1944
Test Flight 107 MU February 1944
Chief Test Pilot F/Lt " Pug " Pugson
On his right :- F/O Devon Minchin RAAF, W/O Dave Howe RCAF
On his left :- Flight Engineering Officer, F/O Harry Gregory DFC, W/O Bill Money
What is the plane and what is the reason for this seemingly special photo shoot ?....Alwyn
Aug 18th 2014...Have just received copy of the same line from the Brian whose father, Ronald Collins can be seen 5th from the left and " stooping " down. Brian is seeking any further information but all I can offer is that the plane looks like a Marauder going by the view of the engines, and Pug Pugson was the 107MU official test pilot. This picture must have some significance for being taken ?????????
CAN ANYONE ADD TO THIS ?
Below is Brian`s copy of the picture including old wrinkles.
On his right :- F/O Devon Minchin RAAF, W/O Dave Howe RCAF
On his left :- Flight Engineering Officer, F/O Harry Gregory DFC, W/O Bill Money
What is the plane and what is the reason for this seemingly special photo shoot ?....Alwyn
Aug 18th 2014...Have just received copy of the same line from the Brian whose father, Ronald Collins can be seen 5th from the left and " stooping " down. Brian is seeking any further information but all I can offer is that the plane looks like a Marauder going by the view of the engines, and Pug Pugson was the 107MU official test pilot. This picture must have some significance for being taken ?????????
CAN ANYONE ADD TO THIS ?
Below is Brian`s copy of the picture including old wrinkles.
Dec 1st 2014
YES THEY CAN !!!...Below is a duplicate picture sent to me by Gerald Howe, the son of W/O Dave Howe who is on the picture and marked up a few colleagues by number. A few more pictures and data can be seen half way down the 1943 page...Alwyn
Brian has forwarded me more of his dad`s pictures as follows
Brian Collins tells me that his father Ron was a Halton apprentice and was part of the 39th entry, which of course was a unique entry because they only served 2 years because so much skill was urgently required for the war effort. Ron was transferred to Kasfareet in 1942 and served until the end of the war later being transferred to RAF Yeadon until his leaving in 1953. ( Many thanks to Brian for his skill into turning a black and white shot into colour)
Is the above a painted backdrop scene ?
Aug 24th 2014...Jack Guard tells me that he was the sole official aircraft tow man from 1944 to 1946 so could it be that Jack inherited the position from Ronald Collins ?
I do not think this ME109 has any relevance to the Black 6 kite ( see 1943 page ) captured late in 1942 and flown to 107 MU two months later. Unless, that is, spare parts were required to use on the Black 6 and a downed ME109 was imported for that purpose ?
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This is about the best I can display these two pictures. What is it all about ? Seems like a parade led by a lorry with a covered in back followed by a crane. The picture on the right has horses pulling carriages of sorts. Is it a Carnival Parade or a Chariot Race going on ? Would love to know...Alwyn
Click the bus pic above to view a link