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Reposted by Jamie McTrusty

Lucy Betteridge-Dyson @lmbd1418.bsky.social · 3h

Tomorrow at 19:00BST I’ll be on @ww2tv.bsky.social having a chat with Woody about Jungle Commandos and answering your questions! So if there’s something you want to know about the Third Arakan and/or the book, now is your chance to ask! ☺️

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1h

Congratulations, Waitman!

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1h

It’s a Martin Baltimore medium bomber. They were American-built, but only the RAF/RAAF/RCAF/SAAF (plus some other Allied countries) used them, exclusively in the Mediterranean area and over N Africa.

Baltimore twin engined bomber in desert camouflage and RAF markings, flying at medium altitude.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1h

Sgt John Farrow of 229 Squadron lost control of his Hurricane while flying through cloud in formation over Bovingdon. The cause is unclear, but oxygen failure or disorientation are possibilities. The aircraft fell some distance before breaking up at 200 feet and Farrow was killed.
📷 ©️ bbm.org.uk

Poor quality photograph, taken outside, of a grinning John Farrow in his RAF uniform.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1h

Sgt Rufus Ward of 66 Squadron was shot down by Bf 109s over Rochester. He successfully baled out of his Spitfire, but witnesses on the ground saw him being machine gunned in his parachute and he was dead on landing.
📷©️ bbm.org.uk
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Rufus Ward in his RAF sergeant’s uniform, sitting for a portrait photograph.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1h

One of the most celebrated Czech pilots of the Battle of Britain, Josef Frantisek of 303 Squadron, died when the wingtip of his Hurricane clipped a tree, crashing at Ewell in Surrey at 9:40am. At the time of his death, he is believed to have scored 17 victories in 4 weeks.
📷 ©️ bbm.org.uk
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An unsmiling Josef Frantisek standing in front of his Hurricane fighter on a grass airfield. He’s wearing a life jacket over his uniform and carries his flying helmet in his left hand.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1h

There was no respite that night as the bombers returned, with several serious fires reported in locations such as Hammersmith, London Docks, Shoreditch and Battersea. As during the day, the toll was the heaviest it had been for some time: more than 130 killed and 200 injured.
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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1h

The Luftwaffe lost 11 aircraft in total. 8 RAF fighters were destroyed and 8 aircrew killed. This Bf 109E of JG 52, flown by Feldwebel Paul Boche, force-landed on Little Grange Farm, Woodham Mortimer, Essex. Boche was badly injured when his fighter careered into a haystack.
📷 IWM HU 73560
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In the shadow of two haystacks, a member of RAF personnel examines the exposed engine of a Bf 109 fighter, its engine cowling removed. The aircraft itself is severely damaged, the rear fuselage buckled and twisted behind the cockpit. A soldier armed with a rifle looks on, with a curious civilian in the background.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1h

Bombs fell at Charing Cross, Tower Bridge, Horseguards Parade, the War Office and the Air Ministry. More than 60 people were killed and over 200 injured, the worst casualties in daylight since early September.
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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1h

Many aircraft made it through to London, where their bombs inflicted significant damage and casualties. Further raids followed: 30 aircraft at 10:30am, another 30 at 11:15 and, finally, two smaller formations at 12:30. Though a few attacks were reported on coastal towns, London was the focus.
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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1h

BATTLE OF BRITAIN 85: 8th October 1940. Operating at increasing altitude, the formations of Bf 109s were becoming more difficult to intercept. So it proved at 8:30am, when a group of over 50 Jabos and their escorts, followed shortly afterwards by a further 100, crossed the coast.
📷 IWM CH 1367A
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Armourers working on top of the left wing of a 19 Squadron Spitfire fighter at Fowlmere in late September 1940. It’s a sunny day, and the shadow of the aircraft is being clearly cast on the grass.

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Reposted by Jamie McTrusty

Hush-Kit aviation news, history & satire @hushkit.bsky.social · 6h

I want to grow on here. If you enjoy what I (and we) do, please do recommend us. Much appreciated

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Reposted by Jamie McTrusty

Brian [email protected]‬ @briandunn.bsky.social · 15h

The US heavy cruiser Salt Lake City survived the Battle of Cape Esperance in 1942, the Battle of the Kormandorski Islands in 1943, and both of the Bikini Atoll tests in 1946 only to be sunk as a target ship off the Southern California coast in 1948.
#NavalHistory

youtu.be/zgrdaYQEKK4

US CRUISER SUNK IN TARGET PRACTICE

YouTube video by British Movietone

youtu.be

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Reposted by Jamie McTrusty

Chris Sams @jerijerod14.bsky.social · 8h

This week’s podcast is on the Medway prison hulks and Deadman’s island

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...

#history #medway #navalhistory

Deadman's Island and the hulks

Podcast Episode · Maritime History with Chris Sams (live and unplugged) · 08/10/2025 · 25m

podcasts.apple.com

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 4h

Hope all goes well for you!

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Reposted by Jamie McTrusty

Ian Kikuchi @curatorian.bsky.social · 5h

Today in 1940, cameraman Harry Rignold films #blitz bomb damage at the old War Office building in London. Close-ups include a shot of a rooftop telephone cable sheared by shrapnel. #otd #ww2 #history

Film: IWM AYY 44 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 19h

Despite having kids, I’m incredibly jaded about Christmas, having been in retail my entire working life. Also, it’s only October and normally I wouldn’t want to even hear the C-word, but…

Photo of the new 12-Day Muppets Christmas Carol advent calendar, with a different mini plush figure from the film for each window.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 21h

Oddly enough, I’ve just started listening to it today on Audible, but unfortunately that’s of limited use to you…

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Reposted by Jamie McTrusty

Tom Hallett @thomashallett.bsky.social · 1d

There's still a massive bomb crater on Lenthay Common, just outside Sherborne. It fills with water every winter. I read that they attacked Sherborne because they became disoriented and thought it was Yeovil, as both towns had a railway taking a similar route to the south.

Bomb crater on Lenthay Common, Sherborne.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

Hope the day gets better for you, sorry it’s been a rough one.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

P/O Harold Ackroyd of 152 Squadron was shot down in combat over Lyme Regis. He baled out of his Spitfire, but had sustained severe burns and died the following day in hospital.
📷©️bbm.org.uk
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Harold Ackroyd wearing a sergeant’s uniform, presumably before being promoted. Pictured outside, he’s squinting slightly against the sun. He has a slight smile on his face and has neatly parted, slicked back hair.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

South African Nathanial ‘Nat’ Barry of 501 Squadron successfully baled out of his badly damaged Hurricane over Wrotham, but was found dead near Dartford. It has never been established whether he was hit by gunfire before leaving his fighter or while under his parachute.
📷 ©️bbm.org.uk
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Nat Barry pictured wearing civilian clothing, outside on what appears to be a farm, with cows in the background. Grinning, he’s leaning his left arm on an unidentifiable object.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

Sgt Basil Whall of 602 Squadron was hit by return fire from a Junkers 88 off Beachy Head. Unable to nurse his damaged Spitfire back to base at Westhampnett, he crashed attempting a forced landing near Alfriston and died shortly afterwards in hospital.
📷©️bbm.org.uk
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Basil Whall, fair haired and wearing RAF uniform, smiling for a portrait photograph.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

Sergeant Alan Feary of 609 Squadron was ‘bounced’ by Bf 109s over Weymouth at 4:30pm. He fought to regain control of his spinning Spitfire, but ultimately baled out too low for his parachute to deploy and was killed when he struck the ground.
📷©️bbm.org.uk
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Alan Feary, sporting a neat moustache and looking smart in his sergeant’s uniform and side cap, posing for a portrait photograph.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 1d

That night, German bombers ranged across much of England. Manchester was badly hit, but London remained the primary target, with more than 60 people killed and over 200 injured. Luftwaffe losses for the day amounted to 19, but Fighter Command saw 17 aircraft destroyed, with 9 airmen killed.
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