Progress report – … And a little more

Lest we forget
Day 59

This is how I left my workstation Thursday night.

That’s the little more I was talking about on Friday morning.

I experimented with homemade sky for the PBY Catalina and the shade didn’t come how I thought it would.

Win some, lose some…

The mechanics are again working feverishly on the fuel bowser.

They had completed and painted the Bedford MWD light truck. They are working on the right door making sure everything is plumb.

 

With these last images I have now reached my 3 gigabytes upload limit on My Forgotten Hobby IV…

You know what’s coming next don’t you?

Progress report – Bedford MWD light truck… And a little more

Lest we forget
Day 58

Just another day on My Forgotten Hobby IV…  More progress was made on the trucks yesterday.

The mechanics are now working hard on the fuel bowser.

They have just completed and painted the Bedford MWD light truck.

Nice job!

They only have to do some painting on the underside of the Bedford.

They have used the wet palette technique from the YouTube video.

Since the acrylic paint was still wet after a few hours, they decided to use it for weathering the trucks and the aircraft carriers.

They also used this technique on the Hawker Tempest since they still had different shades of grey on the wet palette.

The Eduard Hawker Tempest Series 2 has been sitting in its box since last year.

This is how it turned out…

While at it they mixed some homemade dark green and added the upper camouflage.

But there is more…

I will tell you another day.

Painting figurines

Lest we forget
Day 57

I have adapted this technique to paint my figurines.

 

 

I have decided to move on detailing them and concentrating instead on the Albion and the Bedford.

Work in progress

I won’t use my airbrush to finish the trucks. I will use it to finish my Hawker Tempest Series 2.

I want to complete the D-Day diorama as soon as possible.

The aircraft carriers have left my naval yard although three are still missing their planes.

 

 

 

First the planes need to receive an airbrush treatment with black primer.

Eduard Hawker Tempest Mk. V Weekend Edition Progress Report – Painting Session

I have painted a base coat using diluted black acrylic paint and I have glued the wings to the fuselage.

I like to experiment.

I also like to visit Plaza Japan which keeps appearing on websites I visit. Seeing this model kit of the Heinkel He 219 over and over again daunted me since I first saw it last November…

Source of the image Plaza Japan

It was still in stock as well as the Heinkel He 162.

Source of the image Plaza Japan

I said to myself…

When they’re out of stock, you will regret not buying them.

I have never regretted updating my collection with Tamiya kits from Plaza Japan especially when they have fast delivery.

I got this one last week.

Source of the image Plaza Japan

I am expecting these soon.

I found out that buying two at the same time saves me money. I should have thought of that before buying the ones I bought individually.

Next on My Forgotten Hobby IV I should try out my homemade spray booth.

More information about 222 Squadron found

Now I know more who were in the group photo…

Collection Gaston Lamirande

The filename escadrille 222 Belgique 1944 was incorrect

Excerpt from the book

During the third week of February 1945 No 122 Wing lost its status as 2nd TAF’s sole Tempest wing. During the midwinter period two No 84 Group squadrons, Nos 33 and 222, from No 135 Wing, had been withdrawn from the Continent and stationed at Predannack, in Cornwall, for their conversion to the Tempest from the Spitfire IX. A shortage of Tempests and inclement weather delayed the process, but the two squadrons finally arrived, ready to join the fray, at B77 Gilze-Rijen on 21 February. Their place at Predannack would be taken by No 135 Wing’s other two Spitfire units (Nos 349 and 485 Sqns), although their conversion to Tempests would eventually be abandoned owing to a shortage of aircraft. In addition to the high attrition rate in 2nd TAF, a shortfall in Tempest pilots had been foreseen and the newly formed Typhoon/Tempest training unit, No 56 OTU at Milfield, in Northumberland, had priority for equipment.

No 222 Sqn pilots pose for a group photo during their Tempest conversion at Predannack.

Third and fourth from the left in the second row back are Sqn Ldrs H C Rigby and E B Lyons, the former handing over the squadron to the latter. Far right in the row behind them is Flt Lt George Varley, who would add a further Fw 190 (to the one he had already claimed whilst flying Spitfires), a Bf 109 and an Ar 234 to his score, earning him a DFC (No 222 Sqn records)

 

Collection Gaston Lamirande

New addition

It’s not a new model kit.

It’s been on the back on my mind for a long, long time.

Using my airbrush outside was always in pain in the neck having to bring my air compressor outside with all the accessories I needed. I have decided to invest in an air respirator instead of buying an over-priced spray booth.

I made this homemade spray booth instead using a box.

I will be using a large fan for ventilation and I will open a window. I had invested a lot on different accessories in order to use my Badger 350 airbrush and I wasn’t using it that much.

The PBY was still on hold and the Tempest would have also been on hold also because using paintbrushes is not the answer to paint the PBY or the Tempest.

First I will be adding as many tiny little parts as possible before painting it.

Too many little parts if you ask me.

Much too much, and fragile also.

Intermission – The Hawker Tempest Page

https://www.hawkertempest.se/index.php

Eduard Hawker Tempest Mk. V Weekend Edition Progress Report

Time for showing what I have been doing while researching RAF 222 Squadron. I know where this group photo was taken. We are at Predannack.

I have found more information on some RAF 222 Squadron pilots which I will share later.

About my progress on my Tempest…?

Eduard has too much little pieces in my own humble opinion…

I have finally completed the cockpit last week.

It’s not perfect but I can live with it and most of it will be hidden anyway. I have been working feverishly with the wheel wells.

Painting some parts before wasn’t such a great idea. I should remember that when I will be building my other Tempest in few years from now.

Maybe I should build it next…

Lest We Forget – Collection Gaston Lamirande – The Sequel

Updated 4 December 2021 – 14:28 (see note at the end)

In case you were just wondering what was the story behind that photo of a Hawker Tempest Mk. V Series 2, Warrant Officer II Gaston Lamirande was not the pilot flying ZD-V.

At first I thought Warrant Officer II Gaston Lamirande was sitting in the cockpit of his Tempest. It made sense. However Squadron Leader Emanuel Barnett Lyons was the pilot who was flying ZD-V. 

What had happened to Squadron Leader Emanuel Barnett Lyons’ plane?

Squadron Leader Emanuel Barnett Lyons is seen in front of a Hawker Tempest Mk. V Series 2. He is on the right with another pilot.

Both pilots are also together on the group photo taken probably on the same day.

I found more information on Flight Lieutenant Lyons here.

http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Lyons.htm

Emanuel Barnett Lyons was born in London in 1918. While studying at Magdalene College, Cambridge in June 1939 he joined the RAFVR as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at 22 EFTS and 5 FTS before joining 65 Squadron at Turnhouse on 2nd September 1940.

Lyons remained with the squadron until July 1941, when he moved to 222 Squadron at Manston. When 243 Squadron was reformed on 1st June 1942, Lyons joined it as a Flight Commander. He went with it to North Africa in November and took part in operations in support of the 1st Army.

In 1944 Lyons was posted to 33 Squadron in France as a supernumerary Flight Lieutenant. Soon afterwards he rejoined 222 Squadron, also on the continent, as a Flight Commander. Lyons took command of 222 in January 1945. It was then at Predannack, having returned to England to convert to Tempests.

He took the squadron to Holland in February and led it until being seriously wounded on 11th April 1945.

His Tempest V SN165 ZD-V was hit by flak during an attack on Fassberg airfield.

The canopy, armored headrest and horizontal stabilizer were badly damaged and Lyons was wounded in the head. He was able to fly 200 miles back to his base.

Awarded the DFC (gazetted 8th May 1945), Lyons was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.

He was awarded the Netherlands Flying Cross (gazetted 21st April 1947) for gallantry, initiative and determination as commander of a squadron in which a number of Netherlands pilots were serving during March and April 1945.

He died in 1992.

Source of the medals https://www.gorringes.co.uk/news/battle-britain-dfc-group-squadron-leader-butcher-lyons

I wish I could identify who was with him.

I wish I could also identify all these airmen one day.

Found in this book…

Seen in its dispersal at Kluis. No 222 Sqn’s Tempest SN 165 ZD-V had been flown by Sqn Ldr E B Lyons in an attack on Fassberg airfield on 11 April 1945. The fighter was hit in the rear of the cockpit by flak during a strafing pass, breaking off armour plating attached to the seat which in turn struck Lyons on the back of the head. Semi-conscious, the pilot managed to pull up straight away and fly 200 miles back to base (via JB Scutts)

 

 

Lest We Forget – Collection Gaston Lamirande

I found the definition of the word lest on the Internet.

Lest : for fear that —often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension

I knew the expression Lest we forget which is so often used each year on November 11.

In 2017 Marc-André Valiquette had shared this photo of Gaston Lamirande sitting in a cockpit. 

Warrant Officer II Gaston Lamirande in the cockpit of Hawker Tempest Mk. V Series 2

In 2017, he had asked me not to post it on my blogs because it was in his book. I wrote him last week and he gave me the green light.

There is a story behind that photo if you are interested.

In 2017, I knew right away that the plane was a Tempest Mk. V, but I did not know the difference between a Tempest Mk. V Series 1 and a Tempest Mk. V Series 2 until Eduard came along.

On this next photo Gaston Lamirande is on the left and Marc-André is on the right.

Last week Marc-André has shared more images, part of Gaston Lamirande’s collection. Marc-André has written several books on aviation and I bought all of them.

This one is about Bagotville 75 Years of Air Defence and Gaston Lamirande is featured in it.

This is a book review of that book.

Book review

You can learn more on Marc-André Valiquette on this Website…

https://ingeniumcanada.org/channel/articles/bagotville-75-years-of-air-defence

Marc-André also sent me this newspaper clipping which is dated Friday, November 26, 1943. That was 78 years ago.

Gaston Lamirande had earned his wings with other Leading Aircraftmen at No.13 SFTS St. Hubert.

Gaston Lamirande survived the war, but some pilots on that photo did not. Here’s another image showing Gaston Lamirande taken also in November 1943.

A closer view…

All are wearing their pilot  wings. There are no longer Leading Aircraftmen. So we are in November 1943.

After he earned his wings, Gaston Lamirande was posted at No.1 O.T.U. Bagotville. He is seen there in the cockpit of a Hawker Hurricane.

After completing this course he was posted at No. 1 Detachment Greenwood, Nova Scotia. After more training he was sent overseas.

These images show he was posted with 222 Squadron.

More information on 222 squadron below.

http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/222_wwII.html

More here…

https://www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org/research/squadrons/222/

No. 222 Squadron was formed at Thasos on 1st April 1918 from ‘A’ and ‘Z’ Squadrons RNAS. Consisting of Nos 478, 479 and 480 Flights this composite squadron was tasked with assisting in the Greek campaign. It disbanded on 27 February 1919.

On 5 October 1939 it reformed at RAF Duxford as a shipping protection squadron. In 1940 it was re-designated a fighter squadron. The squadron provided fighter cover during the Dunkirk evacuation and following a spell in Lincolnshire it took part in the latter stages of the Battle of Britain. In August 1942 it moved to Scotland but in 1943 returned south to join Second Tactical Air Force. The unit provided fighter sweeps prior to the Normandy invasion and followed the land forces onto the continent in August 1944. In mid December 1944 No 222 Squadron went back to the UK to convert to Tempests, returning to the Netherlands in February 1945 with its new aircraft. In June 1945 it returned to the UK once again.
No 222 Squadron disbanded on 1 November 1957.

 

With that information in hand, I was able to date this Tempest photo. 

222 Squadron Wing Commander Butch Hyons, Belgium 1944-1945, between Bruges and Gant.

The caption is a little off.

222 Squadron Squadron Leader  “Butcher” Lyons, Holland 1945.

Gaston Lamirande had this other photo in his collection. I don’t think he was the one chasing the V-1, but I know from Marc-André Valiquette’s book that he has chased a few V-1s.

This is another image. I don’t think he flew with 33 Squadron, but Squadron Leader Lyons did.

Tempest 33 Squadron

To learn more about the Hawker Tempest you can visit this website…

https://www.hawkertempest.se/index.php

Finally, this is the last image from the collection. Gaston Lamirande is seen here returning from Europe.

His brother Jean-Paul seems quite happy to see his brother alive.

Next time a progress report or the story behind that photo.