[BrianC]

Hi guys

Have been following the post with interest.

Firstly, for what it's worth, I feel that Eric Bann's memory is being unfairly treated by the suggestion that the letter's contents had been fabricated for consumption by his family. Surely, he was already a hero and didn't have to exaggerate or embellish - especially to his family.

The fact that there is nothing recorded in 238 Squadron's ORB is not evidence that the
incident didn't occur. Some ORB entries are so lacking in detail as to be literally worthless to researchers. I believe that my version of his 'shooting down on 21 July 1940' to be as feasible as any other interpretation of his account.

Regarding his time in France - this might be explained by the nature of the delivery of replacement aircraft during May. I have never found a list of replacement Hurricanes sent to France - or by whom they were flown. In fact, I only became aware that a pilot of the period, who I came to know very well, had flown a replacement Hurricane when I saw the entry in his logbook; and he was being trained as a bomber pilot and had no experience of flying a Hurricane.

And, after all, we have only recently learned about Jammy Payne's experiences from Forum researchers.

Perhaps Eric was one of those unsung, unrecorded young volunteers (or otherwise).

A a closing note, should you ever find yourself on the Isle of Wight, take a trip to Culver where you'll find a little pub. In the bar you will observe a picture of Eric and details of his death (on 28 September 1940); his Hurricane crashed in the vicinity, although his body was recovered from Brading marshes. You might also like to raise your glass to a hero.

Cheers
Brian