Hello Bruce,
If I may ask: what's the source of this story?
On the unofficial
23 Squadron-site I found:
'
The Squadron's founder, Lt. Col. Louis Strange DSO OBE MC DFC, retired from the Service through ill health in 1921, but subsequently enjoyed an eventful career in civil aviation, before returning to battle in 1940 as a (50 year old) Pilot Officer in the Volunteer Reserve. During his "third" career he won a Bar to his DFC flying a Hurricane, pioneered the parachute training of Britain's airborne forces and established the Marine Ships Fighter Units for the catapult-launching of convoy defence Hurricanes. He continued to fly after the War and died in 1966, aged 75 years.'
Maybe in this book can be found where Louis Strange Strange was at the date on the supposed incident:
Flying Rebel - Story of Louis Strange, Peter Hearn, HMSO, London, 1994, ISBN 0-290500-5
Regards,
Bart