Swift to Battle: 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action: Volume 1

[Graham T]

Does anyone have this book to hand? It lists details of presentation Spitfires that served with the unit & I'm looking for details (codes) of R7219 "Borough of Darwen" for a project.

[mackem01]

Looking through the book it only says that it was lost over Hazebrouk on July 14th. There is no direct link with R7219 but the book says that 72 only lost only one Spitfire that day and gives a code of RN-H. The pilot, Robbie Robinson, had to bail out due to a glycol leak and ensuing fire.

Seems fairly conclusive - the choice is yours.....

[gingerbob]

Robbie Robinson doesn't fit with the other information so far, but great to have an individual letter quoted! (W Lamberton is the name given by Fighter Command Losses- could you check your book for his name?)

bob

Edited January 18, 2016 by gingerbob

[Graham T]

Yes Sergeant Lamberton seems to have been the pilot. Baiiled out & POW.

[mackem01]

I'll check again when I get home tonight.

[mackem01]

OK, so the tenuous link connecting R7219 with the codes RN-H looks to be wrong - my mistake. RN-H, Robertsons Spitfire was lost over Hazebrouck marshalling yards on 14 March 1942, this being the only 72 sqn machine lost that day. That's where I put two-and-two together and came up with five!! R7219 was actually lost over Hazebrouck on 14 July 1941,shot down by 'Pips' Priller.

Having scanned through the rest of the book and looked at a couple of possible leads it appears the trail goes dead. Sorry for getting your hopes up,

and sorry for the mistake!