These photos were sent to the Webmaster via Flight Lieutenant Don J.Butcher's son Phil Butcher. Thanks to Phil, Graham Berry and Chris Thomas I have been able to add a few comments to the photos and identify most of the pilots.
Back row, left to right: Fg/Off Ken Slade-Betts, Flt/Lt Ted Sparrow ("B" Flight Cdr), Flt/Lt Spike Umbers ("A" Flight Cdr), Fg/Off "Clap" Clapperton, Flt/Lt Don Butcher.
Front row, left to right: Fg/Off Tom McCullough, Unknown, Flt/Sgt "Scratch" Adcock.
Dogs, left to right: Unknown (Poodle), "Rocky" (Fg/Off Bob Barckley's dog).
Newchurch 1944, Douglas Palmer, seated middle row no shirt and glasses.
Newchurch 1944, pilots infront of "Gotsum Inn":
Back row, left to right: Johnnie Foster, Doug Worley.
Front row, left to right: "Spike" Umbers, Ted Sparrow, Bob Cole, Joe Hindley, "Mac" McKenzie, "Scratch" Adcock, Unknown, Chas Tidy, Ken Hughes.
The Tempest can take it!
In November 1944, on a mission attacking German minesweepers off the Dutch coast, Butcher's Tempest was hit by three 20 mm shells. Despite the damage he was able to return to base safely after the mission.
The incident was published in Dorking Advertiser on 30 November 1944.
PoP Ewens aircraft after pulling out a little too low!
The ORB does not record any flak damage to aircraft on the 3 or 4 May, so it remains obscure.
(Chris Thomas comment)
Seymour "Buck" Feldman, an American in RAF.
Bob Barcley
Photos:
Don Butcher
Text:
Don and Phil Butcher
Chris Thomas
Graham Berry
