WWII Clandestine Photo Reconnaissance

Yes I read your reply. I'll try to find that old Icare issue but, as I said, there are no details, only that a severely guarded recce-Spit was in a hangar on some French airfield. The only detail I could find is the name of this airfield. Stand by, be patient.
As for SHAA, now unified military archive (I have forgotten the new name), I am surprised by their behaviour. Try to ask them again but IN FRENCH, it could work. As a last resort you could announce your visit there, at least one month before (preferably 3 months before, repeating the announcement 1 month before) - except if you write or phone them and they tell you it's all right - and go there. After all it's virtually Paris, not so far away.

Well, I screened half a dozen "Icare" issues for this passage but I found nothing. Every issue contains a lot of text. Now I really don't know where this mention could be. But I think you could find this piece of information easier in the RAF or IWM-archive : only 2 PR-Spits were based in France 1940. Finding where should not be all too difficult.
Sorry pal but I can't re-read 17 complete Icare-issues from 1970 to 1997. Good luck!

[Matzos]

If its any help, before the fall of France, the reconnaissance Spitfires from the Heston Special Flight were renamed to No.2 Camouflage Unit and a detachment was sent to France.
At the time Spitfire PR 1Bs were being used, fitted with F24 cameras in each wing. These were up graded later to PR 1Cs.
During the Dunkirk evacuation, the French detachment of No.2 CU was disbanded and the aircraft and personnel re-absorbed back to Heston.

[JeffK]

Have you read the book about Cotton?

I'm unsure of the name, I'll check my files.

[edwest]

Here's a link to a site about Sidney Cotten:

http://www.adastron.com/lockheed/electra/sidcotton.htm


Ed

[Dave Lefurgey]

Thx Ed, but already have that one. Think I've gotten most of what I can from the internet now, but thanks. Most info is coming by digging through boxes in family basements, the RAF and various "other" agencies my uncle & Cotton worked for. Waiting to hear from thew French and also from the Russian Embassy (if they ever decide to answer, since I used the "s" word for "spy'). Trying to dig out some way of connecting with Sir William Stephenson "Intrepid" records or archives (but that's proving to be difficult), since I wonder if they worked for him at all. They did sorties for Ian Fleming of James Bond fame, and socialized with him. It's been said about many people, but claims are even made that James Bond may be patterned after Cotton. Thx again for your interest. Oh, by the way, just learned about a month ago that someone is nominating my uncle, Bob Niven, to the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame. That was a surprise.

[edwest]

Then see this book:

http://www.crossandcockade.com/revie...ney_cotton.htm

And, by all means, contact the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame:

http://www.cahf.ca/whatsnew.htm


Ed

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo all,

Can anyone tell me if there is a Sidney Cotton archive ? Or where might his logbooks and documents survive, if at all ?

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Dave Lefurgey]

Martin: I think the Australian War Museum has some of Cotton's things, but don't know about any of his logbooks. Cotton burned a lot of his documents before he died. Might also try the Royal Air Force's Air Historical Branch. Have had very good dealings with them. Why do you want to know? We have my uncle's log books and other things. I've been doing research on them for several years now and have the benefit of family involvement, including Cotton's daughter Jill (from 2nd marriage) and talking to Pat Martin, who was Cotton's girlfriend at the time. My uncle's wife was Cotton's neice and she & Pat did some spy flights with them. Since my uncle was with Cotton from the start, my uncle's log books would reflect what Cotton was doing. The two were always together in the Lockheed until the RAF took over their unit once war started and they began flying photo recon Spitfires from French airbases.
Dave Lefurgey at e-mail: dwblefurgey@hotmail.com

[wise62]

hi,

only for information : there is a very interesting book about air reconnaissances :

All above unseen
The RAF's photographic reconnaissances units : 1939/1945
Edward Leaf
Patrick Stephens ltd publications

you may read that the 2 firsts pru spit were N3069 et N3071
N3071 is pictured when in Nancy french airfield 12/1939