RAF No 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron

RAF No 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron Spitfire photographs

Ju 88 7./KG30 shot down by RAF Spitfires from 616Sqn and crashlanded near Hornby 15th Aug 1940 01

Spitfire MkIIa RAF 616Sqn QJX L.H Casson P7753 Tangmere 1941 01

Spitfire MkIIb RAF 616Sqn YQD P8570 force landed 01

Spitfire MkIIb RAF 616Sqn YQD P8570 force landed 02

Spitfire MkIIb RAF 616Sqn YQD P8570 force landed 03

Spitfire MkI RAF 616Sqn take off from Fowlmere Battle of Britain 1940 IWM HU1450

Spitfire MkVb RAF 616Sqn YQA Colin Falkland Gray Kings Cliff Jan 1942 01

Spitfire MkVb RAF 616Sqn YQQ AA879 Operation Jubilee Jan 1942 01

Spitfire Vb RAF 616Sqn AA879 Manchester Civil Defender Kirton in Lindsey Dec 1941 IWM HU66616

In a long tradition of groups of individuals providing arms to their warriors, the manufacture of some Spitfires and other aircraft were funded by donors. Approximately 1500 “presentation” Spitfires were produced and most presentation aircraft were Spitfires. This way a government could offset the large expense of producing these aircraft. A Spitfire airframe was listed as £ 5,000 but £ 12,000 would be more accurate. Hyderabad Sqn was named after the Nizam of Hyderabad donated the entire squadron of DH9. Lord Beaverbrook took this practice to an industrial level. RAF regulations stated the donors name, or a chosen caption, was to be placed on the fuselage with 4 inch yellow characters, usually near the nose or cockpit. The regulation was not always adhered to closely as with the WB crest. These “names” were sometimes moved from one aircraft to another if there was a close association between the donor and squadron but the equipment changed or the old one was destroyed. Jack and Harry Warner were some of the few influential Americans in the 1930’s who recognized the threat fascism posed towards the US.

They were young immigrants themselves and had some experience with anti-Semitism. They would lobby Washington and have discussions with Roosevelt about Nazi activities. Warner Bros ended all relations with Germany in 1934. They produced pictures such as Bosko's Picture Show, Black Legion and Confessions of a Nazi Spy. “Sergeant York” is based on the WWI hero who often publicly sparred with pro-Nazi Charles Lindberg about anti-intervention. Profits from the documentary film “London Can Take It” went to a Spitfire fund. All this activity landed the Warners into some hot water with some US authorities. The PCA (Production Code Administration), a film industry self-regulatory agency, banned anti-Nazi propaganda in 1934 but reversed this later in 1941.

A US Senate sub-committee hearing, the Nye-Clark hearings, accused Hollywood of being a Jewish monopoly conspiring with Roosevelt to drag the US into the war. Of course these hearings became irrelevant in December 1941 and stopped. Roosevelt was quick to utilize film in the war effort and WB produced many during the war. In my younger days I went to film festivals and one included old, seldom seen WB cartoons. Bugs bunny was in there. These are never shown on TV. They were made before and during the war and are considered not suitable for broadcast. I saw why. They are racist these days with their German and Japanese portrayals.

The “Cordell Hull”, Spitfire Vb, s/n W3432, came into service July 22, 1941 beginning with 616 Sqn. It was presented by Warner Bros September 30, 1941. It saw action in the Battle of Britain based out of Yorkshire and Kenley. Later it would fly sweeps over Northern France and provide bomber escort. Battles with Adolph Gallands fighters were frequent. Cordell Hull was the US Secretary of State from 1933-44 and was considered a pro-interventionist. He played a key role in the creation of the United Nations and got a Nobel Peace Prize. Al Gore is a member of the Friends of Cordell Hull which maintains the birthplace and museum in Picket County Tennessee.

The “President Roosevelt”, Spitfire Vb, s/n W3430, came into service July 20, 1941. It was presented by Warner Bros September 30, 1941. It flew in the Battle of Britain as part of the Biggin Hill sector, 72 Sqn during 1941. It joined 222 Sqn May 14, 1942 and performed fighter sweeps over Britain. I think we know who Roosevelt was. A digital image of the letter between Jack Warner and Roosevelt discussing “donation of spitfire planes” dated September 30, 1941 is kept at the Roosevelt Presidential Library. I have tried to present this information factually and did not intend to politicize any subjects.

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Spitfire MkVb RAF 616Sqn YQC FO James E Johnson W3457 at RAF Tangmere Aug 1941 profile by Eduard 0A

Info Eduard: “Johnnie” Johnson was the Commonwealth’s most successful fighter ace, with 41 confirmed kills. After completing pilot training in August 1940, he was briefly assigned to No. 19 Squadron before transferring to No. 616 Squadron in early September. In the spring of 1941, Tangmere Wing commander Douglas Bader selected him as his wingman in his four-man formation. After Bader was shot down and captured on 9 August 1941, Johnson had the words “BADER’S BUS Co. STILL RUNNING” painted on the left side of the fuel tank cover of his Spitfire W3457. On the right side of the fuselage, W3457 carried the inscription “CYNON VALLEY,” referring to the urban areas of Aberdare and Mountain Ash in Glamorgan, which had funded the aircraft through a public fundraising campaign. Preserved photographs confirm that the Spitfire wore the new Fighter Command camouflage scheme, introduced on 15 August 1941, in shades of Dark Green, Mixed Grey, and Medium Sea Grey.

Group Captain Colin Falkland Gray DSO, DFC and Two Bars

Group Captain Colin Falkland Gray DSO, DFC and Two Bars (9 November 1914 – 1 August 1995) was the top New Zealand fighter ace of the Second World War. Gray was credited with 27 aerial kills, two shared destroyed, six probable kills, with a further four shared probables.

Early life

He and his twin brother Ken were born in Christchurch. Both joined the Royal Air Force. Ken died in a flying accident on 1 May 1940.

RAF service in the Second World War

Colin Gray joined 54 Squadron in November 1939. After initial combats on 24 May (claiming two 'probable' victories) he downed his first confirmed enemy aircraft, a Messerschmitt Bf 109, on 25 May 1940, while escorting a formation of Fairey Swordfishes to dive-bomb Gravelines. His Spitfire was badly damaged in the engagement, and damage to the port aileron forced the aircraft into a dive that was controlled only with great difficulty. Gray's aircraft had also lost its airspeed indicator and control of guns, flaps or brakes. However Gray managed to force land safely at his base in Hornchurch.

On 13 July 1940, he shot down his second 109 (of JG 51) near Calais after a long chase at sea level. Another fighter was claimed on 24 July (of JG 54) and a pair of 109s both on 12 August and 16 August. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 15 August 1940. Two Bf 110s were destroyed on 18 August.

By early September, Gray had claimed 14.5 kills, as his squadron was sent North to rest and re-equip after being heavily engaged in the Battle of Britain. After a brief month stay with 43 Squadron, he returned to his old squadron as a flight commander in January 1941.

In June, he was posted to No. 1 Squadron, again as a flight commander, claiming a share in a Heinkel He 59 off Folkstone in June 1941.

He claimed a 109 as a 'guest' of No 41 Squadron on 22 August, before a posting to No. 403 Squadron RCAF but after two days, was sent to command No. 616 Squadron. On 20 September 1941, with a total of 17 confirmed victories, he was awarded the bar to his DFC. In February 1942, he was posted as Squadron Leader, Tactics, to HQ, 9 Group.

Returning to operations in September 1942, he was attached briefly to No. 485 Squadron for operational experience before taking over No. 64 Squadron, flying the new Mark IX Spitfire.

In December 1942, he was sent as Tactics Officer to No. 333 Group in Algiers and then took over No. 81 Squadron in January 1943. Following operation over Tunisia, in May 1943, Gray was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He increased his tally by five, including a 109 of JG 53 and a Macchi C.202 of 5 Stormo on 23 March.

He was promoted to Wing Commander in May 1943 and took over No. 322 Wing for the Italian campaign. In June and July 1943, he claimed five more kills, including two JG 53 109-Gs on 14 June and 10 July, a Macchi C.202 of 1 Stormo on 17 June and two Junkers Ju 52 transports of TG 1 on 25 July. He was awarded a second bar to the DFC in November.

In early September, he returned to England, with a final total of 27½ confirmed victories, six (and four shared) probables, and 12 damaged, in 511 operational sorties. He commanded 61 OCU at Rednal and in July 1944, was appointed Wing Commander Flying of the Detling Wing. In July he transferred to RAF Lympne, overseeing the Griffon-engined Spitfires engaged in anti V-1 operations over the south coast.

Post-war

After the war, he continued in various command and staff posts, and was involved in the fighting in the Malayan Emergency. He retired as a Group Captain in 1961 and returned to New Zealand to work for Unilever as personnel Director until 1979.

In 1945, he married Betty Cook, with whom he had two sons and two daughters. He also wrote Spitfire Patrol, an autobiography detailing his time in the RAF. Gray died in Waikanae on 1 August 1995.

Web Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Falkland_Gray