scramble" by W/Cdr J.R.D. Braham. DSO, DFC, AFC, CD, Belgian Order of the Crown, and Croix de Guerre.
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Re Bob Braham
Really excellent book "Pursuit through Darkened Skies" by Michael Allen (Airlife) which I have just finished reading. Mike Allen was the Nav/Rad crewed with Harry White on Night Fighter Ops in 44/45. They flew Beaufighters initially, then Mosquitos. Mike's hero was clearly Bob Braham who was his CO on a couple of Squadrons and receives a lot of mention in the book. I think he was the most highly decorated fighter pilot in WW2 with 2 DSOs, 2 DFCs and an AFC.
Last edited by Bof; 14th Apr 2006 at 11:03. Reason: Emphasis on two DSO and two DFC
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Italian Trimotors
Great Photos Vfrpilotpb,
The high wing trimotor with the RAF roundels,is indeed a Caproni Ca-133,powered by 3, 460 hp Piaggio P VII engines.The civilian trimotor is a SIAI-MACCHETTI SM 82/83 of Alalittoria.Powered by 3, 860 hp Alfa Romeo 128 engines.
Hope this helps.
The high wing trimotor with the RAF roundels,is indeed a Caproni Ca-133,powered by 3, 460 hp Piaggio P VII engines.The civilian trimotor is a SIAI-MACCHETTI SM 82/83 of Alalittoria.Powered by 3, 860 hp Alfa Romeo 128 engines.
Hope this helps.
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These are all great photos, thanks for sharing them! The photo of the three officers, note that the one on the right has a lighter shaded uniform. The other two could be Australians, as their uniforms were of a darker blue shade. Cant see any 'Australia' nationality flashes on the shoulders though.
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Originally Posted by Bof
Really excellent book "Pursuit through Darkened Skies" by Michael Allen (Airlife) which I have just finished reading. Mike Allen was the Nav/Rad crewed with Harry White on Night Fighter Ops in 44/45. They flew Beaufighters initially, then Mosquitos. Mike's hero was clearly Bob Braham who was his CO on a couple of Squadrons and receives a lot of mention in the book. I think he was the most highly decorated fighter pilot in WW2 with 2 DSOs, 2 DFCs and an AFC.
I second the recommendation about "Pursuit Through Darkened Skies. Great read!
'Bob' Braham flew Blenheims, then Beaus as a nightfighter, then went on to night intruder ops with Beaus and Mosquitos. Shot down after going against two FW-10s (in daylight!) after taking one fighter out. The other got him. Post war he flew with the RCAF, sadly died at a relatively young age. (Cancer?) RCAF CF-100 crews I've interviewed had great things to say about him as well.
