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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]
Des may be in the 5th row, in forage cap and arms folded, immediately to the right of the nose (Port side). Between Monty Walters, Ricky Watts and Peter Kent, a number of the aircrew have been identified in this, apparently one of the last, group photographs of the Squadron: 2nd row, left to right: (1) W/O Ashcroft Nav/W, (2) W/O Ken Jewel Pilot, (3) W/O Ron Kemp Nav/W, (4) possibly Vic Broome Nav/W, (5) W/O Monty Walters Pilot, (6) W/O George Price Nav/W, (7) F/O Steve Catto Pilot, (10) F/Lt AMJ Kent Nav/W (11) probably W/Cdr Harvey, (13) possibly S/Ldr Bruckshaw Pilot, (17) W/O Watling Nav/W, (20) W/O Bill Williams Armaments Officer. 3rd row: (2) Corporal Fitter E who looked after Monty’s aircraft, (6) possibly W/O Ray Wood Pilot, (14), W/O Ed Webber Nav/W wearing a cheese-cutter hat. Les Ramsay is in the fourth row on the right, immediately to the left of Port propeller with someone’s hand on his shoulders. Given the small number of aircrew present, it may be that this is the ‘B’ Flight shot of a final set of formal groups (‘A’ Flight, ‘B’ Flight, Squadron). See also Les Ramsay’s copies of this photograph and the shots of the Victory Parade inspection below.
See also Monty Walters and Ron Kemp’s accounts, and photographs of the Squadron flypast.
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 Log Books. 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 © D Clark & others 1998–2011 |
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