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Michael Penny | Flt. Lt. Michael Penny His war service began in October 1940 at I.TW. Newquay. On completion of his training he was posted to No. 24 E. F.T.S. Luton. After 11 hours dual flying he first flew solo in a Miles Magister. After forty hours instruction he was posted to No. 9 S.F.T.S. Hullavington for advanced flying on Miles Masters and Hurricanes. On completing this course he was presented with his 'Wings', having now flown 62 hours. His next posting was to No. 60 O.T.U. at East Fortune where he converted to B & P Defiants. 'The Defiant was a very unpleasant aircraft to fly, very heavy and I did not like the idea of becoming a night fighter in this aircraft' said Michael. He was then posted to No. 153 Squadron in Northern Ireland; after only a few days the Squadron was disbanded and he was given a chance to convert to Beaufighters or stay on 'singles'. Michael requested training for Spitfires but was informed that there were no vacancies at that moment in time. He then asked if he could fly Lysanders being used to tow drogues. His request was granted and he flew Lysanders until January 1943 when his posting came through to 58 O.T.U. Grangemouth. He completed 50 hours on Spitfires and was posted to 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron 124 Airfield, Lasham. Michael recalls, 'Although we were operational, we were now in 2 nd T. A. F. and most of our flying was done in cooperation with the Army and Tank Cor. This involved continual very low flying and demanded very strict air flying discipline - this held me in good stead as time went on'. In May 1943 the Squadron moved to 121 Airfield Fairlop where he flew his first operation over occupied Europe on a fighter sweep over Rouen, followed by an escort op. with Ventura bombers to Zeebruger; this was his first experience of enemy antiaircraft fire. Various escort and fighter sweeps followed. There followed a series of moves to various airfields in Sussex and Kent. In early 1944 the Squadron, then stationed at Ford, had bombs fitted to our aircraft for dropping on V1 launch sites. 'We began our dive at about 10,000 feet and released our bomb at 5000 feet - a most unpleasant experience. This brought us into range from all kinds of anti-aircraft fire, but fortunately we suffered very few direct hits,' Michael recalls. After completing over 120 operations Michael was posted 'tour expired' by the Air Comm. and went on to become a Spitfire flying instructor. He was demobilised in November 1945. |
Items Signed by Flt. Lt. Michael Penny |
  | Spitfire Patrol by Philip West. Price : £195.00 | One summers evening, Douglas Bader (flying Mk V Spitfire without cannons) and Johnnie Johnson (flying the Mk VB Spitfire with cannons) of the Tangmere Wing, share a few moments of peaceful flying whilst on patrol over the English Channel. ...... | |
| | Spitfire Patrol by Philip West (AP) SOLD OUT | One summers evening, Douglas Bader (flying Mk V Spitfire without cannons) and Johnnie Johnson (flying the Mk VB Spitfire with cannons) of the Tangmere Wing, share a few moments of peaceful flying whilst on patrol over the English Channel. ...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
  | Supermarine Spitfire MkI by Philip West. Price : £80.00 | High over the southern coast of England in 1940 a Spitfire (Mk 1) of 609 Squadron from Middle Wallop, flown by Flying Officer John Dundas, lies in wait for enemy aircraft (Junkers 87 divebombers) on their way to attack British naval installations at ...... | |
| | Supermarine Spitfire MkI by Philip West. (AP) SOLD OUT | High over the southern coast of England in 1940 a Spitfire (Mk 1) of 609 Squadron from Middle Wallop, flown by Flying Officer John Dundas, lies in wait for enemy aircraft (Junkers 87 divebombers) on their way to attack British naval installations at ...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
  | Hawker Hurricane Mk I by Philip West. Price : £80.00 | The Hawker Hurricane was Britains most important aircraft in the Battle of Britain, credited with destroying more enemy aircraft than all other forms of defence combined. Flown by Flying Officer Arthur Cowes, the aircraft depicted shows seven kill ma...... |
| | Hawker Hurricane Mk I by Philip West. (AP) SOLD OUT | The Hawker Hurricane was Britains most important aircraft in the Battle of Britain, credited with destroying more enemy aircraft than all other forms of defence combined. Flown by Flying Officer Arthur Cowes, the aircraft depicted shows seven kill m...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Flt. Lt. Michael Penny |
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