1 PRU flights to photograph the TIRPITZ

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Andy!
I am indeed very fond of RAF´s PR operations and PR airmen. They are few and there are few histories ( books ) available. Yes, the famous of 28th March is wonderful...one can even see the Kriegsmarine sailors watching the airplane...
It seems you do know quite a lot about PR operations. Have you got access to the ORB´s of 1 PRU? May I ask you the causes of F/L Pane death? I checked the 18th July 1942 claims by Luftwaffe aircraft but did not find any match. I do guess he crashed during a training or a test. His grave is a Hedsor. Sad loss indeed...he had done some incredible flights and it is amazing he was not awarded a gong for those sucessful flights...
Friendly yours

Adriano

[shooshoobaby]

Adriano-
Interesting Book on PRU and Photo Intelligence.
Evidence In Camera by Constance Babington Smith.
Photos from Roy Conyers Nesbit Collection plus others.
Mike

[Andy Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Adriano Baumgartner

May I ask you the causes of F/L Pane death? I checked the 18th July 1942 claims by Luftwaffe aircraft but did not find any match. I do guess he crashed during a training or a test. His grave is a Hedsor. Sad loss indeed...he had done some incredible flights and it is amazing he was not awarded a gong for those sucessful flights...
Friendly yours

Adriano

Hi Adriano,

Fane took off on the 18Jul42 for a sortie to Flensburg (U-Boat yards at low level). Due to bad weather he landed at Coltishall and eventually decided to head back to Benson even though cloud was down to the deck. Apparently he was flying low along the rail line near Duxford when he crashed. He was thrown clear of his a/c but killed instantly.

Indeed a sad loss for a highly talented individual. He flew a total of 25 PR ops (17 successful) - 98h 50m operational time. Pre war he was a racing car driver.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[JohnE]

Was he flying BP921 on that occasion?? According to "the Spitfire Bible" it crashed near Duxford.

/John