Hi I am Mike Collins, son of Sqdr Ldr Jack Collins DFC and Bar, 245 Squadron, RAF, who flew Hawker Typhoons over Normandy until 11 August 1944 when he was fatally shot down by flak. My interests are mainly all RAF activities in the Battle of Normandy June - August 1944 http://normandy.whitebeamimages.ie/forum/images/smilies/shy.gif
Hello Mike, Welcome. We may have met before if you were at the unveiling of the monument to your father near Cintheaux. Cheers, Sean
Hello Sean Yes we must have done, but I met so many people that day it is now a bit of a blur. No doubt you have seen the YouTube clips from that ceremony. Did we meet? I recall many, many enthusiasts speaking to me at the reception at the farm near to the memorial. I have just joined Whitebeam so it will take few days to familiarise myself with the various discussion topics Keep in touch Best wishes Mike
Hi Mike, Great to have you as a member. Sean had sent me the link to the YouTube video a while back which I found very moving. As you are probably aware, we have two 245 Squadron threads running on the Forum at present: 245 Sqd ORB - June/July 1944 245 Sqd Typhoon 'MR-K' on ALG B-3? Both need attention as it's a while since new posts were added. Please feel free to post on these or indeed open your own - as an example, we would be delighted if you could open a thread on your father. Have you found the crash site on reconnaissance cover? Regards, Pat
Hi Pat and Sean Thanks for your kind welcome. Sean was at the commemoration of the memorial to my father in 2012 and the attached photo (from Josh LeClerq, the TECT photographer) is the best one of the audience that day, are you on it Sean? Would you like me to put one or two stills from the ceremony in 2012 on the site under a new thread? Re Pats stills from Pathe, I agree with Pat that the tailplane is not my father's MR-? but probably a Spitfire and I have looked at the faces of the many RAF personnel and cannot put names to any of them, but I haven't really had a chance to go through my vast collection of photos and books. Regards Mike