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Very good post Ray - thanks N/T
Posted by Elliott on Fri May 23, 2003 09:02:42 AM
In reply top Re: The "John Bomber Fund" posted by Ray Sturtivant on Thu May 22, 2003 02:47:54 PM
: A large number of aircraft were presented to the RAF durin
: g 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 forthcom
: ing detailed book by Henry Boot to be published by Air-Bri
: tain.
:
: The 'John' Bomber Fund was initiated by Mrs Helen G
: illan of 5 Regents Terrace, Edinburgh 7, Midlothian, Sc
: otland, mother of Wing Cdr John Woodburn "Gillo" Gilla
: n DSO DFC reported missing 29.8.41 when leading his Wing a
: cross the English Channel. Before the war he had made a hi
: storic flight on 10 February 1938 from Turnhouse to Northo
: lt in 48 minutes in a Hurricane of 111 Sqn, of which he wa
: s then CO. He had had the benefit of an 80mph tail wind an
: d as a consequence he became known in the service as "Down
: wind Gillan".
:
: The intention was to have been to collect enough money to
: make a presentation to the RAF of a Hurricane fighter-bomb
: er, 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 ?5,00
: 0 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 tot
: al collected is not known, but Hurricanes HV894 and HW603
: later bore the same inscription.