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fubar57
General
Margot Duhalde, wartime ATA pilot. 
Margot Duhalde, who has died aged 97, was Chile's first female pilot; She started flying when she was 16 years old, gaining her pilot's licence two years later, just before the outbreak of World War Two. During the Second World War she travelled to Britain to join the Free French forces, but soon transferred to the British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) and spent four years ferrying a wide variety of aircraft to RAF airfields.
Later she became Chile's first female air traffic controller.
A government statement said: "We are grateful for the huge contribution she made to Chilean aviation and recognise the courage she had to fulfil her life's dream, breaking stereotypes and showing the way to other women."
Last year Mrs Duhalde told a Chilean TV station "the men were convinced they were the only ones who could do things". "They always looked down on us women, it is only recently that they are beginning to realise we are equal and actually better than them."
Margot Duhalde got her flying licence in 1938 but there were few opportunities for a woman pilot in Chile.
When war broke out a year later, she went to the French consulate in Santiago to volunteer for the Free French Forces in London because she had family connections with France. Not yet legally an adult, she lied to her parents and told them she was going to Canada as an instructor.
She ended up in the UK with 13 other volunteers and presented herself at the headquarters of the Free French Forces.
"The truth is that the French.. didn't know what to do with me. They mixed up my name with that of a man, Marcel, in other words they thought I was a man." She left the French after they assigned her to look after wounded pilots.
Despite speaking no English, she got a job with the British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), which flew aircraft into combat zones.
"The work was very difficult," she said. "We had to fly in terrible conditions with a minimum of visibility." "It was very dangerous, and we had no contact with the ground because the Germans were listening."
She returned to Chile in 1947 where she lived the rest of her life, marrying three times and working as a commercial pilot, instructor and finally as an air traffic controller, retiring at the age of 81.
In 1946 Margot Duhalde was made a Knight of France's Legion of Honour, later being given the honorary rank of colonel by the Chilean air force.
source: BBC
Margot Duhalde, who has died aged 97, was Chile's first female pilot; She started flying when she was 16 years old, gaining her pilot's licence two years later, just before the outbreak of World War Two. During the Second World War she travelled to Britain to join the Free French forces, but soon transferred to the British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) and spent four years ferrying a wide variety of aircraft to RAF airfields.
Later she became Chile's first female air traffic controller.
A government statement said: "We are grateful for the huge contribution she made to Chilean aviation and recognise the courage she had to fulfil her life's dream, breaking stereotypes and showing the way to other women."
Last year Mrs Duhalde told a Chilean TV station "the men were convinced they were the only ones who could do things". "They always looked down on us women, it is only recently that they are beginning to realise we are equal and actually better than them."
Margot Duhalde got her flying licence in 1938 but there were few opportunities for a woman pilot in Chile.
When war broke out a year later, she went to the French consulate in Santiago to volunteer for the Free French Forces in London because she had family connections with France. Not yet legally an adult, she lied to her parents and told them she was going to Canada as an instructor.
She ended up in the UK with 13 other volunteers and presented herself at the headquarters of the Free French Forces.
"The truth is that the French.. didn't know what to do with me. They mixed up my name with that of a man, Marcel, in other words they thought I was a man." She left the French after they assigned her to look after wounded pilots.
Despite speaking no English, she got a job with the British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), which flew aircraft into combat zones.
"The work was very difficult," she said. "We had to fly in terrible conditions with a minimum of visibility." "It was very dangerous, and we had no contact with the ground because the Germans were listening."
She returned to Chile in 1947 where she lived the rest of her life, marrying three times and working as a commercial pilot, instructor and finally as an air traffic controller, retiring at the age of 81.
In 1946 Margot Duhalde was made a Knight of France's Legion of Honour, later being given the honorary rank of colonel by the Chilean air force.
source: BBC
Squadron Leader Peter Hearne
Squadron Leader Peter Hearne, who has died aged 98, flew Spitfire and Mustang fighters during the Second World War and was credited with destroying at least five enemy aircraft and damaging others.
Peter Hearne was born in February 1919 in Allahabad, India, where his father was a member of the Indian police force and as a youngster lived in Belgium before going to school in England. He cut short his degree studies to join the RAF in 1941 and went to Canada to train before becoming operational in 1942. "He was quite free to talk to about the war," said one of Mr Hearne's sons Damian.
Mr Hearne flew all three types of fighter planes that took part in the war: the Spitfire, Hurricane and Mustang. Hearne was in command of No 19 Squadron when it was sent to Peterhead in north Scotland on February 13 1945 to escort Beaufighter and Mosquito formations attacking shipping in Norwegian and Danish waters. The squadron was equipped with the long-range US-built Mustang fighter.
He mostly piloted these aircraft over the North Sea, helping to escort other vehicles to Norway, and would have been involved in a potential invasion of the country had it taken place. During the war Mr Hearne had five confirmed kills and damaged other aircraft. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and is listed in the second volume of the well known 'Aces High' book which documents the activities of notable fighter pilots.
After the war he continued to fly at bases across the world before leaving the RAF in 1962 and moving to Capel St Mary, where he and his wife raised nine children.
Having left the RAF a chance encounter led him to the world of mushroom growing. Whilst sat in the barbers one day Mr Hearne saw a man come in with a box of mushrooms. Fascinated, he decided he wanted to know more about how they were grown and ended up growing them himself.
"That's exactly how it happened," says Damian, "he grew a wonderful business." As well as his business Mr Hearne became a stalwart in the church community in Capel, helping to bring together different denominations for annual events.
Reflecting on his father's life Damian said: "We need to sometimes stop and think what these people did."
Squadron Leader Peter Hearne, who has died aged 98, flew Spitfire and Mustang fighters during the Second World War and was credited with destroying at least five enemy aircraft and damaging others.
Peter Hearne was born in February 1919 in Allahabad, India, where his father was a member of the Indian police force and as a youngster lived in Belgium before going to school in England. He cut short his degree studies to join the RAF in 1941 and went to Canada to train before becoming operational in 1942. "He was quite free to talk to about the war," said one of Mr Hearne's sons Damian.
Mr Hearne flew all three types of fighter planes that took part in the war: the Spitfire, Hurricane and Mustang. Hearne was in command of No 19 Squadron when it was sent to Peterhead in north Scotland on February 13 1945 to escort Beaufighter and Mosquito formations attacking shipping in Norwegian and Danish waters. The squadron was equipped with the long-range US-built Mustang fighter.
He mostly piloted these aircraft over the North Sea, helping to escort other vehicles to Norway, and would have been involved in a potential invasion of the country had it taken place. During the war Mr Hearne had five confirmed kills and damaged other aircraft. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and is listed in the second volume of the well known 'Aces High' book which documents the activities of notable fighter pilots.
After the war he continued to fly at bases across the world before leaving the RAF in 1962 and moving to Capel St Mary, where he and his wife raised nine children.
Having left the RAF a chance encounter led him to the world of mushroom growing. Whilst sat in the barbers one day Mr Hearne saw a man come in with a box of mushrooms. Fascinated, he decided he wanted to know more about how they were grown and ended up growing them himself.
"That's exactly how it happened," says Damian, "he grew a wonderful business." As well as his business Mr Hearne became a stalwart in the church community in Capel, helping to bring together different denominations for annual events.
Reflecting on his father's life Damian said: "We need to sometimes stop and think what these people did."
Gemhorse
Senior Airman
Damian, may I pass on my sincerest condolences to you and your family ~ I have only just returned to the website after a number of years and remember your fathers warm comments to my posts - I had no idea he was a WW2 pilot, indeed an 'ace', but I suspect he wouldn't see it like that, it was a job that had to done. Also, he was a very brave man, flying cover for those other brave men of the Banff & Dallachy Wings that attacked the German convoy traffic in & out of Scandanavia - I am familiar with these squadrons, I have read of their exploits, very dangerous work in sometimes shocking weather over long stretches of cold sea and fiords, mountains and a ready enemy of Fw-190's to oppose him... thanks God he was flying a Mustang! - I wish I had known before, the questions one would liked to have asked... May God bless him, and all of your family and friends, he was a real gem to me on this website !
Cheers
Cheers
fubar57
General
Group Captain John Ivor Spenser Digman OBE DFC
Group Captain John Digman passed away on December 11th 2017, aged 94 years.
He had a long and distinguished career of 29 years in the Royal Air Force. In March 1942 he undertook his navigator officer training in Canada. Four months later, as Flying Officer, he was sent to Bomber Command to a Wellington Operational Training Unit and crewed up with a multinational crew. They remained together throughout the war. In September 1944 they were assigned to 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron flying Lancasters based at Spilsby in Lincolnshire. From here they completed 36 sorties over Germany, Norway and Poland. John recalled "My abiding memory is of feeling extremely apprehensive when nearing the target area and then of hearing the calm voice of the master bomber over the radio who was directing the pathfinders in marking the target. His measured tones helped no end in settling my mind." He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in October 1945.
Shortly after being posted to Spilsby, John married (Ethel) Babs Pilbeam. In October 2017 they celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary.
In 1947 John became a navigation instructor. On a liaison flight to the South Africa Air Force, he was part of a world record-breaking crew by completing the flight via Kano in 26 hours and 57 minutes. In 1948 he was stationed at RAF Upwood as Station Navigator officer. Two years later as Squadron Leader he moved to the Central Navigation and Control School as Officer Commanding Specialist Navigation Courses. In 1953 John was the first officer to take specialist navigation course students to the geographic North Pole.
Between 1956 and 1958 a posting took John and family to the Far East Air Force base in Singapore. In 1959 he was promoted to Wing Commander and spent 4 years at the Air Ministry in charge of policy for navigator, air electronics officer and combat survival training.
In 1963 John went to RAF Coningsby as Wing Commander Operations of three Vulcan nuclear bomber squadrons. In November 1964 the Squadrons moved to RAF Cottesmore. In January 1966, as the senior navigator, John took his final flight in a Vulcan to Auckland, New Zealand, to display at the opening of the new airport – flying time of fifty five and a half hours.
At the end of 1966 John was awarded the OBE for his valuable service to the RAF. The next 5 years were spent at the Ministry of Defence and in 1969 he was promoted to Group Captain as Deputy Director RAF Security. He took early retirement in 1971.
John remained an active member of the RAFA and Aircrew Association. He raised thousands of pounds for the Wings Appeal and the RAF Benevolent Fund.
John kept in touch with two of his crew and this ceased only in 2017 when they both passed away.
He is survived by his wife Babs, their 2 daughters, granddaughter and 3 great grandchildren.
John was a man proud of and devoted to family and country. Like others of his generation who fought during the Second World War, these remarkable men showed courage and modesty in equal measure and their passing is mourned deeply as their numbers diminish.
Group Captain John Digman passed away on December 11th 2017, aged 94 years.
He had a long and distinguished career of 29 years in the Royal Air Force. In March 1942 he undertook his navigator officer training in Canada. Four months later, as Flying Officer, he was sent to Bomber Command to a Wellington Operational Training Unit and crewed up with a multinational crew. They remained together throughout the war. In September 1944 they were assigned to 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron flying Lancasters based at Spilsby in Lincolnshire. From here they completed 36 sorties over Germany, Norway and Poland. John recalled "My abiding memory is of feeling extremely apprehensive when nearing the target area and then of hearing the calm voice of the master bomber over the radio who was directing the pathfinders in marking the target. His measured tones helped no end in settling my mind." He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in October 1945.
Shortly after being posted to Spilsby, John married (Ethel) Babs Pilbeam. In October 2017 they celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary.
In 1947 John became a navigation instructor. On a liaison flight to the South Africa Air Force, he was part of a world record-breaking crew by completing the flight via Kano in 26 hours and 57 minutes. In 1948 he was stationed at RAF Upwood as Station Navigator officer. Two years later as Squadron Leader he moved to the Central Navigation and Control School as Officer Commanding Specialist Navigation Courses. In 1953 John was the first officer to take specialist navigation course students to the geographic North Pole.
Between 1956 and 1958 a posting took John and family to the Far East Air Force base in Singapore. In 1959 he was promoted to Wing Commander and spent 4 years at the Air Ministry in charge of policy for navigator, air electronics officer and combat survival training.
In 1963 John went to RAF Coningsby as Wing Commander Operations of three Vulcan nuclear bomber squadrons. In November 1964 the Squadrons moved to RAF Cottesmore. In January 1966, as the senior navigator, John took his final flight in a Vulcan to Auckland, New Zealand, to display at the opening of the new airport – flying time of fifty five and a half hours.
At the end of 1966 John was awarded the OBE for his valuable service to the RAF. The next 5 years were spent at the Ministry of Defence and in 1969 he was promoted to Group Captain as Deputy Director RAF Security. He took early retirement in 1971.
John remained an active member of the RAFA and Aircrew Association. He raised thousands of pounds for the Wings Appeal and the RAF Benevolent Fund.
John kept in touch with two of his crew and this ceased only in 2017 when they both passed away.
He is survived by his wife Babs, their 2 daughters, granddaughter and 3 great grandchildren.
John was a man proud of and devoted to family and country. Like others of his generation who fought during the Second World War, these remarkable men showed courage and modesty in equal measure and their passing is mourned deeply as their numbers diminish.
fubar57
General
Adam Ostrowski, who has died aged 99, was a Spitfire pilot during the second world war, a design engineer in peacetime and a supporter of UK-based Polish cultural organisations in later life.
He was born in the Polish city of Lwów, which is now in Ukraine, to Wacław, a landowner, and his wife, Antonina. As a 20-year-old university student he abandoned his studies to take part in the defence of Lwów when Poland was invaded by the Soviet Union at the outbreak of the second world war.
Captured and arrested by the Soviet authorities, he was deported to a labour camp in Siberia but survived that ordeal and was released when the Soviet Union switched to the allied side in 1941. As he had some experience of flying, he volunteered to join the Polish Air Force, which was in exile in Britain, and travelled on HMS Trinidad to Scotland, arriving in February 1942.
He trained as a fighter pilot at various RAF stations, eventually joining 317 Polish Squadron of the RAF and flying mark V, IX and XVI Spitfires in ground attack, bomber escort and occasional air combat missions. In 1944, while based at an airfield in newly liberated Belgium, he met Marie-Louise Milcamps, a physiotherapist and young member of the Belgian resistance. They were married in 1946 and he was demobilised with the rank of flight lieutenant. Ostrowski and his family settled in Britain after the war, partly because by then Lwów, along with a swathe of eastern Poland, had been annexed by the Soviet Union. Marie-Louise worked as a physiotherapist at Middlesex hospital and Adam studied engineering at Willesden Technical College in north-west London, where they lived for the rest of their lives. He became a design engineer, working for Simon Carves, Humphreys and Glasgow, and then Balfour Beatty – primarily with pre-stressed concrete in the design of bridges and buildings.
Aside from his work he also immersed himself in various Polish cultural organisations in the UK, helping to establish the Polish Airforce Association and the Institution of Polish Engineers. With the restoration of democracy in Poland in 1989 he received a number of honours from the Polish government, including the Order of Polonia Restituta.
In 2013 he was guest of honour at an Operation Spitfire dinner, raising funds for the restoration of a Spitfire Mk XVI displayed in the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent. At that dinner actual footage from his Spitfire gun camera had somehow been acquired and was shown to guests.
In 2017 he was invited to lay a wreath for fallen airmen on behalf of 317 Squadron at the Polish war memorial in Northolt, Middlesex. His final resting place will be the Polish war graves cemetery at Newark in Nottinghamshire, where he lies with his fallen comrades and his uncle Stanisław Ostrowski, a former president of Poland in exile.
He is survived by Marie-Louise, by two children, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
source: The Guardian
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
A long, and interesting life. May he rest in peace, and be remembered - and a huge thank you for his service for what is now the free world.
michaelmaltby
Colonel
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
That took massive courage.