Battle of Britain pilots and airplanes

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Sat Nov 09, 2013 3:47 pm

The other day I was watching the TV show Air Aces on the Military Ch. The segment was about Douglas Bader. I found the show to be very well done but I got to thinking, how many Battle of Britain pilots are still alive today and are there any Spitfires or Hurricanes around today that have Batlle of Britain time on their airframes?

seagull61785 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 09, 2013 3:55 pm

Pat,

I believe that Hawker Hurricane Mk IIa, number P3351 flew and fought in the Battle of Britain. I think it served with 85 Squadron. Restored by Tim Wallis a few years ago it has now changed hands - but is still airworthy.

Cheers

Barry

SaxMan · **Posted:** Sat Nov 09, 2013 4:29 pm

You have to figure that even the youngest of the BoB pilots are now in their mid-90s. I'm afraid that within a few years, we are going to witness "the last of the few".

avenger2504 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 10, 2013 12:00 am

MK IIa Spitfire belonging to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a veteran of the battle.

ErrolC · **Posted:** Sun Nov 10, 2013 2:05 am

seagull61785 wrote:

Pat,

I believe that Hawker Hurricane Mk IIa, number P3351 flew and fought in the Battle of Britain. I think it served with 85 Squadron. Restored by Tim Wallis a few years ago it has now changed hands - but is still airworthy.

Cheers

Barry

History of P3351, which is now in France.
http://www.hawker-restorations-ltd.co.u ... nhams.html

Sopwith · **Joined:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:49 pm **Posts:** 546

Peter Vacher's Hurricane R4118 is a Battle of Britain veteran.

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2630

A few Spitfire BOB survivors. (Pics aren't opening on my computer.)
http://plane-crazy.k-hosting.co.uk/Airc ... itfire.htm

Flat 12x2 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 11, 2013 4:25 pm

Pat Carry wrote:

and are there any Spitfires or Hurricanes around today that have Batlle of Britain time on their airframes?

You have a Spitfire BoB veteran in the Chicago Science museum, not only does it have several 'kills' to its name but it is one of the most original Spifires in the world, being donated to the museum before wars end and never restored or repainted.

Dave Hadfield · **Joined:** Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:31 pm **Posts:** 1672

Ed Russell's 109E had B of B time -- and was flown by Marseille.

You can buy it if you like -- it's listed on Platinum. http://www.platinumfighters.com/invento ... -109e/c7r0

"After being damaged and belly landing by Marseille on 2 September 1940, 3579 went on to be repaired and serve another two years"

As for pilots, not many left. Last winter when we taught the Hurricane Groundschool for our own pilots and paying guests at Vintage Wings of Canada, in Gatineau, we had a veteran attend. He'd flown it then. It was a unique and wonderful experience to stand up at the head of the class and say something about the Merlin, then look over and say, "But what did they teach YOU about the supercharger, Fred?"

We're doing that again this winter BTW, in case anyone is interested.

Dave

k5083 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2013 10:55 am

Besides the above, I believe the London Science Museum Spitfire and Hurricane and the Imperial War Museum Spitfire have BoB combat histories.

August

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:30 am

Flat 12x2 wrote:

Pat Carry wrote:

and are there any Spitfires or Hurricanes around today that have Batlle of Britain time on their airframes?

You have a Spitfire BoB veteran in the Chicago Science museum, not only does it have several 'kills' to its name but it is one of the most original Spifires in the world, being donated to the museum before wars end and never restored or repainted.

I'm lucky to live so close to that Spit. I see it a couple/3 times a year. Definately cool looking. www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/ ... -spitfire/

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:34 am

Pat Carry wrote:

Flat 12x2 wrote:

Pat Carry wrote:

and are there any Spitfires or Hurricanes around today that have Batlle of Britain time on their airframes?

You have a Spitfire BoB veteran in the Chicago Science museum, not only does it have several 'kills' to its name but it is one of the most original Spifires in the world, being donated to the museum before wars end and never restored or repainted.

I'm lucky to live so close to that Spit. I see it a couple/3 times a year. Definately cool looking. http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/ex ... -spitfire/

Heck, while I'm at it, this is not too shabby either www.msichicago.org/whats-here//exhibits ... aft/stuka/

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:39 am

Dave Hadfield wrote:

Ed Russell's 109E had B of B time -- and was flown by Marseille.

You can buy it if you like -- it's listed on Platinum. http://www.platinumfighters.com/invento ... -109e/c7r0

"After being damaged and belly landing by Marseille on 2 September 1940, 3579 went on to be repaired and serve another two years"

As for pilots, not many left. Last winter when we taught the Hurricane Groundschool for our own pilots and paying guests at Vintage Wings of Canada, in Gatineau, we had a veteran attend. He'd flown it then. It was a unique and wonderful experience to stand up at the head of the class and say something about the Merlin, then look over and say, "But what did they teach YOU about the supercharger, Fred?"

We're doing that again this winter BTW, in case anyone is interested.

Dave

Price reduced, 3.7 million! I had better dust off the checkbook. Wasnt this 109 once owned by Dave Price & the Museum of Flying?

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:26 pm

Off the top of my head - Emils at Duxford, Hendon, Saxonwold, the Indian aircraft. Ju 88A-5 in store at DTM, Do-17 recently recovered.
Defiant and CR 42 at Hendon, IWM Spit

Dave Homewood · **Posted:** Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:52 am

Of the 135 New Zealanders in Fighter Command the Battle of Britain who received the Battle of Britain Clasp, only two remain alive today. Bernard Brown living here in New Zealand and Keith Lawrence who lives in Kent, England.

I had the great privilege over the years of meeting several BofB pilots - Colin Gray (Spitfire), Bob Spurdle (Spitfire), John Gard'ner (Defiant), Bernard Brown (Hurricane), Roy McGowan (British born, Hurricane) and I interviewed Bill 'Hawkeye' Wells (Spitfire) via telephone. All amazing men.

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