Going through my father’s WWII photo album is annoying me. For some reason, there are photos that say nothing about who the person is or where the snap was taken. I’m not sure if this is because Dad didn’t caption them when he sent them back to my grandfather or whether my grandfather simply failed to add information when he was preparing the photo album.
So I have no idea who this person is. Could it be Lloyd Mason, who dad flew with in the 127 Squadron? Because the photo is in the early pages of the album, I think it coincides with Dad’s time in Egypt before joining the 127 in April 1943. Dad loved to take casual snaps and I like these two. Firstly, because they’re old time B&W photos, which I Love. Love. Love. Secondly, because there’s a lot of interesting stuff going on in the background of both shots, not to mention the markings on the piece of wing (propeller?) that the chap is holding up.
I’m hopeful that someone reading this blog can identify the aircraft in the background and what on earth the writing says, along with what is EJT?
EJ-T is most probably the identification number of the plane of the broken propeller.
That seems to be a wooden propeller of a Hurricane. It makes sense that the pilot is holding a propeller as a sort of memento of a Hurricane that belly-landed on the base. Look at the Hurricane in the background we see F roundel E… The J is probably there.
This is something I found on the Internet…
http://www.127squadron.co.uk/page2.html
EJ is the call sign of that squadron.
Motto
Eothen (Out of the East)
Badge
A tarantula spider.
The tarantula is associated with the desert where the squadron spent much of its operational life. It has also been claimed that it represents a deadly sting.
The badge was developed by Squadron Leader Bradley.
Commanding Officers
S/Ldr. Bodman Jun 1941 – Jul 1941
S/Ldr. L.P. O’Connor Sep 1941 – Nov 1941
S/Ldr. D.R. Walker Feb 1942 – Jun 1942
S/Ldr. C.O.J. Pegge DFC Jun 1942 – Apr 1943
S/Ldr. D. Kain Apr 1943 – Jul 1943
S/Ldr. P.W. Lovell Jul 1943 – Oct 1943
S/Ldr. C.F. Bradley Oct 1943 – Oct 1944
S/Ldr. F.W. Lister DFC Oct 1944 – Nov 1944
S/Ldr. O. Smik Nov 1944 – Nov 1944
S/Ldr. R.W.F. Sampson DFC Dec 1944 – Jan 1945
S/Ldr. F.W. Lister DFC Jan 1945 – Apr 1945
Aircraft Flown
D.H.9
Gloster Gladiator II
Hawker Hurricane I
Hawker Hurricane IIB
Hawker Hurricane IIC
Supermarine Spitfire VC
Supermarine Spitfire IX
Supermarine Spitfire XVI
Hawker Hunter F Mk 1
Allocated codes
EJ Jun 1942 – Mar 1944
9N Apr 1944 – Apr 1945
Pierre
This is the home page of the site devoted to 127…
http://www.127squadron.co.uk/index.html
You could write to that person. He has some pictures posted.
http://www.127squadron.co.uk/page5.html
Enjoy.
thx Pierre
Andy (of that site) actually contacted me about my Dad and I’ve given him a few photos plus filled out whatever information I could for him. I believe he’s writing a book on the 127, which we’d all be looking forward to. He’s collected lots of photos but if anyone out there has photos or information from the 127, please contact him!
Andy actually cleared up the “mystery” of Lloyd Mason for me.
You have awesome knowledge Pierre and thx so much for the sharing. I’m learning a lot and must research more into 127 Squadron.