Showing posts with label British RAF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label British RAF. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

British Air Chief Marshal Sir J.M. Robb

Air Chief Marshal Sir James Milne Robb, GCB, KBE, DSO, DFC, AFC (26 January 1895 – 18 December 1968) was a senior Royal Air Force commander. After early service in the First World War with the Northumberland Fusiliers, Robb joined the Royal Flying Corps and became a flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. He was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force in 1919 and commanded No. 30 Squadron RAF in the Iraqi revolt against the British. In 1939, Robb travelled to Canada to help establish the Empire Air Training Scheme, a massive training program that provided the Royal Air Force with trained aircrew from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Southern Rhodesia. He commanded No. 2 Group RAF of RAF Bomber Command and No. 15 Group RAF of RAF Coastal Command. Robb became Deputy Chief of Combined Operations under Lord Louis Mountbatten in 1942. During Operation Torch he was air advisor to the Supreme Allied Commander, Lieutenant General Dwight Eisenhower and in February 1943, Eisenhower appointed him Deputy Commander of the Northwest African Air Forces. When Eisenhower became Supreme Allied Commander in Europe in January 1944, he brought Robb to his Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force as Deputy Chief of Staff (Air). Robb became Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command in 1945 and learned to fly the Gloster Meteor, the RAF's first operational jet aircraft. He became Vice-Chief of the Air Staff in 1947, and then Commander in Chief of the Western Union's air forces in 1948. In 1951 he became Inspector General of the RAF.


Source :
http://www.wikiwand.com/en/James_Robb_(RAF_officer)
http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Supreme_Headquarters_Allied_Expeditionary_Force

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Polish Flying Ace Jan Zumbach and Fellow Fighters from 303rd Polish Squadron

From left to right: Polish flying ace and Squadron Leader Jan Zumbach (13 kills), Wing Commander Stefan Witorzeńć (5 kills) and Flight Lieutenant Zygmunt Bieńkowski (1 kill). They're from 303rd Polish Fighter Squadron of Royal Air Force (Polish Fighter Squadron badge on the left, white circle with red stripes). During the Battle of Britain, September to October 1940, this squadron is famous for claiming the highest number of enemy (German Luftwaffe) kills of all fighter squadrons then in operation! The squadron was disbanded in December 1946. While servicing in the 303rd, Zumbach used three Supermarine Spitfires Mk.Vb with the Donald Duck art, and all of them were coded with RF-D but had different serials: The Spitfire Mk.Vb EN951, BM144 and EP594. The picture itself was taken in Northolt Airfield, September 1942, and showing a Spitfire Mk.Vb BM144 RF D of S/Ldr Jan Zumbach


Source:
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/polish-flying-ace-jan-zumbach-of-the-303-kosciuszko-polish-news-photo/79155636

Thursday, November 21, 2013

RAF 15 Squadron Short Stirlings in Flight

Royal Air Force Short Stirlings of 15 Squadron Conversion Flight, 1651 Conversion Unit, in flight. Note the faint squadron code "LS."

Source:
http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0044

Monday, November 4, 2013

Wing Commander Guy Gibson With His Dambuster Crew

24 year old Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson, Commander of 617 Squadron (Dambuster), with members of his crew. Left to right: Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC, DSO and Bar, DFC and Bar (award for Dambusters Raid: Victoria Cross); Pilot Officer Frederick Michael Spafford, bomb aimer (award for Dambusters Raid: Distinguished Flying Cross); Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward George Hutchinson, wireless operator (award for Dambusters Raid: bar to Distinguished Flying Cross); Pilot Officer Andrew Deering (award for Dambusters Raid: Distinguished Flying Cross) and Flying Officer Torger Harlo Taerum, gunners (award for Dambusters Raid: Distinguished Flying Cross).  Wing Commander Guy Gibson, who led the Royal Air Force's 617 Squadron, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the raids - but was tragically killed when his plane was shot down in September 1944, just months before the war ended

Source:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205123900