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Re: The "John Bomber Fund"

Posted by Ray Sturtivant on Thu May 22, 2003 02:47:54 PM

In reply top Re: The "John Bomber Fund" posted by Ray Sturtivant on Thu May 22, 2003 02:40:30 PM

A large number of aircraft were presented to the RAF during WW2 by donations from individuals, companies, countries, towns and counties etc. The majority were Spitfires, but there were several hundred Hurricanes and smaller numbers of various other types. They are the subject of a forthcoming detailed book by Henry Boot to be published by Air-Britain.

The 'John' Bomber Fund was initiated by Mrs Helen Gillan of 5 Regents Terrace, Edinburgh 7, Midlothian, Scotland, mother of Wing Cdr John Woodburn "Gillo" Gillan DSO DFC reported missing 29.8.41 when leading his Wing across the English Channel. Before the war he had made a historic flight on 10 February 1938 from Turnhouse to Northolt in 48 minutes in a Hurricane of 111 Sqn, of which he was then CO. He had had the benefit of an 80mph tail wind and as a consequence he became known in the service as "Downwind Gillan".

The intention was to have been to collect enough money to make a presentation to the RAF of a Hurricane fighter-bomber, either from or on behalf of people named John. However only ?450 had been subscribed by October 1940 and it was not until September 1942 that the required amount of ?5,000 was reached. This resulted in Hurricane BN795 having the name 'OUR JOHN' painted on the nose, as can be seen in a series of IWM photos CH10893 to CH10843. The fund appears to have continued until at least April 1943. The final total collected is not known, but Hurricanes HV894 and HW603 later bore the same inscription.

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