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Wing Commander Laddie Lucas CBE DSO DFC
Laddie (Percy Belgrave) Lucas rose in two years from Aircraftman 2nd class to Command No.249, the top scoring fighter squadron in the Battle of Malta in 1942 at the age of 26. Lucas led two Spitfire squadrons and in 1943 a wing on the Western Front. In 1944 he switched to the Mosquito of the 2nd Tactical Air Force. After the war he was a Conservative MP for ten years and was also one of Britain's best amateur golfers, captaining Cambridge University, England in the Walker Cup, Great Britain and Ireland against the United States. Laddie Lucas died on 20th March 1998.
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| Distinguished Service Order | Distinguished Flying Cross |
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Gallant Ohio by Robert Taylor Spitfires of 126 and 185 Squadrons successfully fend off a last desperate attempt by enemy aircraft to sink the crippled American tanker Ohio, still some 80 miles short of the beleaguered island of Malta. Badly damaged and barely afloat the Ohio, assisted by Royal Navy destroyers Penn, (foreground), Bramham (lashed to Ohios port side) and Ledbury, limped into port to a tumultuous welcome, on August 15, 1942. Her vital cargo of fuel kept the islands air defences alive, and ultimately made the island secure. |
Escort for the Straggler by Robert Taylor. On April 25th 1945, the RAF despatched over 300 Lancasters to attack The Eagles Nest, Hitlers private mountain top castle at Berchstegaden. It was a symbolic raid, for the war was almost over, but it seemed appropriate that, after almost six years of continual combat, crews of the Royal Air Force should be allowed this almost final gesture of the air war in Europe. After the Spitfires and Hurricanes of Hugh Dowdings Fighter Command had won the Battle of Britain, and gained vital air supremacy, Arthur Harris Bomber Forces were able to mount the systematic devastation of Germanys mighty war machine, which in turn paved the way for the D-Day invasion, and the final liberation of Nazi dominated Europe. The Lancaster had become the mainstay of RAF Bomber Command, and its crews were typically representative of the men who had fought the six year aerial campaign in Europe. Every one a volunteer, they came from Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, and many European countries under the threat of Nazi rule. Magnificently brave, they endured overwhelming odds, frightening losses, and some of the worst flying conditions imaginable, never flinching in their task until victory was finally achieved. Their valiant efforts, together with the legendary exploits of the pilots of RAF Fighter Command, led the way towards Victory in Europe. Two aircraft, above all others, came to symbolise the deeds of the men and machines of the Royal Air Force : the Spitfire, magnificent in defence, lethal in attack, and the mighty Lancaster, the awesome heavy bomber that took the war to the heart of Nazi Germany. |
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Laddie Lucas signing the print - Fighting Lady - by Graeme Lothian. |
| Wing Commander Laddie Lucas CBE DSO DFC Aircraft details |
 Mosquito Manufacturer : De Havilland Built : 7781 | Mosquito Used as a night fighter, fighter bomber, bomber and Photo-reconnaissance, with a crew of two, Maximum speed was 425 mph, at 30,300 feet, 380mph at 17,000ft. and a ceiling of 36,000feet, maximum range 3,500 miles. the Mosquito was armed with four 20mm Hospano cannon in belly and four .303 inch browning machine guns in nose. Coastal strike aircraft had eight 3-inch Rockets under the wings, and one 57mm shell gun in belly. The Mossie at it was known made its first flight on 25th November 1940, and the mosquito made its first operational flight for the Royal Air Force as a reconnaissance unit based at Benson. In early 1942, a modified version (mark II) operated as a night fighter with 157 and 23 squadron's. In April 1943 the first De Haviland Mosquito saw service in the Far east and in 1944 The Mosquito was used at Coastal Command in its strike wings. Bomber Commands offensive against Germany saw many Mosquitos, used as photo Reconnaissance aircraft, Fighter Escorts, and Path Finders. The Mosquito stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1955. and a total of 7781 mosquito's were built. |
 Spitfire Manufacturer : Supermarine Built : 20351 | Spitfire Royal Air Force fighter aircraft, maximum speed for mark I Supermarine Spitfire, 362mph up to The Seafire 47 with a top speed of 452mph. maximum ceiling for Mk I 34,000feet up to 44,500 for the mark XIV. Maximum range for MK I 575 miles . up to 1475 miles for the Seafire 47. Armament for the various Marks of Spitfire. for MK I, and II . eight fixed .303 browning Machine guns, for MKs V-IX and XVI two 20mm Hispano cannons and four .303 browning machine guns. and on later Marks, six to eight Rockets under the wings or a maximum bomb load of 1,000 lbs. Designed by R J Mitchell, The proto type Spitfire first flew on the 5th March 1936. and entered service with the Royal Air Force in August 1938, with 19 squadron based and RAF Duxford. by the outbreak of World war two, there were twelve squadrons with a total of 187 spitfires, with another 83 in store. Between 1939 and 1945, a large variety of modifications and developments produced a variety of MK,s from I to XVI. The mark II came into service in late 1940, and in March 1941, the Mk,V came into service. To counter the Improvements in fighters of the Luftwaffe especially the FW190, the MK,XII was introduced with its Griffin engine. The Fleet Air Arm used the Mk,I and II and were named Seafires. By the end of production in 1948 a total of 20,351 spitfires had been made and 2408 Seafires. The most produced variant was the Spitfire Mark V, with a total of 6479 spitfires produced. The Royal Air Force kept Spitfires in front line use until April 1954. |
| Wing Commander Laddie Lucas CBE DSO DFC Squadron details |
No.249 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 24th February 1969 Known Codes : , GN, | No.249 Sqn RAF Gold Coast Pugnis et cacibus - With fist and heels |
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