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RJ "Mick" Dudman RJ Dudman was an Engine Fitter, posted to 211 Squadron in January 1941. His gout didn’t stop him tapping away at the typewriter keyboard a bit and he kept up a correspondence with Adrian Fryatt among others. Ron, aka Mick, kindly lent these from his own strong collection of photographs. It turns out that Mick took many of the photographs that turn up in other’s collections. They all shared pics much as they might have swapped cigarette cards as young civvies. Here's a selection. The shots from the period in Greece are of very great interest. A few of them have appeared in other publications. Mick’s own captions are shown thus. RJ “Mick” Dudman died peacefully on 27 January 2004.
The aircraft is noted elsewhere (Thomas) as L1481. Geoff Grierson and Mike Sainsbury both had good close-ups of this event. Unremarked in the Squadron records, it rated a mention in the RAF Narrative, dated to 12 June 1940.
A graphic illustration of the difficulties that ground crews learnt to live with in the field. 4-gallon tins and a step ladder make a servicing bay at Mersah Matruh before the balloon went up. Is that Sgt C Cooke grinning madly above the top end of a Mercury?
In the right mid-ground a Blenheim I is apparently about to be bombed-up, the bomb-bay doors open with a bomb-trolley just to the left. On the far left, tented accommodation, and hangars in the centre background.
At Tatoi, the Summer palace of HM King George of Greece lay some four miles to the North, among the slopes and woods of Mt Parnes. This proximity occasioned the war-time change of name for the aerodrome, to Menidi. An odd gesture, well described in Wings Over Olympus. The boys referred to it determinedly as Menidi (Tatoi)!
Armed to the teeth at Paramythia. The Blenheim appears to have been repainted in European scheme, and is now without even the Squadrons UQ code, let alone its own letter. There is another Blenheim in the far distance to the right of Cookes’ left shoulder. “Dispersals” being taken seriously for the aircraft.
Paramythia again, most likely. A much more cheery photo.
L8531 has blown up, having been set on fire after the Italian attack. Smoke from the second burning aircraft is drifting across from the left.
Another aircraft destroyed. Reports of the total damage vary. Perhaps as many as 8 aircraft in varying states of serviceability from several units.
Mick may have made a slip of the pen with these two. This may be the last raid on 26 March or on 15 April. Either way, more damage: a u/s Gladiator, probably. See also CFR Clark Photographs (where a summary of the various sources is made) and C Hansford.
Off duty, and....time for a cuppa!
Paramythia 14 April 1941. See also CFR Clark’s account of this occasion (Operations in Greece). The Do17 (209 Eskadrila, serial 3348) arrived early in the morning followed shortly afterwards by the SM.79K "White 12" of 7 Bomber Puk with King Peter and party.
Paramythia, 14 April 1941
RAF refuelling the JKRV aircraft by hand from 44 gallon drums. By this date, much equipment had been sent back to Agrinion following attacks on the airfield. One look is worth a thousand words.
The departure 1. Peter is the tweed jacketed hatless figure, leading on the left.
HM Peter King of the Yugoslavs is the figure 4 from the left facing the camera, in sunnies and tweed jacket. The young King (he was 18 or 19 at this date) spent much of the remainder of the war in England. While in the Middle East he made vigorous representations for the operational use of the JKRV personnel and aircraft that made it to Egypt, and was bitterly disappointed that his proposal was rejected. On the JKRV movements through Paramythia, see also CFR Clark, EL Cooper, WP Griffin, HF Squire.
After many an adventure, safe for the moment at Jasaguda (now Bhopal) in India. The 211 badge prominent behind the Bar, and a Greek flag decorates the wall to the left. Rest easy, Mick.
www.211squadron.org © D Clark & others 1998–2010 |
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