Coltishall 1945 - name the faces

[VoyTech]

In January 1945 the Polish Air Force Film Unit visited RAF Coltishall to take photos of personnel and aircraft of No. 303 Squadron. Apart from the Poles, photos taken on that occasion depict also pilots from other Allied nations: Australian, Danish, Indian and New Zealand. Can anyone identify any of them?

[VoyTech]

The photos also depict two RAF erks. Any chance to identify them?

[Mikkel Plannthin]

VoyTech,
Excellent photos! The Danish pilot is Jørgen Kjeldbæk, cf.
http://www.danishww2pilots.dk/profil...?alpha=k&id=50

He was posted to No. 274 Sqn in Sep 44 which correspond to this unit being at Cottishall during the winter of 45.

He seems to have a medal ribbon, hasn't he? Could anyone tell which one that might be. According to my information he received a number of theatre stars and the War Medal and the Defence Medal, but that would be after Jan 1945.

I would love to use the photos on my website. Would this be possible?

Regards,
Mikkel Plannthin

[VoyTech]

Thanks for identifying him!

PM sent.

[Ex Shack]

Hi Mikkal
The medal looks like the 1939-1945 Star, look at http://www.rafweb.org/awards3.htm and see what you think, even though it is a little early. Many of the medals had a time period qualification which many people exceeded before the war's end
Regards
Dick

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Dick, I agree.

I just supposed that these stars were instigated after the war. Most references record the campaign stars to have been issued during the late 1940'ies.

Mikkel

[miguelerik]

The Danish pilot is my grandfather, Jorgen Kjeldbaek. The flight records I have from him ended on August 1944 with the 501 Squadron. Was he reasigned to the 303?

Regards

Miguel

[Stein Meum]

Originally Posted by miguelerik

The Danish pilot is my grandfather, Jorgen Kjeldbaek. The flight records I have from him ended on August 1944 with the 501 Squadron. Was he reasigned to the 303?RegardsMiguel

I have researched 80 Sqn ORB for the summer autumn and winter 44-45. As the Sqn began re-equipping with Tempests in August-September 44, the loaned several Tempests from 274 Sqn, and checing 274 Sqn's ORB for the period, I found Kjeldbaek's name there.
Do you by any chance have Kjeldbaeks's Log Book?

[Allan125]

Hi Stein

Your man could be wearing the ribbon of the 1939-1943 Star, which was superseded by the 1939-1945 Star (no 1939-1943 Star medal was issued as far as I know, just the ribbon)

Plenty of information out there if you Google 1939-1943 Star ribbon

"The 1939-1943 Star later became the 1939-1945 Star. The ribbon was first issued to thoses who qualified for the medal, which for 1939-1943 Star the actual ribbon was issued to the individual for them to wear on a ribbon bar."

Also see my piece on http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...tars-confusion

Allan

[AUS_RAAF]

Voytech,

There is a small picture of WG McConnochie (NZ.411517) during an earlier posting with 450 Sqn RAAF here - http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/MED1156
It is difficult to confirm whether it is the same pilot that appears in your photo. You could try contacting the 450 Sqn Association for further clarification - http://450squadronraaf.smugmug.com/
“The Greatest Squadron of Them All Vol 2” has two group photos of 603 Sqn on pages 224 and 228. They are not the best reproductions, however the second pic shows P/O Manivalu sitting on top of a Spitfire, Feb 45. Once again it is difficult to be 100% sure but he does bear some similarity to the pilot from your photos. His name could also be Manivelu according to here
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Hi.../Philip02.html
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Da...2/8%20Squadron

Drew