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Desmond Marsh-Collis Des, who died several years ago, had kept not only a wonderful album of photographs, but a copy of a history of 211 Squadron’s operations from 1943 to December 1945. In 2001, Eveline Marsh-Collis most kindly provided a copy of her late husband’s photo album and a typed transcript of the report, with much help from daughters Jane and Imelda and son-in-law Aidan Simons. In one of those wonderful events that bejewels the modern assemblage of 211 Squadron history, the source of the history so carefully preserved over the years by Des and his family came to light in late 2003. When Peter Spooner came upon the 211 Squadron website, he recognised the report as his own. With the grace and generosity so characteristic of Squadron members and their families, this part of the Squadron has not only been put to rights, it has been amply embellished, thanks to the help of both families. The story of the original compiling of the history is now recounted on his own page by Peter Spooner. And for clarity, there is now a separate page for his history of 211 Squadron’s operations in India and Burma. The wartime album of Des Marsh-Collis
The Blenheim Mark IV in the background and the Mercury on the engine stand have apparently been reduced to “instructional” status. Bomb-bay doors off, leading edges likewise, and most of the canopy glazing apparently gone.
Some of us after work (Marsh-Collis collection)
[Desmond, relaxed and in freshly pressed best tropicals]
See also Les Ramsay’s copies of this photo and shots of the inspection below.
Chiringa '45 - Beau Beauty
[The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter Mark X maintained by Des and his oppo Yorky. M-Mother was flown by Alan (Alfie) Wythe DFM with T Wilson as Navigator. There is no serial number visible on the print in Des’ album copy. While the Operations Record Book Form 541 for the Burma period refers to aircraft on operations only by individual letter, not by serial number, it is possible to match daily entries with available individual aircrew logbooks. A search of those to hand (JS Mitchell DFC and EL Wood) shows M Mother to have been Beaufighter X NV526. A colour view of this aircraft (with a spurious serial no) is the subject of an entry at http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/1998/11/stuff_eng_profile_beau2.htm
India - Madras'45
RF729-M is a Mosquito FB MkVI, not a Beaufighter, but it’s still M-Mother!
www.211squadron.org © DR Clark & others 1998–2008 |
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