|
Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Pictures of Fairy Battle crew
Hello!
I have searched so many places but not been able to find a picture of this crew, who was downed in their Fairy Battle (PM-G) on the 27. Sept. 1939. F/O A.L. Vipan ? Sgt. J.H. Vickers killed AG J.E. Summers ? Rank ? Sgt. Vickers was the first of the BEF to recieve Medaille Militaire (posthumously) Does anyone know if a photo exists of any of these crewmember. Thanks in advance Christian
__________________
Hi! I am a collector of LW items and a modeller of german WW2 planes with a history. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Pictures of Fairy Battle crew
FAIREY Battle. Serial Number K9271; 103 Squadron. Codes: PM-G
Operation Reconnaissance. 27th September 1939 Airborne from Challerange. Forced-landed at a French airfield near the Maginot Line after being badly shot about by Me 109s near the German border. Sgt Vickers was critically wounded and died of his injuries 5th Oct3 1939. His French decoration was the first to be made to a member of the AASF. F/O A.L. Vipan Sgt J.H. Vickers, Medaille Militaire, Inj; AC1 J.E. Summers. On September 27, three Battles 58 from 'A' Flight of 103 Squadron (Challerange, one of the most forward A.A.S.F. bases, near Verdun) were reconnoitring the frontier between Bouzonville and the Rhine at 3,000 ft. when they were attacked by three French Curtiss Hawks which came out of a cloud. The formation leader, FlU M. C. Wells, fired his recognition lights and brought his flight down until it was flying close to the ground. After the first attack the French aircraft broke away, presumably having identified the Battles. At this point the Battles were engaged by three Bf. 109s which suddenly appeared 'out of the blue'. Sgt Vickers, navigator of Battle K9271, flown by F/O Vipan, was badly wounded and in great pain, and so Vipan, whose engine was already failing, forced-landed in a field. On the way down, apparently, one of the enemy fighters presented itself as a sitting target, and the air-gunner sent it down in a spin to equal the score. (Me 109 pilot believed to be Obergefreite Josef Scherm) Vipan landed, on one wheel, in a field close to a Maginot Line fort, and saw a French poilu running towards him, shouting in Cockney: 'Blimey, Guv'ner, you're bloody lucky.' The wounded navigator was removed from the aircraft, and the Frenchman then explained his Cockney accent and command of English bad language by saying that he had lived in Chelsea. Later, more French soldiers arrived and, pointing to a dense column of smoke from a nearby wood, said that was the Messerschmitt which Vipan's gunner had brought down with them. A French report later confirmed this. Vipan's navigator, Sgt Vickers, subsequently died in hospital as a result of his wounds, but just before he died he was awarded the Medaille Militaire by order of General Gamelin, the French Generalissimo. This was the first French decoration awarded to the B.E.F. in World War II. Name: VICKERS, JOHN HENRY Initials: J H Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant (Obs.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: 103 Sqdn. Age: 24 Date of Death: 05/10/1939 Service No: 516606 Additional information: Son of Henry Guy and Gertrude Vickers; husband of Peggy Vickers, of Withernsea, Yorkshire. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 1A. B. 14. Cemetery: CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY. Unfortunately, the pilot did not survive the war:- Name: VIPAN, ARTHUR LUSHINGTON Initials: A L Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Squadron Leader (Pilot) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Date of Death: 16/10/1944 Service No: 39191 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 15726. Cemetery: CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY These may be associated with his death, as no Sqdn, presumably an HCU.... BURNSIDE S 1822420 - 16/10/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE CHAPPELL WH 1602941 - 16/10/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE FALCONER DJ 77912 - 16/10/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE HEWITT PN 1812711 - 16/10/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE HUDSON HD 1813316 - 16/10/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE SHAW T 1322382 - 16/10/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE I get the feeling that at least two OTU crews were lost that day/night |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Pictures of Fairy Battle crew
Good evening Christian,
For a photo of A.L.Vipan,see Sid Finn's book on 103 Squadron,'Black Swan' or Google his full name and find one at www.mackz.net. For J.H.Vickers, see page 526 of Peter Cornwell's 'The Battle of France Then and Now',or page 31 of Victor Bingham's book 'Blitzed'. Hope this helps, Regards,Mark. Last edited by M sIMPSON; 17th April 2010 at 20:35. Reason: Additional information. |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Ju188 lost in France | Eric Larger | Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces | 16 | 15th December 2011 23:47 |
FAIREY BATTLE PICTURES | malcolmjameswilson | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 5 | 14th October 2009 01:02 |
Losses of B-17's in RCM role | paul peters | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 4 | 15th February 2006 20:57 |
Fairy Battle loss 27.09.1939 | cbe2009 | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 7 | 17th August 2005 17:44 |
Claims identites | Adam | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 3 | 27th May 2005 00:05 |