Seeking a contact for the "Spitfire Ace" program for a Spitfire vet

[cookand]

Hello all,

I enjoyed watching the "Spitfire Ace: Flying the Battle of Britain" program here in America a month or so ago.  I believe I recognized something familiar in a bit of the archival footage.  It was a walking stick man figure with a halo known as "the Saint" painted on a spitfire fuselage near the cockpit.   I just returned from a visit in Toronto Canada with one of "the few", and a good friend Richard (spam) Reeves who flew a spitfire in 1941 with 403 squadron RCAF sporting that same logo. He confirmed that his was the only plane in his squadron with the Saint logo and if my eyes were not playing tricks, it was likely his plane I saw depicted in the footage.  The logo was painted on for him by his crew.  His regular mount carried the call letters KH-K.

I would very much like to make contact with someone involved in the production of the program and can give me some more information about the clip and possibly lead me to a copy of the original footage I can give to spam Reeves and his family.

I know ML407 and the support staff was involved in the production.  I am hoping somebody on this board might 'know somebody who knows somebody' related to the film production.  Any help in doing this nice favor for a worthy vet who is still with us would be appreciated greatly.

Thank you in advance for your help,

Andrew Cook
e-mail: N399LT(at)hotmail.com  - replace 'at' with one of these @

[Gate Master]

Andrew,
I have had a few emails with Channel 4 regarding the release of Spitfire Ace on DVD..try an email to below and see if they can point you in the right direction as they sreened the series here in the UK


Viewer Enquiries [ViewerEnquiries@Channel4.co.uk]

Regards
Andy D

[Darren Harbar]

Andrew,

Was it this artwork by any chance?



This is now on Spitfire MkV JG891 at Duxford, which has recently finished restoration to fly.



Regards

Darren

[Andrew Cook]

Darren,

Yes, that logo is almost identical to the one on spam's Reeves' plane.? I believe he also may have had the words "The Saint" painted on with his logo.? After a bit of searching, I believe JG891 may be finished in the desert camouflage colours of F/Sgt John G 'Jack' Hughes T*B/JK879, a RCAF pilot flying with No 249 Sqn at Takali in Malta.? ? Does anyone know of other Spitfire's that sported this Saint logo during wartime?

I guess 'The Saint' was a popular radio program at the time - I believe Vincent Price was the star.? ? I would still very much like to track down the film footage with the hope it was spam's plane shown.? I dropped a line to the Channel 4 address provided.? The automated reply indicated it may take 4 weeks to get a response!

My father is searching through his archives to find the photo of spam with his Spitfire.? I'll post it here after he gets it scanned.? ?

Cheers,

Andrew

[Andrew Cook]

Darren, I have a copy of the picture but I am not sure how to attach it to this message.? The 'insert image' icon is not letting me attach the image...? What did you do to attach your photos??

Cheers,

Andrew

[James Wheeler]

Hi ANdrew,

If you reply to the post and look below the white box, there is a Attach box - browser to the file (provided it isn't over the size limit) and it will upload along with your reply.

Alternatively you can use photobucket.com to host images online for you..

If really stuck I could arrange for you to mail it to me and I will host it for you.

[cookand]

James - Would it be Ok to e-mail you the picture for posting?  I sent a copy to your gmail address.account

I don't have the attach box just 'Post, Preview and Spell Check'.  The additional options has check boxes for 'Return to this topic' and 'Don't use smileys'

In addition to the Saint logo, there is a small lighthouse being kicked by the Saint.  The story is the graphic symbolizes spam kicking the daylights out of the lighthouse behind the beach in France. The lighthouse was being used by the Germans to direct artillery fire onto Cdn troops on the beach. spam took it out. He approached it from inland about 50 ft above the deck at full speed. His wingman got blown up beside spam by an unexpected flak tower on the same pass.  Saved a lot of allied lives with his action.

Cheers,

Andrew

[geoff]

Andrew,
You must be logged-in in order to see the Attach: box after clicking on Addditional Options.
Try again.
Geoff.

[James Wheeler]

Andrew sent tme the pic: