American Spitfire MK XI MB 948 "Oh Johnnie"

[blythsco]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2455401...3915/?edited=1

[Pilot]

Thank you very much! Just work on book about PR Spitfires and this one would be nice subject for color profile

[blythsco]

Srecko here is another view of Oh Johnnie:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2455401...7619911531715/

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Scott,

MB948 is one of the prettiest Spitfires I ever see. Really wonderful picture.
I was watching your Album again and may I ask you and if you or your father do know what happened to 1/Lt John R Richards ( one of only two airmen from 7th PRG to be awarded the DSC )? Was he decorated with this medal for his 6th August 1944 mission over Germany ( again covered on your Album )?
Please, DO transmit to your father my most sincere regards for what they did..."unarmed, alone and unafraid" over the skies of Europe...a trully beautiful page of Aviation...unfortunately forgotten by so many!
Yours
Adriano

[blythsco]

Hello Adriano

According to my father the extremely modest Richards didn't know why he was awarded the DSC. My father had great respect for Richards as Richards stayed in England and continued flying missions when he
could have gone home. Richards is still alive BTW although in failing health. Oh Johnnie was supposedly assigned to my father but was flown at various times by most of the pilots in the 14th Squadron.

Cheers
Scott Blyth

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Scott,
Sent you a PM. Thanks for the information about Richards. Glad to hear he was and still is a modest man.
Adriano

[montana]

Hi Scott,

Do you have information relating to Lt Gilmore ? He took off on September 8, 1944 with the Belgian Lt Goffin on the same mission above the Siegfried Line. Thanks for your help.

[blythsco]

Hello Montana

I know a lot more about Goffin than I do about Lt. Louis Gilmore. It appears that Gilmore flew F-5s with the 13th Squadron and then transferred to the 14th Squadron in July 1944. He initially flew F-5s with the 14th and did his first mission in a Spitfire on August 7th. He was flying PA842. He subequently flew PA892 and then PA944 on a number of missions:

www.dav32.com


He flew MB950 on August 26. He flew MB955 on the Siegried Line Mission on September 8th. Goffin flew MB952 on his 33rd and lat mission. A very sad day for the 14th Squadron. Gilmore actually flew MB948 "Oh Johnnie" on September 11, 1944 and that is where I ran out of time.

Anyway I will check with my father to see if he knew Gilmore. Here is the only photo I can find of him:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2455401...7613174468298/

All the best
Scott

[Pilot]

Thank you very much! I have created profile in regard to your files and forwarded to authors. I have give proper credit to you and hope that the same would not be missed in book.

Cheers

[Andy Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Pilot

Just work on book about PR Spitfires and this one would be nice subject for color profile

Hi Pilot,

What is the book on PR Spitfires you mention?

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher