Very interesting article Tony.Some very detailed accounts.
Think though we have missed a trick includes me. Thought about this matter last night & was sad to see that I had not looked in depth. We all looked at what Closterman, Bader & Tuck & what had been written about these pilots but had forgotten their deeds.
Pierre Closterman, like a great group of Frenchmen, had travelled to Britain to continue their war with the RAF. Let down by their strategic leader, General Vuillemin head of the French Airforce, who was about as useful as a fly swat against a Spifire. Yet Closterman was thro & thro French & a patriot.
Douglas Bader first he had lost his legs & must have had major discomfort & pain. Could easily have stayed at home ! He was determined that Britain was British & nobody else would have it. Yes he made a few friendly enemies but only as he was determined to see that all thought & fought like him. A British patriot thro & thro.
Forgiven that he entered into strategy rather than his job of tatics. Unfortunate at his young age he had Leigh Mallory as his boss a determined yet weak leader. He should have curbed Bader after all Leigh Mallory was the Strategist not Bader. Or should have been.
Bob Tuck nearly, all but, failed as a pilot yet became one of the best. Some body had second vision a lesson there. Bob Tuck shot down 5 on his first day in the battle over the Dunkirk area. Suddenly made Squadron Leader designate after a few days after major losses. Flinched not. Led, inspired & started bigger numerical attacks & realized immediately that the RAF battle formation was hopeless & originated his own on such short experience. A realist with imagination & the initiative to change it on his own.
A bit of magic. Out of the mist on the runway Bader appeared. What’s the score old boy. All fired at great speed & in a belligerent manner.
Tuck apparently annoyed thought “what has this old prune to act so tough about”.
"Have not a clue" said Tuck.
Tuck noticed he had a silk stocking around his neck & Tuck said, as Bader walked away lurching & swearing ,“would not fly with that around your neck”.
Barder stopped & “Why the hell not”.
Tuck “cos you will get it stuck in your canopy if you bale out.
Bader walked off snorting & muttering.
Tuck says I remember this obstreperous man- much to cocky.
Tuck & Bader became great friends.
When met after the war typically Bader would say “Bobbie you old scrounger- go home before you get drunk”.
Tuck “Belt up you rude sod”.
I like it.
But all the above shows the absolute spirit to preserve their homelands. French Polish & British plus the Commonwealth or Empire as it was. It was absolute & they were spearheads of that determination that nothing should pass. Just “Right of the line”. And I do not mind saying I am proud of the whole lot of them. I was then as a young boy & still now as an old (young) man.
Laurie
Apologies not Ron but Tony started the article.
PS absolute oversight. Dowding. What with out him would have happened a strategist supreme. He had to use a minimum force with the state changing day to day. Parks, his man down in 11 Group, daily changing & following Strategy & Tactics. A remarkable team. Neither treated well afterwards. Pretty awful.
