Re: Red Tobin No,71 POPOCATAPETL I
 

Hello to everybody
I requested the paper work on the crash of P/O. Nichols who made it back but shot up by JG26 ,while the RAF historial branch said that many of the of the records of aircraft losses are being transfer over to the National Archives and Tobin does not appear in their search engine yet.

any other please to look?

Also are there any good books about No.71 squadron out there?

Cheers
Santiago

Re: Red Tobin No,71 POPOCATAPETL I
 

Hi Santiago,

I have most of the books published relating directly to the Eagle Sqns as they are a specific interest of mine.

Apart from Phil Listemann's small book on 71 which is a collection of information and data concerning, personnel, airframes, victories, losses, etc, there is not another reference book completely devoted to the unit. If you have a serious interest in the Eagles then Philip Caine's "The RAF Eagle Squadrons", 2009 is a must have. It is to the Eagles what Ken Wynn's "Men of the Battle of Britain" is to the Few. It is pricey now but entirely worth it if you have a specific interest in 71, 121 and 133 Sqns.

Caine's "American Pilots in the RAF" is another good one as is the older histories of the Eagles by Vern Haugland, "The Eagle Squadrons". James Saxon Childers' "War Eagles" is excellent for giving a flavour of the time as he was a US officer who lived with 71 during 1942 and recorded a great deal about the squadron and its culture, although some argue that it plays into the "golden boys" clique which existed in the unit so there's no mention of key players such as Bill Dunn.

A relatively recent book, "Yanks in the RAF" by David Johnson gives a colourful social history of the Eagles and especially 71 and James Goodson's "Over-paid, Over-sexed and Over Here" is another excellent book to give an idea of the Eagles. For a book devoted to photos and images, Tony Holmes' "American Eagles" is rather good too.

There's a few more but it's late here and I'm off to hit the sack, but those should be enough to get you started.

Best,

Tim

Re: Red Tobin No,71 POPOCATAPETL I
 

To everyone,


A new book is coming for 2020. https://www.amazon.com/American-Eagl...=books&sr=1-52


Usual disclaimer,
Ed

Re: Red Tobin No,71 POPOCATAPETL I
 

Hello
Thanks for the references !!!!!

Re: Red Tobin No,71 POPOCATAPETL I
 

Thanks Ed,will look out for that book :)
Alex

Re: Red Tobin No,71 POPOCATAPETL I
 

Not surprisingly I have it on pre-order already! Looking forward to it.

Tim

Re: Red Tobin No,71 POPOCATAPETL I
 

All the Aur Historical Branch would have is the casualty card for any losses & these are generally not made available. The casualty files are being sent to the NA but their content is sanitised

Re: Red Tobin No,71 POPOCATAPETL I
 

Hello to everybody
I just got a copy of the aircraft card AM form 78 for POPOCATAPELT I from the RAF museum today and it comes with a surprise.
If I am reading this right, this aircraft card is saying that W3801 was lost on the same day it was taken on charge by No.71 squadron

taken on charge 39 MU date taken on charge 27.8.41 authority 1623A
taken on charge 71 sqdn 2-9-41 authority 1623D
SOC (striken off charge) 2-9-41

Also the paperwork on P/O. Nichols was a no go, no squadron identifications letter of his aircraft.

any comments and observations
cheers
Santiago