Hal Thomas, No. 485 (NZ) Squadron pilot

[Dave Homewood]

I have been putting together a page for my website on Cambridge-born RNZAF fighter pilot Hal Thomas, with the help of his daughter Julie and widow Thelma.

Hal wrote some amazing letters and stories detailing his flying career and some of them are now online, with others promised to come soon. These include some very interesting personal stories of flying in No. 485 (NZ) Squadron, the New Zealand Spitfire Squadron.

Take a look here. As it gets updated I'll let you all know via this thread. The thread itself will soon move into the Cambridge Air Force sub-board.

One thing, can you help with first names of those airmen in the photos whom I haven't got yet? I'd appreciate that please.

www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Hal%20Thomas.htm

[angelsonefive]

Dave,

The picture of the pilots of 485..
The pilot 9th from the left, back row, named as Brinsden, will in all probability be 40338 F/O Francis N. Brinsden, a NZ'er who flew in No. 19 Squadron (Spitfires) during the Battle of Britain.
I am not sure but I think he was promoted to F/L later.
Probably one of the flight leaders in 485.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks, yes I confirmed that one last night after making this post. I'll add his name in. He was the B Flight Commander in those early days.

I'm updating the page now, with a couple of other new names too.

[angelsonefive]

Further info. on Francis Brinsden, from New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force, available on-line @ www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-1RAF-b8.html

Wing Commander F.N.Brinsden, RAF.
Born Takapuna, 27/3/19.
Joined RAF 1937.
Transferred to RNZAF 1/44.
p.w ( prisoner of war ?) 19/8/43.
Retransferred to RAF 1947.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks. Yes, he was Francis Noel Brinsden, as now noted on the page. Thanks for that.

This page, like most on my site, is a work in progress so if anyone spots any spelling or grammatical errors that I have not picked up on, please let me know. Thanks.

Great reminiscences by Hal, eh!?

[smithy]

Dave,

For the 485 photo, here is the following for the remainder of the aircrew:

Richard "Dickie"/"The Jeep" Barrett
Allan Shaw
J. C. Morton should be John Martin
Athol McIntyre
Jack Maney
James "Pranger" Porteous
Austin Smith

I'll have a poke around as I might be able to get names for some of the groundcrew.

HTH,

Tim

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks very much Tim. I'll add these details in soon.

Good to see you're still around. How's Aussie treating you?

[smithy]

It's good Dave, I like Melbourne, and Melburnians are a nice bunch.

It's a big city but easy to live in. Next time you're over this way I'll take you round a couple of watering holes!

Also to add to my above post which might be of interest, from that photo 7 of the pilots are Battle of Britain veterans: Brinsden; Francis; Martin; McIntyre; Middleton; Stewart and Wells.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks. If I ever do get to Melbourne I'll certainly make sure we catch up, and also with JDK too.

Does anyone have the details of how Jim Porteous became known as Pranger? And how did Dickie Barrett get the name of The Jeep?

[smithy]

Dave,

Porteous "earned" the nickname after crashing X4903 OU-Z wheels up on the 6th May 1941 after suffering engine trouble on a convoy patrol. The nickname stayed with him for the duration of the war.

Sorry Dave but I have nothing on Barrett's nickname.