Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: DweebFire on June 05, 2007, 06:16:58 PM
-
I need some pictures of Canadian Spitfires in the Battle of Britain in addition to the squadron and one of the pilot's names.
I've recently been commissioned a drawing and I can't seem to find a single photo of an RCAF-manned Spitfire Mk.I/II squadron in 1940.
Help would be great, thanks.
-
That's because there were no RCAF Spitfire Squadrons in the Battle of Britain.
242 Squadron had originally been Canadians but by B of B time it was well mixed with all nationalities. But they were also Hurricanes.
1 Squadron RCAF was also a Hurricane Squadron in the B of B but not Spits
I think, off the top of my head, that 416 was the first RCAF Spit squadron but they didn't get moving until 1941
-
Other Canadian Squadrons include 421 Sqn, 417 Sqn, 441 Sqn, ...there are more.
A search Of RCAF Squadrons in WWII should produce most.
cheers,
RTR
-
Here is a partial list of Canadian pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain (RAF):
Stan Turner (242 Squadron); Dal Russel; Gordie McGregor; and Ernie McNab. You should be able to track down which RAF squadron they flew for. I believe that Art Jewett, who later flew with 441 RCAF, also flew in the BofB. I think that he is still alive and twinkly-eyed in Fredericton New Brunswick. I used to see him occasionally at the grocery store.
By 1943, 21 RCAF squadrons had been formed (Day Fighters, Night Fighters, Reconnaissance, and Fighter-Bombers). I have a list if you need it.
Check out David L. Bashow's "All the Fine Young Eagles" for more names and Squadron memberships. It's a pretty good resource, and has some good anecdotes (as when Art Jewett flew a repaired Spit through contested air space in France with no ammo ... he dumped the ammo and instead he had live lobsters put into the ammo pans so his mates could partee!). Someone else flew in a spit with 2 kegs of British ale, one attached under each wing. Those guys had their priorities straight!
-
He's asking about Canadian Squadrons in the Battle of Britain. Not Canadians the flew in the B of B.
1 Squadron RCAF was the only Canadian Squadron to participate in the Battle of Britain and they flew Hurricanes. They became operational on August 17, 1940
It looks like 401 RCAF got Spitfire IIs in February 1941, post B of B.
Track down a copy of "Spitfire-The Canadians" by Robert Bracken. All the photos and profiles you could ask for of Canadian flown Spits, but there were no RCAF Squadrons operating Spits in the B of B.
-
Yah I know that. He also asked for names of pilots who flew in BoB, which I gave him, thinking that a few of them may have flown Spits in an RAF squadron.
Anyway, thanks for your post on the subject. It's good to know that someone south of the border is interested in such things.
-
Originally posted by eh
Yah I know that. He also asked for names of pilots who flew in BoB, which I gave him, thinking that a few of them may have flown Spits in an RAF squadron.
Anyway, thanks for your post on the subject. It's good to know that someone south of the border is interested in such things.
Absolute pride of my aviation history collection is the logbook of an RCAF pilot who flew Spits with 416 starting December 9th, 1941 in a Spitfire IIa and flew Spit IIs, Vbs, Vcs, XIIs, XIVs And IXs through August 44 before returning to Canada.
So yeah I'm interested :)
Best one for a Canadian B of B pilot would be Keith Ogilvie who flew Spits with 609 Squadron Good profile of his Spitfire I in Spitfire-The Canadians.
-
Wow! A real log from someone who flew in 416 "City of Oshawa". Some great fighter pilots in that outfit! That log would be a gem. Imagine the guys he flew with over that long period: Chadburn, Northcott, Walker, Green.
It's good that someone remembers them, and has a genuine record of their exploits. My wish is that more people would care, but not many seem to, alas.
-
Originally posted by eh
Wow! A real log from someone who flew in 416 "City of Oshawa". Some great fighter pilots in that outfit! That log would be a gem. Imagine the guys he flew with over that long period: Chadburn, Northcott, Walker, Green.
It's good that someone remembers them, and has a genuine record of their exploits. My wish is that more people would care, but not many seem to, alas.
Chadburn's signature is in there a couple times where he's endorsed the log entries. It is a fascinating thing to have. The guy's widow gave it to me as they had no kids. It's since been back to England where it was signed by a bunch of his former squadron mates from 41 Squadron where he flew Spit XIIs.
-
I found this French Canadian Spitfire
(http://FilthsHangar.homestead.com/french_canadian_spitfire.jpg)
-
Originally posted by FiLtH
I found this French Canadian Spitfire
(http://FilthsHangar.homestead.com/french_canadian_spitfire.jpg)
:rofl
-
http://aces.safarikovi.org/victories/battle_of_britain-canada.html
Thats a list of the Canadian fighter pilots in the BoB, @ 115 or so, RAF and RCAF.
The top scoring Canadian in the BoB was "Willie" Mcknight of 242 Sqn. He flew a lot with Bader.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Willie%22_William_Lidstone_McKnight
...if your hell bent on "RCAF Spitfires" then look from 41-45 would be my advice. I dont know what your project is for, if its about Canadians in the BoB you are better off doing a Hurricane illustration. If you just want a Canuck in a Spitfire, F/L George Buerling (Malta 1942, RAF 249 Sqn) makes the most sense, or S/L Don Laubman (1944-5, RCAF, 2nd TAF).
Certainly the most well known Canadians in the BoB were all Hurricane pilots, although there were many who flew Spitfires as well.
Another good link, although books are always much better than internet links:
http://www.rcaf.com/archives/archives_general/aces/aces_kl.htm
Good luck. :aok
-
Originally posted by FiLtH
I found this French Canadian Spitfire
(http://FilthsHangar.homestead.com/french_canadian_spitfire.jpg)
I lol'd.
-
Thanks for all the wonderful posts!
Also, an RAF Spitfire flown by a Canadian in the BoB would be great too, the plane does not necessarily have to be designated as a part of an RCAF unit.
-
Here ya go.
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/OgilvieSpit.jpg)
-
Originally posted by FiLtH
I found this French Canadian Spitfire
(http://FilthsHangar.homestead.com/french_canadian_spitfire.jpg)
Is that the one that flew into the Statue of Liberty, which was sent to the US by France to honour the American Revolution, which they supported bigtime? Or maybe it's the one that tried to land in Lafayette Square in Washington D.C.?
:huh
-
Originally posted by eh
Is that the one that flew into the Statue of Liberty, which was sent to the US by France to honour the American Revolution, which they supported bigtime? Or maybe it's the one that tried to land in Lafayette Square in Washington D.C.?
:huh
Panty twist alert!
Lighten up, Francis, it's just a joke.
-
Well, if I posted a photo of a Mustang with the nose bent up like that and asked if it was from the Tuskegee Squadron, would you laugh?
-
Originally posted by eh
Well, if I posted a photo of a Mustang with the nose bent up like that and asked if it was from the Tuskegee Squadron, would you laugh?
I should have resisted this stinky bait, I know.
Dude, that's a pretty stupid remark. Last time I checked, 'French Canadian' wasn't a race. Eh.
-
Ethnic slurs are ethnic slurs. I am done with this.
-
Yes easy does it eh...I was just pokin fun. Where I live we have alot of french canadians vacation in the summer, and most are kind of snotty. That plane was in there honor not yours. No hard feelins.
-
ahhh....f-it.
ain't worth the effort anymore...
-
Thanks Guppy!