WIX Archives
Re: Billy Fiske - "The Few"
Posted by Ian Le Sueur on Fri Sep 26, 2003 07:23:35 AM
In reply top Re: Billy Fiske - "The Few" posted by Tom on Thu Sep 25, 2003 01:08:32 PM
Personally I think it's going to be a typical Hollywood sham.
Fiskes pre war life is probably more interesting than his war time career. He won gold in the winter Olympics of 1928 and 1932 in the bobsleigh but refused to take part in the 1936 Olympics when asked to do so. He declined because the US Olympic Committee expected him to try out for the team, though it is rumoured that he refused because the games were to be held in Bavaria and he wanted no part in anything to do with Hitlers Germany.
He married the former Countess of Warwick, Rose Bingham in 1938 after a relatively short romance.
Fiske learnt to fly prior to joining in the RAF in September 1939, but still went through flying training with 10 EFTS at Yatesbury, and the FTS at Brize Norton before joining 601 on the 12 July 1940. Taking part in several operational sorties and by all accounts sharing in a number of claims. His last flight was on August 16th when the Squadron tangled with a number of JU87?s over Selsey Bill. Fiske?s Hurricane P3358 was severely damaged but he managed to put in down at Tangmere but was burnt in the ensuing fire.
The following day he was visited by several members of 601 Sqn who found him in good spirits, 24 hours later he died from shock !!!!
He's remembered on a placque in St Pauls Cathederal.