Behind the Spitfires by RAFF signed by 90 WW2 pilots and crew some KIA. Most 130 Squadron; some 19

Behind the Spitfires by RAFF signed by 90 WW2 pilots and crew some KIA. Most 130 Squadron; some 19 Squadron contained in Behind the Spitfires by RAFF, first edition 1941, 106 pp, from the collection of the late Ronald 'Bram' Bramley. Bram was a wireless operator/air gunner with 22 and 42 Squadrons. He was President of 22 Squadron Association. F/Lt Harold Edward Walmsley DFC* F/Lt Ian Reginald Ponsford DFC F/Lt Charles James Samouelle DFC*  Squadron Leader Harold Edward WALMSLEY, D. F. C. (139425), R. A. F. V. R. , No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron. "This officer has completed many sorties since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and throughout has set a fine example of determination and devotion to duty. In air fighting, Squadron Leader Walmsley has been responsible for the destruction of 9 enemy aircraft and has also inflicted much damage on enemy transport despite heavy opposition. He has proved a most valuable asset to the squadron. RAF Harrowbeer, Yelverton | No. 130 Squadron, 25-11-41 Flying Officer Williams, 10-41 Pilot Officer Jones Ex Australia, 10-41 Pilot Officer Macdonald Ex Australia, 10-41 Sergeant Barr Ex Australia, 10-41 Sergeant Cassell Ex Australia, 10-41 Sergeant Nursey Ex Australia, 11-41 Chetwynd-Stapylton, 10-41 "Tiny" Faulks, 11-41 "Shadow" Lines, 11-41 "Popeye" Salter, 10-41 Smithy, William Henry Alexander Wright, Squadron Leader 70834 , F/O Frank Rene Malyon Cook (8 September 1922 - 29 August 1944). Frank Rene Malyon Cook was born on 8 September 1922 in Armadale, Victoria, Australia. He was the son of John Malyon Cook and Jeane Cook. The family later moved to Melbourne, Victoria. This is where Frank enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 21 June 1941. Not much is known about his time in the RAAF. He became a Spitfire pilot with A flight, 130 squadron, stationed at Drem and later transferred to 229 Squadron, operating out of Coltishall, Norfolk. For some time, 229 Squadron was stationed in the Mediterranean. Frank claimed a Bf 109 destroyed on 12 July 1943, flying Spitfire V ER533/X-R. A week before his 22nd birthday, on 19 August 1944, F/O Cook and three other Spitfires were on patrol in the Egmond, Heerenveen, Meppel area. Near Lemmer, a tow ship with three ships was attacked. Many hits were observed on the ships. However, an armed trawler and landing craft both opened up on the attackers. F/O Cook's Spitfire was hit and crashed into the Noordoost polder between Creil and Rutten. F/O Cook is buried in Lemmer General Cemetery, Plot C. Row 8. Grave 219. Flight Sergeant Ian Edgecombe Mathieson. He was born in Dannevirke, the son of Augustus and Ivy Mathieson. He was educated at Dannevirke H S and Napier B H S before working on his father's farm at Wanstead. He joined the RNZAF in June 1941 as an Airman Pilot u/t, trained at #2 Elementary Flying Training School at Bell Block and #2 Flying Training School at Woodbourne and was awarded in wings in December embarking for the UK in January 1942. In England, he attended an Advanced Flying Unit before 59 Operational Training Unit on Hurricanes at RAF Crosby on Eden in Cumberland, and stayed on as a staff pilot for two months. His next posting was to 486 Squadron flying Typhoons from a number of aerodromes: RAF North Weald in Essex, RAF West Malling in Kent and RAF Tangmere in Sussex, from there he went to 66 Squadron operating Spitfires, again at a number of aerodromes in South East England and flew on 66 operations with that squadron. In November 1943, he was posted to 130 Squadron at RAF Ayr in Ayrshire, Scotland. On 25thNovember 1943 he was flying Spitfire VB AD329 on air firing practice and having returned to base he was taxiing along the runway when he was struck from behind by a 186 Squadron Typhoon as it came in to land, the Typhoon pilot had not seen Control's red Aldis light and a back-up red Very light failed to explode. Ian had just scored his flight's best score of the day, the Typhoon pilot survived. Ian was 23 years old and is buried in St. Illogan Churchyard, St. Illogan, near Camborne, Cornwall, England. F/Lt [later Squadron Leader] Russell Maurice Mathieson (NZ41394). Signed on flyleaf. Born 21 Dec 17. RNZAF 18 Jan 41 to 27 Mar 46. Embarked Awatea for Canada and SFTS training 29 Apr 41. Graduated as pilot and commissioned 8 Aug 41. Squadron Leader with 222 Squadron. Died at Mt Maunganui Jan 93. London Gazette Entries 23. 6. 42 Acting Flight Lieutenant Walter James Rosser (102991), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 130 Squadron. DFC.26. 9. 44 Acting Squadron Leader William Henry Ireson (85945), R. A. F. V. R. , 130 Sqn. DFC. "Squadron Leader Ireson has taken part in a very large number of sorties, many of them involving attacks on dangerous and difficult targets He has displayed great skill and courage and throughout his devotion to duty has been unfailing. Within recent weeks he has taken part in many sorties over the Normandy beaches and convoy areas and his leadership has been masterly. 8. 5. 45 Acting Squadron Leader Martin Robert Draycott Hume (N. Z. 405335), 130 Sqn. DFC. 20. 7. 45 Flying Officer Frederick Edward Fitzgerald Edwards (Aus. 42O460), 130 Sqn. 20. 7. 45 Pilot Officer Joseph Armstrong Boulton (Aus. 420544), 130 Sqn. 20. 7. 45 Warrant Officer Brian Wallace Woodman (N. Z. 428283), 130 Sqn. 24. 7. 45 Squadron Leader Frank Geoffrey Woolley, R. A. F. V. R. , 130 Sqn. Bar to DFC. 23. 1. 42 Squadron Leader Edward Philip Patrick Gibbs (32225), No. 130 Squadron. DFC. 26. 6. 45 Flight Lieutenant Ian Reginald Ponsford (135689), R. A F. V. R. , No 130. DFC. He has participated in a large number of sorties and throughout has displayed the greatest keenness to engage the enemy He has destroyed at least 7 enemy aircraft, three of them in one sortie in April 1945. In harassing attacks on enemy targets on the ground, Flight Lieutenant Ponsford has been responsible for the destruction of many mechanical vehicles This officer has set a fine example of courage and devotion to duty. " 19. 2. 43. Acting Flight Lieutenant Philip Lintott Arnott (63090), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 130 Squadron. DFC. Flight Sergeant Philip Henry Thornton Clay DFM. Flying Officer Geoff 'Lucky' Lord DFC was a 'Flying Ace' with 7 (confirmed) enemy aircraft shot down.  p. 36. Perranporth Memorial Hall | 130 SQUADRON, Sgt G Cox, Plt Off Roger Wiginton (78495), Sgt Cyril Brennan RAAF (Aus 404771) KIA 25 Jun 1942. He has a digitised file in the Australian Archives. Sgt R Farmer, Fg Off William Henry Hoggard, Pilot Officer [later Squadron Leader] John Raymond Fitzmaurice (46041) p. 37. Fitzmaurice was the winner of both the R. A. F. and the Inter-Service Championship with the Epée at the Royal Tournament in 1933, and again in 1939, in which year he also won the Inter-Service Championship with the Sabre. He was commissioned Pilot Officer in June 1941; Flight Lieutenant in January 1944, and retired in January 1946, retaining his rank as Squadron Leader. M. I. D. London Gazette 8 June 1944, for services in Italy (Flight Lieutenant). Sergeant [later Flight Lieutenant] Eric Sidney Opie Southern Rhodesian Forces (80454) p. 37. 19 Squadron. On 3 April 1943, P/O ES Opie and F/S JD Baragwanath intercepted two FW 190s south of Plymouth, damaging one. Flight Lieutenant Ian Menyll Mundy (80403) p. 37. Reported missing and presumed KIA in Flight, 11 October 1945. 130 (Punjab) Squadron, S/Ldr P V K Tripe, F/Lt Ian Smith (SR80463) (future prime minister of Rhodesia), Geoff Lord, Ian Ponsford, Joe Boulton, Vic Seymour who shot down the last German plane in WW2. F/Lt Godfrey George. Aircraft and personnel of 'B' Flight, No. 130 Squadron RAF at Ballyhalbert, Northern Ireland, May 1943, Lieutenant Jacques Andrieuz, a Free French pilot, A E Mokanyk RCAF, Bob Doe.