Warbird Information Exchange

One of the RAF's best covert Lysander pick-up pilots, F/Lt James Atterby McCairns, (fellow on the left end in photo) DFC & Two Bars, MM.
A fighter pilot who was shot down (he escaped from his POW camp and returned to the UK), 'Mac' made dozens of clandestine flights, dropping off/picking up SOE and SIS agents.

http://aircrewremembered.com/mccairns-j ... terby.html

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Tks Mark! I love old photos like these with the context that goes beyond!

Can I ask you something? Often you see old school censoring / editing.

But in this case, it looks like the Lizzy in the background is sharper than the actual guys up front. Yes it all seems to work.

Does not help that I am color blind, but what are the most obvious signs of a period doctored up pic?

As always....thank you for sharing.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends! Enjoy your long 4 days holiday

In this case I think subject motion is part of the answer. This was a pretty slow shutter speed, as evidenced by the blurred dog. The ground at the airmen's feet is pretty sharp, and the face sharpness varies with the individual. Any movement at all becomes apparent at slow shutter speeds.

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

From the uneducated...Tks!

Standing next to him is Hugh Verity who wrote 'No Moon Tonight'. In the centre is Wing Commander (Percy) Charles 'Pick' Pickard, remembered for the film 'Target for Tonight' and who was killed leading the low-level Mosquito raid on Amiens Prison to free Resistance members. His English Sheepdog Ming is on the left.

And the Spaniel dog on the right, called Henry, belonged to the pilot on the far right of picture, PO Frank 'Bunny' Rymills DFC and bar, DFM, who flew 65 Special Duties missions without a break, so double the normal tour length, and was awarded both DFC's while flying SD missions.
He remained in the RAF after the war and flew on operations against jungle insurgents during the Malayan Emergency. He died in 1997.

Wow...thank you our UK friends....

So one of them did the Amiens raid! Impressive.

Love the mascot angle of the Brits during WW2.

Should be worthwhile of a thread on its own!

Independently of the country served. (MARK.....calling for MARK....) Just kidding if you have a few quick references.

Cheers!

For the sake of completion, we should mention the only so far unmentioned pilot in the group, the one 2nd from right with his arms folded.
This is Flt.Lt. Peter Vaughan-Fowler DFC and bar, who was the RAF's most experienced Special Duties pilot, as he carried out more successful 'pick-up' flights into/out of occupied France than any other pilot, gaining his two DFC's as a result.

For his 2nd tour of operations he went off to fly Mosquitos with 21 Sqn, but this tour was cut short in early 1944, as he was called back to SOE ops, but in the Mediterranean theatre, flying Lizzie's from bases in Italy and Corsica and landing agents into southern France prior to the allied landings in the south of France.
After the liberation of France he commanded a Mustang ground-attack squadron in the Balkan Air Force, and his fine leadership was recognised by the award of the DSO. For his outstanding contribution to the liberation of France the French government awarded him the Croix de Guerre with Palm and later appointed him a Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur.

When peace came, Vaughan-Fowler stayed in the RAF, and in 1945 he was awarded a Permanent Commission. Flying appointments followed, including the command of 247 Fighter Squadron and work with the Central Fighter Establishment. He was awarded the Air Force Cross in the 1954 New Year's Honours.
After a spell in Germany as Wing Commander at RAF Wildenrath, he was promoted to Group Captain and posted to the Queen's Flight as Deputy Captain. Next he had a staff job at Air Support Command, where he served as Senior Personnel Staff Officer. His final appointment before retiring in 1975 with the rank of Group Captain, was with the Ministry of Defence Public Relations Branch, a job for which he was well qualified with his wide experience of Service aviation.
He died in 1994.

“Never shown in one photo so much bravery admired by so many to so few”

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

There seems to be quite a bit of knowledge on SOE Lysanders here, so does any one have information on a Canadian pilot flying with 161 Squadron named L.R. "Lucky" Newhouse? I think he was RCAF R93060 and had previously been an instructor with the BCATP before joining 161 Squadron. He was mentioned in "We Landed by Moonlight", but I'm looking for more info as to where he was born in Canada, post war history, etc. Anything is appreciated.

Jim