Adrian Dwyer

Morning all,

I know TM 9-707 is available digitally but some years ago I was given the attached 'original': formerly the property of Dvr John Henry Barnes.  A few images below.  The word 'Naples' is also written on the cover.

All the best.

A

Re: the introductory post to this thread:

'...aside from his love of the cockpit heater that came as standard with his Mustang, he did once mention, in passing, how miffed he was when his low-level bombing attacks on Nazi positions were rewarded not with a satisfying explosion but  (a) a disappointing silence followed by (b) even more flack in his direction.  There are several entries listing sorties when the 500lb bomb deposited by his MkVIII Spitfire gave the enemy a nasty surprise followed, presumably, by a good laugh at the RAF's effort in delivering 250lb of iron wrapped around 250lb of high-explosive to no good effect whatever. He told me about this when I returned from the Falklands: a conflict during which many Argentinian pilots must have expressed very similar sentiments.'

Blag's  logbook is littered with comments as the third entry of 5, from his logbook, attached below.  As in the Falklands, the most likely cause was the use of fuzes inappropriate to the operating altitude: Lt. Senn and his fellow pilots - and Blagdon - probably just flew too damn low!  As a former soldier I salute them all  There is little pleasant about war, but much that is memorable.

On 2/23/2015 at 4:09 PM, simon king said:

 

You need to find a copy of "Wheels of the RAF" by Bruce Robertson, published by PSL in 1983. That has the fullest list of RAF type numbers that I have seen. Jeeps are Type 1900 however, and the Type 1300 QLs are quaintly referred to as 3-ton standard tenders.....

 

There one here for a fiver - and another for £176!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wheels-Royal-Force-Bruce-Robertson/dp/0850596246

9 hours ago, earlymb said:

Seems it is, same background too

Certainly from the same photo album!

Sadly, the photos are very firmly glued in, so I can't get to see what's written on the back.  One that I very carefully removed (because an edge was coming up - but it certainly fought back) was numbered, with a description.  I'll attach an image but the text (Blag's handwriting) reads 'No47 Treviso.  View from Mess, Alps in the background'

The logbook shows the squadron relocated to Treviso on 3 May 1945.  I am thinking that more than vermouth was consumed at that stage of the war.

A

11 minutes ago, earlymb said:

I think the center Mustang could be a Mk.III? Very difficult to see

You may be correct: to my eyes, the cockpit canopy does not seem to 'bubble'.  Blag's logbook records he flew only the Mustang IV.

1 hour ago, Enigma said:

Cool, got a interesting history.

Didn't know the Argentines had these.

A much-published image of the Dagger in action over San Carlos.  (I'm afraid I do not know the original source.)

5 minutes ago, Enigma said:

That black tag in in Hebrew?

Yes.  My understanding is that C-407 began its life configured as/based upon a Mirage III.  As shown in the image of the bent metal fixing, it carries an ink stamping MIR III B.

The French and Israelis collaborated on an improved version, known as the Mirage V.  That aircraft became known to the IAF as the Nesher (in Hebrew, Griffon Vulture).  More widely, it later became known as the Dagger.  The black plate seems to show it was a mid-production aircraft.  Note the 1972 date.

In Israel it was replaced by the Kfir and  the IAF's surplus aircraft became available in the late '70s: and the Argentinians availed themselves.

There is a famous image of one of the Falkands aircraft (another victim of Harriers) in which weathering has worn away the camouflage to reveal an outline of the Star of David.

All the best.

A

Some of you will have seen the threads I posted concerning my late father-in-law's Spitfires: specifically, his war in Italy 1944-45.  As I have mentioned (at length), Balg actually said very little about his war.  After his death, his photos and logbook did the talking for him.  However, aside from his love of the cockpit heater that came as standard with his Mustang, he did once mention, in passing, how miffed he was when his low-level bombing attacks on Nazi positions were rewarded not with a satisfying explosion but  (a) a disappointing silence followed by (b) even more flack in his direction.  There are several entries listing sorties when the 500lb bomb deposited by his MkVIII Spitfire gave the enemy a nasty surprise followed, presumably, by a good laugh at the RAF's effort in delivering 250lb of iron wrapped around 250lb of high-explosive to no good effect whatever. He told me about this when I returned from the Falklands: a conflict during which many Argentinian pilots must have expressed very similar sentiments.

One on the tasks I undertook during my tour as Officer Commanding Joint Services EOD was to visit the aircraft crash sites that littered (mainly) w. Falkland.  These sites had been checked in '82 but by'88 (when I was there) the detail recorded under those difficult conditions was beginning to look a bit sketchy in places.  A number of unexploded bombs were dealt with - as was much 30mm cannon ammunition.  One site I visited was logged as the impact point of a MkV Mirage (also known as a Dagger and, to some, a Nesher) serial c-403.  c-403 was credited to 801 Sqdn (Lt Thomas).  There were no low-drag bombs on site and no combat report data to suggest where they had been jettisoned.  There was, however, much 30mm and lots of very small pieces of what had been a relatively large fighter bomber.  Enough of these pieces were recovered to make a mosaic of the serial number: it was c-407.  It fell to an AIM-97 (Sidewinder) launched from the Sea Harrier of Lt Cdr 'Sharkey' Ward.  (The pilots of both Daggers - Maj Piuma and Lt Senn, respectively - survived ejection).  Through the good offices of the RAF I acquired a bit of plant (lifted from the deck of a ship taking it somewhere to do something much less important* . . .) and any iffy bits of the site were excavated.

I now own Dagger C-407 - well, some of it.  For those still following this, here are some pictures.  As a restoration project it is a bit beyond me; but as a snippet of history I think it has its place!

[* interestingly, this was not the view of some of my fellow Sappers in the FI Field Squadron who wanted to dig a deep trench latrine, or something similar . . .]

On 8/5/2023 at 6:08 PM, Adrian Dwyer said:

This cartoon was within the pages of Blagdon's logbook.  It typifies DAF officers!

Given the nature of the day job, they all look terribly relaxed and very DAF!

Looking at his photos (in the small 1940s monochrome format) always gives me goosebumps.  Reading his logbook makes me feel like I was there.

On 8/5/2023 at 10:23 AM, Adrian Dwyer said:

Thanks John.  As I don't own a Spitfire . . . I did wonder whether this type of general post would be welcome.  I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

When Blag joined 145 Squadron, Desert Air Force, it was commanded by Neville Duke.  The attached photo shows ND, front row, looking very Desert Air Force, and the newly-posted Blag, far left.

Blag sent the attached press cutting home to his parents.  It was then stuck into his logbook.  It is on the page dated 30 Aug 1944.

This is the only image in the collection of a US marked Mk.III Mustang.  What are we thinking: flew in to be taken on strength as part of the conversion from Spitfire to Mustang, or just dropped in?  One of Blag's 145 Sqn Spitfire VIIIs  is in the foreground (ZX R is the aircraft Blag flew during the Rover Paddy - army close support mission - mentioned in the news clipping shown in the first thread) .

These are the only additional images I can find that show Type 1900s.  I am assuming the canvas up picture must be the same vehicle as in the picture of Blag.

On 8/5/2023 at 1:45 PM, Adrian Dwyer said:

Section post-op maintenance at, I think, Fano.  The Spitfire with the 'modified' propellor shown in the first post was a result of the hydraulics being seriously perforated and the U/C remaining unlowered for a bumpy landing.  (So, the end of the war and not much happening, eh?)  As the logbook entry shows for 5-18 April 1944, 145 Squadron Spitfires were being pushed quite hard.  Blag always spoke very fondly of the boys who kept him flying.

I think the next image shows some of the boys who kept Blag's Section aloft.

11 hours ago, Rootes75 said:

The second Mustang pic looks particularly evocative with the crew.

Blag is standing in the middle.

A

12 hours ago, rewdco said:

I think it could be worth contacting the MotoCiclismo d'epoca editor. When I was working in Italy in the 1990's I always bought this high quality monthly. It used to have (still has?) lots of in-depth articles. Definitely worth a try!

I have dropped a line, as you suggest and await a response.  I love the new pictures you posted (and am now a big fan of google translate!).  I had not heard about the Benelli link and will do some digging.

It sounds like our Italian friend may have overshared. When mine was registered, DVLA were only concerned about engine number, frame number and an expert assessment of the date of original manufacture.

I too did a bit of googling last night and came up with the bike in the image: very red and very odd details (or lack thereof).

I'll keep you posted if I make progress.

A

2 hours ago, rewdco said:

I think it could be worth contacting the MotoCiclismo d'epoca editor. When I was working in Italy in the 1990's I always bought this high quality monthly. It used to have (still has?) lots of in-depth articles. Definitely worth a try!

That is a good call.  The wonders of google only takes you so far.  I suspect these bikes were considered second best by many: I think they are spectacular examples of making the most of what you've got to hand.  I would love to know how many ex-WD elasticos survived the Italian cull of 2010'ish.  I know of at least one . . .

Thanks again.

A

2 hours ago, Enigma said:

Wow, cool photo's.

Thanks for sharing!

There are not many photos in Blag's collection (if there were more, I haven't found them) but they are so evocative.  The Mustang 'squadron takeoff' just exudes raw power.

1 hour ago, Enigma said:

Amazing story. Must have been so cool to buy the jacket and find out it was Blags one.

I am sure Blag would be having a chuckle about the interest in his jacket!  Thank you for taking the time to comment.

A

11 minutes ago, Mk3iain said:

How did you come across his jacket ?  Amazing and in great condition.

My father was much the same about his experience as a pow, just the odd snippet as I grew up.  Later I have managed to find reference online to much of what I can remember him saying and it all fitted !

Keep it coming Adrian, the little snippets are getting lost now...

Iain - you are absolutely right about the snippets of WW2 history becoming lost.

The jacket is a you couldn't make it up tale and I still pinch myself.  It really requires a comfy pub and a vermouth but, as you have asked . . . I knew about Blag's acquired flying jacket (a wired variant issued mainly to bomber crews) and, when I got the 3HW, felt a 1942 bike deserved a rider with a wartime flying jacket.  I knew Blag's was long-gone (sold with other bits and pieces of uniform to a London collector in the East End many decades previously) so I simply set out to get as close as I could to the type he had described.  The problem for those of us of a certain age wanting to wear fighter pilot apparel is that WW2 fighter pilots were not, typically, 44" chest.   My hunting - over a period of almost 5-years - produced any number of smaller sizes but nothing as large as Blagdon's (remember, he wore extra buoyancy and woolly jumpers under his).  However, the hunt was a challenge and I learned much about wartime jackets (thanks in part to the ever-helpful David, from the Historic Flying Clothing Company).  With me so far?

Ebay is the natural home to the secondhand flying jacket market (the good, the bad and the ghastly) and, one day, a large size wired jacket appeared.  It had had some iffy work done to remove some of the wires but was, within limits, sound.  The owner was a decent chap and I asked if it had history or was named.  No, came the reply.  Eventually, we agreed a price and the jacket arrived.  It's dated 1939 and is, I think, one of the largest sizes made.  This makes it a relatively rare beast.  The sleeves had be turned back - in antiquity - to suite someone with shorter arms, the stitching had been repaired with varying degrees of skill and it needed a quick clean and a good feed (Pecard leather dressing being, in my view the only option).  So, one sunny day I sat in the garden and began a diligent and systematic fettling process.  Pure joy.

The last elements I tackled were the leather tags on the AM zips.  As I rubbed the tag on the main zip the sun caught a tiny flash of the colour blue.  I rubbed a bit harder before realising this was destroying what I wanted to see.  (At this stage I had no expectation that the jacket was Blag's.)  More careful cleaning revealed a name beginning with B.  It was at this point I became truly intrigued and excited in equal measure.  The name was, so far as I could see BOB.  This is not what I wanted; but however I looked at it, the same three letters shone back at me.  Cleaning was suspended for the day with thoughts of what could have been.

The next day I looked again: still BOB . . . but not quite.  I took a picture and sent it to my whizzy computer graphics expert son.  He put filters on it, enlarged and sharpened.  It was still BOB but, and this is a big but, it was BoB.  A different filter was used and the contrast tweaked.  It was actually BcB, written with a very distinctive slant.  I showed my wife and my mother-in-law:  Blag! they both exclaimed.  What I had initially read as BoB were the distinctive initials of Blagdon Cecil Britton.  Now, you may feel there is an element of the willing suspension of disbelief at work here, but look at the image and tell me what you think.  If you disagree you can argue the toss with my mother-in-law!

As a quick sanity check, I contacted the previous owner again.  He had never noticed the initials and did not know any history.  But he did still have the details of the seller from whom he bought it and contacted them on my behalf.  They kindly went back to their previous owner who was able to add a little more light.  The jacket had been bought in a job lot when a london collector in the East End was selling up.  On balance, and accepting I really want to believe it, there is nothing for me that stands tall as a show-stopper.  And, from a statistical perspective, the number of huge-size wired jackets still around is much smaller than the size 38" more common types.  As Terry Pratchett noted, "million to one chances crop up nine times out of ten".  I'm going with those odds! 

If you are still with me, thank you for persevering.  The hunt for his other flying kit continues but I am less hopeful as nothing will be as distinctive as his jacket!

All the best.

A

And now the Mustangs (1945-46)

2 minutes ago, earlymb said:

Those photo's and stories are absolutely amazing! Have you ever considered to publish them in a book?

That being said, it might be a good idea to watermark your images you post of public forums?

 

Thanks.  It seems I am the only person in the family he shared much with; and by then it was quite late in the day.  I have pieced together bits and pieces from combat reports but much of the richness of his flying days died with him.  He must have been one of the younger pilots when he joined 145 Sqn (aged 22), so I am guessing the chance of firsthand accounts from anyone else are a bit unlikely now. 

Re: watermarking of photos, I'd be a bit miffed if anyone tried to sell them but I feel Blag would be delighted that after years in the dark they were being enjoyed again.  I am just hunting for photos of his Mustangs and will add them to the 'Before and after Spitfires in Italy' thread.

Thanks again.

Yours in Vermouth!

A

22 minutes ago, Ron said:

Morning Adrian.

Now I look at the pictures in Jan's French artical. I see they show the M20 and also the Norton 16H. They were obviously converting bikes that were left over from the war. 

A friend of mine has a WW2 Ariel W/NG with swinging arm conversion. I need to take a closer look at it to see if it's a British or other conversion.  Ron

Thanks again Ron.  From my limited but expanding knowledge on this topic, the Italians went large on elastico conversion of WD bikes immediately after the end of hostilities, particularly, it would seem, the Matchless.  The two companies I know about are Arma and Stram.  I've seen Arma conversions and they are very nice; never seen a Stram.  I have also never seen a British elastico; but it seems unlikely the development would have passed unnoticed. Looking at the fantastic images supplied by rewdco, the French also had skin in this game. If there are any pictures of Brit-built elasticos out there, I would love to see them! (And I would be very keen to see the SA conversion on the Arial)

I am always taken by the very solid engineering evident on my 3HW and I do wonder if it was made from Arma parts (possibly a lunchtime project in the Arma workshop?).  

All the very best.

A

Further to the post concerning the wartime experiences of my late father-in-law (Blag) in Italy, here are a few images of the aircraft that came before and after his Spitfires.   Specifically:

Tiger Moth (Britain)

Master II (South Africa)

Harvard II (South Africa)

Mustang IV (Italy)

There was always real warmth in his voice when he spoke of the Spitfire.  However, after flying through the Italian winter of '44-'45, he was exceptionally appreciative of the cockpit heater in his Mustangs!  If you have enjoyed the Spitfire thread or this one, do please raise a glass to Blag and the boys of 145 Squadron, Desert Air Force, next time you open a bottle of Vermouth!

Thanks to all who have commented or just looked at the threads.

A

For anyone interested to know more about his 69 Spitfires, there is a wealth of fascinating information on the 'All Spitfire Pilots' site: just search for B C Britton in the pilot section.

I have some images of other aircraft he flew and will put those into a new thread.