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Re: Tempest-Dora flyoff
Kutscha,
Yes and No. The pilot I had in mind was Bernard C. 'Buck' Kirlin, but he flew Tempests after the war on a Fighter Leaders Course in England. During the war he was with No.438 Squadron R.C.A.F. and there was a series of pictures taken of him and another "Wildcat" pilot, around these Doras and one of them shows the two of them standing in front of the D-13. It's been published before but I can't recall where. Maybe in Eagle Editions little primer "Yellow 10"? Some of these photos appear in several well known publications: Broken Eagles I and Don Caldwells' JG-26 War Diary Vol.II. By the time I got to know 'Buck' he only had one photo left from this series and and this one was published in JG-26 Vol.II. Who knows what happened to the others but I know he didn't loose them or miss-place them.
So, maybe knowing where 438 Squadron was based during the period in question might provide a clue? Who knows, maybe they were sharing an airfield with a Tempest Squadron - I don't know but it might be worth looking into?
Have you checked the ORB's of the Tempest Squadrons in question to see if there was any mention of this event?
Stephen
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