Spitfire Vc. Last flight from Ludham.

[StevieD]

I do like a build with a story.

 

This year I went to see an old friend who lives on the Norfolk Broads. His barn conversion is on the edge of an old airfield where he walks the dog. It’s turned over to cabbages now but some perimeter track, main runway and a few derelict buildings remain. The rusty old hanger’s been plonked on the main runway where someone offers pleasure flights.

 

Wiki doesn’t say much about RAF Ludham. Built November 1941 on Fritton Farm.  A satellite of Coltishall. Spitfires and Typhoons there taking part in coastal patrols ‘of little note.’ Handed over to the Admiralty 1944. Closed 1946. It wasn’t until I came across a Dilp Sarkar article about Squadron Leader Brian Lane that I had my story. 

 

Lane became famous for his leadership of 19 Squadron during Battle of Britain. Yet little is known about the circumstances of his fate - posted missing in action in 1942. After researching 167 Squadron’s ORB and combat reports for December 1942 this, I believe, is what happened. 

 

167 Squadron arrived at Ludham in October 1942. Manned mainly by Dutch pilots they harassed the invaders across their home coastline. As their Spitfire Vs were now outclassed by the FW190, Rhubarbs were restricted to coastal attacks, at wave top height, in poor weather conditions, using cloud cover to evade German fighters.

 

The Operation Record Book for 167 Squadron reveals very poor weather that December.  The adjutant writes that ground mist prevented flying on the 3rd. Bad weather led to cancellations of Rhubarbs on the 5th.  Other entries state ‘nothing to report.’ The adjutant’s main concern was that day after day, nine of his men, were requisitioned ‘to dig holes’ at Honing and he was determined to stop it. 

 

On the 9th the adjutant notes the arrival of S/Ldr B.J.E. Lane DFC and another Rhubarb cancelled due to weather. Lane had remained on active duty long after the battle, finally being rested in June 1941. Greatly respected by the men under his command, the RAF recognised Lane’s ‘exceptional leadership qualities’ and sent him the Middle East in an advisory role. He returned in the summer of 1942 to take command of 61 OTU then requested a return to operational flying.

 

His chance came the next day but it wasn’t to be. ‘The whole squadron as at readiness this morning pending a ‘do’ but owing to the weather everything was cancelled and nearly everyone seemed to go to Norwich.’ 12th December saw an improvement but it was a day of mixed fortunes. In the morning, two Spitfires took off to meet an intruder. Sgt McConnell-Taylor failed to return. During an afternoon Rhubarb Sgt Hall claimed two German fighters destroyed. 

 

On Sunday 13th the adjutant opens ominously. ‘Bad day today.’

 

 

That morning, Brian Lane strapped himself into Spitfire Vc (AR216, VL-U) and took for a morning familiarization flight. In the afternoon, his first operational flight from Ludham. 

 

At 3pm four Spitfires lined up on the runway - S/Ldr Lane (Blue 1), P/O Evans (Blue 2), F/O Plesman (Blue 3), F/O Heukensfledt-Jansen (Blue 4). It was a blustery day, wind from the south east, broken cloud cover. Visibility was good but light was already starting to fail in a winter afternoon. At 3.10pm the Spitfires took off and turned south-east over the North Sea for the Dutch Coast some 120 miles away. 

 

167 Squadron Combat Report states they crossed the Dutch coastline at 3.50pm ‘at 0ft.’ After coming under intense ground fire, they turned south to follow the railway to Roosendal. In failing light, Blue 4 became detached and turned back for Ludham. Soon the other three, finding no targets, set course for home just as Plesman noticed two FW 190s sweeping in from behind. Unable warn over the R/T, he went alongside Lane as the German fighters opened fire. Lane and Evans broke left and right while Plesman climbed. All evaded the enemy fire. Both Plesman and Evans fired at the overshooting German fighters without effect. After reaching the safety of cloud they lost sight of Lane and set out for home.  

 

By 5pm, as darkness fell, three Spitfire landed back at Ludham. Brian Lane was missing. Plesman saw him last, following one of the Fw190s inland.  ‘Lane not seen to be shot down so let’s hope he will turn up ok’ wrote the adjutant hopefully. But Lane did not turn up. Neither he nor his Spitfire were ever found. After the war Luftwaffe records were examined and his fate was uncovered. The only claim made for a Spitfire over Holland that day was made by Oblt. Wolfgang Leonhardt of 6./JGI. And the location of the kill explains what probably happened. 

 

George Unwin recalled Brian Lane as ‘completely unflappable, no matter what the odds, his voice always calm and reassuring, issuing orders which always seemed to be the right decisions.’ That afternoon, in a split second, he made the wrong decision. When Lane turned inland to follow Leonhardt he had no hope of catching him. The Fw190 was faster, more manoeuvrable, more heavily armed. Low on fuel, Lane would have had to break off and head back for Ludham. The hunter was now the hunted. Skimming the waves, straining his Spitfire to the limit, Lane couldn’t shake his pursuer off. 

 

At 4.34pm on 13th December 1942, Leonardt claimed one Spitfire shot down into the sea 30km off the Dutch coast.

 

This model of Brian Lane’s Spitfire now resides with my friend at Ludham.

 

 

 

Brian John Edward Lane DFC, 18 June 1917 – 13 December 1942. No known grave. Commemorated on the Battle of Britain Memorial.

 

 

Edited December 9, 2024 by StevieD

[Mynimal]

Well done.

[gaputz]

Great narrative to a great model.  thanks for sharing.

[keith in the uk]

Always wondered what happened to Brian Lane and now i know , A sad story but a wonderful model of Lanes Spitfire , well done.   

[AndyL]

For a short while I looked after Brian Lane’s tobacco tin for Dilip who about 2 years ago donated it to the IWM Duxford. Lane’s log book survives in the National Archives, Kew and doubled up as a small photo album, however many of the images that were in it were stolen (Kew was subject to a lot of pilfering by an individual who was stealing material to order). Some documents were recovered, but not everything. 
 

There’s a large amount about Lane in Dilips book on 19 Squadron which came out in 2018 (I think).

 

As to the build, it’s wonderfully executed and a fitting tribute to Brian Lane.

[bigbadbadge]

What a great model and lovely tribute too.

Thank you for sharing the info and the fantastic model too.

Great work

Chris

[stevehnz]

A wonderfully well presented build & tribute. Thanks for sharing this with us. Very poignant.

Steve.

[Dave Klaatu]

Very nice build, appreciate the story!

[javlin]

I do not get to interested in stories but that one caught my attention may be you are a good descriptive writer methinks.The build is well done and a Nice tribute Sir!

[Bedders]

Very interesting and a fine tribute. Unfortunately Brian Lane seems to be another awful case of someone highly experienced and respected coming back to the front line after a stint away, and getting the chop pretty quickly. Pickard and Gibson were two others. Tragic losses all of them.

 

Justin

[2996 Victor]

This is a fine obituary to Sqn Ldr Lane and a truly splendid model of his final mount.

 

War is a terrible thing. Individual stories are harrowing, no matter on which side the protagonists were.

 

Thank you for sharing this: may Brian Lane rest in peace.

 

Mark

[Troy Smith]

7 hours ago, StevieD said:

This model of Brian Lane’s Spitfire

excellent model, great example of a one with a story behind it,  but what the base kits and scale would be interesting to know!

I've looked and can't spot this info, I presume the markings are assembled from generic code and serial sheet?

 

Anyway,    to say the least.

[kitchentable]

Very complete piece.   I think you worked out why model making has a part to play in laying out events that matter so much.

[StevieD]

59 minutes ago, Troy Smith said:

excellent model, great example of a one with a story behind it,  but what the base kits and scale would be interesting to know!

I've looked and can't spot this info, I presume the markings are assembled from generic code and serial sheet?

 

Anyway,    to say the least.

Apologies, forgot to include that!

 

It’s the Eduard 1/48 Weekend Edition Vc. Brush painted using the Hataka RAF set. Codes and serials are cobbled together from various sources. There are few photos of 167 Spits and as far as I know none of Lane’s, so my scheme is a best guess. One thing that niggles me is the ‘U’. I  intended to use a ‘flat bottomed version’ but applied a rounded one by mistake.  The's always something....

[FinnAndersen]

I, for one, do like to build around a narrative, but you have taken it to the next level. What a story to go with what otherwise would have been just another boring gray and green Spitfire. With your story it comes alive and reminds us of just how tragic war is.

 

And then you present us with a very fine build, photography and base.

 

Congratulations

 

/Finn

 

 

[Grey Beema]

Great build.  Great historical background. 
 

I always enjoy the research behind a model.  Congratulations.

[Phoenix44]

Very nicely written and a great model. I must say, I find these stories terribly sad as these RAF operations across the Channel seem utterly pointless. Experienced pilots and leaders lost their lives achieving nothing.

[georgeusa]

Great narrative that matches a wonderfully built and finished Spitfire as a tribute.  Thanks for sharing the story and the finished model.