ATAG_Snapper
Oct-19-2024, 08:54
From my good friend and former high school history teacher (now 94 years old) Paul Jones:
This is Ronnie, a Battle of Britain pilot. I knew him because he would visit my sister in 1940 when I was ten., my sister who was 21 had an active social, life. Unfortunately I have forgotten his surname, but I remember his history in detail.
He was flying with his squadron of Spitfires to engage the enemy when he realized his aircraft was on fire but not from enemy action, he radioed his Squadron Leader to report the fire and said he thought he could put it out. He was wrong and he was left with the choice of baling out or dying. Sensibly, he decided to bail out, unfortunately, he was unable to open his canopy and things were getting hot and uncomfortable. Luckily, he did finally get it open and more or less fell out of the plane and was promptly hit by the tail plane. He fell unconscious about a thousand feet before recovering and opening his parachute. He landed in front of a car which took him to hospital. After treatment, he returned to flying but it was discovered he blacked out on curves so Spitfires were out and he was put on training other pilots and flying Puss Moths. The Puss Moth was a biplane and not designed for war. Meanwhile, my sister got married, that meant his girl friend in the South was no longer available so he married his girl friend in the North.
I tried to find out what happened to him. I sent his picture and his story to a Scottish newspaper. They wrote me back, "Leave it to us." but I never heard from them again. I am hoping that this account will be more successful. Yes, I do trust my memory from when I was 10. Annoying that his surname still escapes me.
57402
This is Ronnie, a Battle of Britain pilot. I knew him because he would visit my sister in 1940 when I was ten., my sister who was 21 had an active social, life. Unfortunately I have forgotten his surname, but I remember his history in detail.
He was flying with his squadron of Spitfires to engage the enemy when he realized his aircraft was on fire but not from enemy action, he radioed his Squadron Leader to report the fire and said he thought he could put it out. He was wrong and he was left with the choice of baling out or dying. Sensibly, he decided to bail out, unfortunately, he was unable to open his canopy and things were getting hot and uncomfortable. Luckily, he did finally get it open and more or less fell out of the plane and was promptly hit by the tail plane. He fell unconscious about a thousand feet before recovering and opening his parachute. He landed in front of a car which took him to hospital. After treatment, he returned to flying but it was discovered he blacked out on curves so Spitfires were out and he was put on training other pilots and flying Puss Moths. The Puss Moth was a biplane and not designed for war. Meanwhile, my sister got married, that meant his girl friend in the South was no longer available so he married his girl friend in the North.
I tried to find out what happened to him. I sent his picture and his story to a Scottish newspaper. They wrote me back, "Leave it to us." but I never heard from them again. I am hoping that this account will be more successful. Yes, I do trust my memory from when I was 10. Annoying that his surname still escapes me.
57402