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Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. |
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Wing Commanders in the Battle of Britain
Wing Commanders in the Battle of Britain
Hi guys |
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Re: Wing Commanders in the Battle of Britain
Hi Brian
According to Basil Embry himself in "Mission Completed" he took over the Wittering sector in December 1940, when his Nightfighter Wing at Rochford was disbanded (this was composed of 264 (Defiant) and 151 (Hurricane) Squadrons), which he had taken over in October 1940 - so when he became OC of this Nightfighter Wing the BoB was already virtually over, and 25 Squadron was in the Wittering Sector, using Beaufighters, so, by his own admission he could not have flown with 25 Squadron in the BoB? cheers Allan
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Allan Hillman |
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Re: Wing Commanders in the Battle of Britain
Hi Allan
You are correct, of course, re Basil Embry - my eye caught page 184 of Mission Completed (paperback), when he mentions that he began to operate with 25 Squadron, assuming he was writing about BoB period. Nonetheless, he appears to have flown some night fighter ops post BoB. Cheers Brian |
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Re: Wing Commanders in the Battle of Britain
Hi Brian
I must admit to a personal interest in Basil Embry - also my copy is the hardeback 1st edition 1957 version - he was my late father's C.O. at A.A.F.C.E. Fontainebleau, and signed his NATO certificate of service. We were one of the families mentioned in "Headaches" - "..many British families were forced to seek houses in neighbouring villages and towns.." living initially in the picturesque, but cold in winter, Moret-sur-Loing, until new NATO married quarters were built in Fontainebleau itself. I could write more about him, and Fontainebleau, but this is not the place for it! Good luck with your project. Allan
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Allan Hillman |
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Re: Wing Commanders in the Battle of Britain
Hi Allan
You may be able to answer my "30 June 1940" post, where I enquire if W/C Embry led the Blenheim raid, as suggested, or was he on his way back from France? Cheers Brian |
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Re: Wing Commanders in the Battle of Britain
Hi Brian
In the chapter "Home Again" he writes "Between the beginning of May and the end of July, I had witnessed at pretty close quarters the fall of France" and from the information below it would cornfirm that he was not on the 30 June 1940 raid (I had not seen your question ref. that date) as he apparently took about 2 months to get home from being shot down on 27 May 1940. 27 May 1940 107 Squadron Blenheim IV L9391 Failed to return from a bombing sortie to St.Omer, the aircraft was shot down near the target. W/C B Embry and P/O T Whiting baled out and were captured. Cpl. G Lang was killed. W/C Embry escaped v Spain and Gibraltar, leaving for the UK on 27 July 1940 arriving Plymouth 28 July 1940 on HMS Vidette. 'RAF Evaders' - by Oliver Clutton-Brock, gives the same RN vessel, but states 2 August, so still way off of your 30 June request! Strangely enough the CWGC website shows Lang as a F/Sgt http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/ca...FFREY%20EDWARD and his date of death as 28 May, but Embry writes "The idea of abandoning the aeroplane with him still in it, even although dead, was contrary to all my instincts, but what was to be done?" "Mission Completed" is finally dedicated to "and Corporal Lang" see also http://www.fontainebleauveteransasso.../embry-bio.htm Allan
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Allan Hillman |
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Re: Wing Commanders in the Battle of Britain
Excellent, Alan
Many thanks Brian |
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