A new book in my library.

[Lucky13]

I am not a fan of those CGI photos in South Pacific Air War I'm afraid, other than that....most excellent book like the rest!

 

[Wurger]

 

[Lucky13]

Anyone got an idea as to why P-40E 41-5313 is mentioned twice in Appendix 1 - Allied Aircraft Losses and Fatalities?

First on the 2nd of November '42 "ditched in Bootless Inlet off Port Moresby, Lt Bryant Wesley was able to swim ashore....

Second on 30th of November '42 "Lt Bryant Wesley baled out near Dobodura after combat with Zeros....

Did they recover and repair 41-5313?

 

[GrauGeist]

Anyone got an idea as to why P-40E 41-5313 is mentioned twice in Appendix 1 - Allied Aircraft Losses and Fatalities?

First on the 2nd of November '42 "ditched in Bootless Inlet off Port Moresby, Lt Bryant Wesley was able to swim ashore....

Second on 30th of November '42 "Lt Bryant Wesley baled out near Dobodura after combat with Zeros....

Did they recover and repair 41-5313?

It's possible.

Joe Baugher only lists the 2 November '42 incident.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Possible miss print.

Extract from Pacific Wrecs: Pacific Wrecks

49th Fighter Group History
Aircraft serial number from AFLC card "Wrecked 11.2.42 Bootless Inlet. Landed in water. Material failure."
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-40E Kittyhawk 41-5313 piloted by Wesley Protect and Avenge mentions this loss:
"The old stager Warhawk flown by Bryant Wesley had its engine seize up in the landing pattern and the Lt put the spluttering Warhawk down in the shallows of Bootless Bay, just south of the strip. Wesley swam ashore as the P-40 sank out of sight."

2nd Edit.
Byrant Wesley was shot down on 30 November 1942 while flying a P-40E, number not stated. The report from the same sourse as above states:
After bailing out, Wesley walked to Dobodura and met U.S. Army engineers near Dobodura Airfield and was flown back to Port Moresby. He returned to duty 2-4 days after this incident. For his service, he earned the Purple Heart and Silver Star.

Afterwards, he returned to the United States and was killed piloting P-40N 43-23739 that took off from Pinellas AAF on June 14, 1944 and crashed eight miles east of New Port Richey, FL.

So the other report to read Jan seems to have mixed up its details.

 

[Lucky13]

 

[buffnut453]

Marion Carl was one of my heroes. I still have a letter that he wrote to me when I was researching the Buffalo. He shared some interesting insights from his experiences at Midway. It's a treasured possession.

Marion was an absolutely charming, unassuming gentleman. His murder, trying to protect his wife Edna from an armed intruder in their home, still makes me angry.

 

[36feet10inches]

A great find for my little reference library – "Spitfire Smiths", the story of Canadian brothers and Spitfire pilots Jerrold and Roderick Smith, told through Rod's memoirs and Jerry's contemporary diary. Sadly, Rod took his own life in 2001. Before his death during the defence of Malta in 1942, Jerry Smith famously landed Spitfire Mk Vc (Trop) BR126 on the aircraft carrier USS Wasp, an outstanding feat of airmanship given that the Spitfire was not adapted to carrier landings and was not equipped with an arrestor hook. Smith had taken off from the same carrier shortly beforehand as part of Operation Bowery, tasked with delivering Spitfires to the beleaguered island of Malta. The Bowery Spitfires were equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks to give them the range needed to get from the western Mediterranean to Malta; when Smith realised that his fuel feed was faulty and he was never going to make it to Malta, rather than ditch the aircraft he decided to try to land it back on the carrier, which he did on the second attempt with a few feet of deck to spare. His American colleagues unofficially awarded him his US Navy pilot's wings in recognition of his achievement. Days later Smith took off from HMS Eagle in the same Spitfire and this time made it to Malta without a hitch. BR126 is a future project, and even a quick glance through the book confirms that it contains a wealth of information about the event.

The Spitfire Smiths: A Unique Story of Brothers in Arms: Amazon.co.uk: Rod Smith, Christopher Shores: 9781906502119: Books

Buy The Spitfire Smiths: A Unique Story of Brothers in Arms by Rod Smith, Christopher Shores (ISBN: 9781906502119) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[Wurger]

 

[36feet10inches]

Couple more with a Malta slant. There's appears to be some more interesting background on the Club Run Spitfire deliveries in the Mansfield book, told from a pilot's perspective.

It's remarkable what can be picked up for a few quid second hand!

 

[Greg Boeser]

Couple more with a Malta slant. There's appears to be some more interesting background on the Club Run Spitfire deliveries in the Mansfield book, told from a pilot's perspective.

It's remarkable what can be picked up for a few quid second hand!

View attachment 711307

Looks interesting!

 

[36feet10inches]

Looks interesting!

I'm deeeep into the story of Jerry Smith and his Spitfire carrier landing, but the whole Defence of Malta story is fascinating. I visited on a business trip some years ago and I wish I knew then what I know now!

 

[A.G. Williams]

I am reminded of an incident about three decades ago when I was on holiday in Tenerife. The hotel was mostly occupied by Brits and Germans, and there was a degree of rivalry over people reserving the best sun-beds all day by leaving a towel on them first thing in the morning. The Brits tended to get up later, so missed out. Until one morning I noticed that a choice sunbed had a Union Jack towel draped across it, weighed down by a book. I still remember the title: "Malta - The Spitfire Year"

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

I am reminded of an incident about three decades ago when I was on holiday in Tenerife. The hotel was mostly occupied by Brits and Germans, and there was a degree of rivalry over people reserving the best sun-beds all day by leaving a towel on them first thing in the morning. The Brits tended to get up later, so missed out. Until one morning I noticed that a choice sunbed had a Union Jack towel draped across it, weighed down by a book. I still remember the title: "Malta - The Spitfire Year"

WW3 could be started any time around those sunbeds

 

[Vic Balshaw]

I've come across the same situation in Bali and if nobody arrives within 30 minutes, you just move in.

 

[Micdrow]

Newest pickups

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Lots of good reading here.

 

[Mustanglimey]

Found one at a good price at last

 

[Wurger]

 

[Donivanp]

Well not really new as I've had the digital version for a few years now but I like a hard copy...