Photos from old album

[zorglub]

Hello ,

The group pictures of 91 Squadron pilots is far interesting for my research in Normandy . Could I have very good quality scan , and most of all , does names are written on the back , in that case who is who ?

That would be fine !!

Zorglub

[dvas1976]

Hello to you all.
I need to get in touch with Spartakle and i cant send him pm
Thanks in advance
Dimitris

nvp_dvas@otenet.gr

[Joe]

Re: the photo of the Hurricane on its' nose with blacked-over markings and writing that looks like Japanese script and what the story is behind this odd Hurricane...I got to thinking that during WWII there was a movie that I recall seeing and in a scene from the movie a Japanese fighter attacks and it is clearly a Hurricane made to look like (not very convincing) a Japanese fighter...could it have been Captains of the Air? Wonder if this was used in the making of the movie way back then?
Blake

I wonder if you're thinking of the black 'Me-109' Hurricane that attacked the Hudsons in 'Captains of the Clouds'

It looks to me that the 'Japanese script' is actually repairs to rips in the fabric. The location makes sence, since that's where the pilots would be pulling themselves up onto the wing.

Lovin' the pics!

Howdy All,
Joe here from acesofww2.com & flyingforyourlife.com. I was looking for info on Rolly Dibnah and found these posts. As far as I can tell, those are Japanese letters and what looks like a "meatball" - definitely not a roundel. I have no idea what it's all about though ... or the fake man standing in front of the spinner.
Great pix and infos !
Joe

[Joe]

No caption but I think this is R.H. Dibnah seated in a Hurricane. No date but probably about 1939.


Caption on bottom of photo identifies these pilots (left to right) as Reese Richards, Jim Brady, S/L L.G. Scwab [6 victories flying Gloster Gladiators over Crete], self (R.H. Dibnah), Jeff Hartley, Guy Corbett[believe he scored 5 victories]. Other names hidden by fold in photo. RAF pilot being briefed. Loc/squadron/date unknown...any thoughts?
R.H. Dibnah photo

Spartakle, I would very much like to contact you about these pix (permission to use one or two on my Dibnah page (http://www.flyingforyourlife.com/pilots/ww2/d/dibnah/). Would also like to verify if that is, in fact, a photo of Rolly. You can reach me from any page on flyingforyourlife.com. Great pix, thanks for posting!.

Joe

http://www.acesofww2.com/ - http://www.flyingforyourlife.com/

[seagull61785]

My sincere thanks to Spartakle,

Also to PeterA and many others for your collective sharing of the information in this outstanding thread.

I believe this is why people like myself have joined WIX and why the WIX website exists.

Thanks again,

Barry G

[Joe]

My sincere thanks to Spartakle,

Also to PeterA and many others for your collective sharing of the information in this outstanding thread.

I believe this is why people like myself have joined WIX and why the WIX website exists.

Thanks again,

Barry G

Yeah, no doubt. Great info guys !

[derekbu]

The only North American trainers to have that step and wear an RAF type 'B' roundel were the NA-49/61 Harvard Mk I and the NA-44 'Jeep' or 'Super Harvard'.

OK Shane, you know I can't let you get away with that one, I have to defend the Aussies!

Wirraways (being members of the "North American trainers" family) also shared the stepped wing-tip, and many early Wirraways also wore the RAF type "B" roundel, which was also the RAAF standard marking of the time. OK, so they weren't produced in the North American factory like the models you mentioned, but they were in the family...

But that's enough nit-picking... back to enjoying these wonderful old photos...

[Joe]

Thanks Jim for the comments. BTW on the top photo of the Spitfire I identified it as a Mk IV, I meant XIV. On the photo of the pilots lined up in front of the Spitfire that you identified as a Mk XII...what tell-tale sign tips it off as a Mk XII? Re: the photo of the Hurricane on its' nose with blacked-over markings and writing that looks like Japanese script and what the story is behind this odd Hurricane...I got to thinking that during WWII there was a movie that I recall seeing and in a scene from the movie a Japanese fighter attacks and it is clearly a Hurricane made to look like (not very convincing) a Japanese fighter...could it have been Captains of the Air? Wonder if this was used in the making of the movie way back then?
Blake

Howdy Spartakle,

Looks to me to be a "meatball" with Japanese writing... and a fake man standing in front of it... Not to be confused with the black Hurry that Dal Russel flew for the movie Captains of the Clouds.
http://www.acesofww2.com/Canada/aces/NazisOverCanada.htm

BTW, would like to get a hold of you (Spartakle) about these pix. You can contact me at flyingforyourlife.com. Cheers,
Joe

[motherbird]

It was Mustang 1 AG385 of 41 Operational Training Unit and the date was 14 August 1943. According to the Operations Record Book for the OTU, Pilot Officer JN Varley landed heavily, ...Varley had a miraculous escape and only sustained some abrasions. Sadly, I suspect that he did not survive the war as, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site, a P/O Norman Varley was killed in France on 13 June 44.

Could be this chap
F/O John Henry “Junior” Oliver Varley (150216) He was at Hawarden for Flying instructors duties 14.8.44 and posted to 84GSU 25/7/44 He flew with 2 Squadron in 1945 with my father.

Cheers
Motherbird