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More sad news - Jimmy Dell passes away


DamienB

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A sad day indeed. On the wall in front of me I have a large framed painting by Michael Rondot of a Lightning T5 taking off on full re-heat, the painting is signed by Roland Beamont, Johnny Squire, and Jimmy Dell.

Robin.

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He survived a supersonic ejection from the first T4 Lightning following fin failure, then spent 28 hours in the Irish Sea before swimming ashore. :(

Just finished a Lightning T.4 as that exact aircraft. How fitting, thats my small tribute now.

RIP.

George.

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I remember seeing and hearing him along with John Spencer at a Bruntingthorpe open day. Another great man of British aviation passes. :poppy:

Edited by tompot
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He survived a supersonic ejection from the first T4 Lightning following fin failure, then spent 28 hours in the Irish Sea before swimming ashore. :(
Just finished a Lightning T.4 as that exact aircraft. How fitting, thats my small tribute now.

RIP.

George.

I thought that it was Johnny Squire who ejected from XL628 on the 1st of October 1959?, spending over 24 hours in the Irish sea and finally making landfall on the Galloway coast close to Garliestown.

Will have to do some book munching to confirm.

I met Jimmy Dell at Bruntingthorpe in 2006, the stories he told were spell binding, a true gentleman.

When 904 performed a fast taxi he had a tear on his cheek, a poignanat moment in my life I will never forget.

Blue skies Mr Dell.

John.

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I thought that it was Johnny Squire who ejected from XL628 on the 1st of October 1959?, spending over 24 hours in the Irish sea and finally making landfall on the Galloway coast close to Garliestown.

It Was Mr Squire allright. Jumped the gun then...

G

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  • 2 weeks later...

It was indeed Johnny Squire who ejected in 1959 and spent considerable time in the Irish Sea.

It was some six years later, in 1965, when my father Jimmy Dell ejected over the Irish Sea; he was lucky enough to be rescued shortly after landing in the sea and was airlifted to hospital in Whitehaven.

The full story is covered in his biography which I hope will be published in the coming months.

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Mr Dell

Firstly my deepest sympathy to you and your family for the loss of your father.

I have read several books that cover some parts of your fathers life as a test pilot, I will certainly be claiming a copy of the biography for myself and I'm sure if you keep us informed on it's release there shall be quite a few others on these fora that would like a copy too.

Kindest regards,

John.

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