Re: Claims by 23 Sqn during April 1944
I spoke to both buddy Badley, and went to see Phil Russell last year-both whom are wonderful men.
Both are DFC winners (buddy an 'immediate' DFC), and both should have had DSO's for the effort they put in at least, in Italy, and Little Snoring.
Buddy was one of the squadrons best pilots, if you count 'survivors' probably the best.
In 1944 he made it back to woodbridge and snoring more than once on one engine, 500, 600 miles plus.
He became Bevans pilot after the war for BOAC.
Both of them typify the squadron spirit-work hard play hard.
Many of the aircrew said Phil was the nicest man on the station-and he became the squadron W/C and the last station commander of little snoring after sticky Murphy
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