BL722 Sondra Lee IX

Flying Officer Lee Gover of No. 133 Eagle Squadron, RAF in the cockpit of his Spitfire Mk. V nicknamed "Sondra-Lee", 1942. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'F/O Lee Gover RCAF, 133 Eagle Sqdn, 1942.' media-401100.jpg FRE 2302 Flying Officer Leroy 'Lee' Gover of No. 133 Eagle Squadron, RAF in the cockpit of his Spitfire Mk. V nicknamed "Sondra-Lee", 1942. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'F/O Lee Gover RCAF, 133 Eagle Sqdn, 1942.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM Photo.

Object Number - FRE 2302 - Flying Officer Leroy 'Lee' Gover of No. 133 Eagle Squadron, RAF in the cockpit of his Spitfire Mk. V nicknamed "Sondra-Lee", 1942. Handwritten...

Supermarine Spitfire BL722 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.

Delivered to No 38 MU 22-1-42, assigned to 222S 28-2-42, Cat B on Ops 4-6-42, to Westland, assigned to 306S 30-8-42, transferred to 133S 29-9-42, transferred to 336th FS 1-10-42, transferred to 57OTU 17-8-44, takeoff coarse pitch hit obst Eshott Cat E 12-10-44, SOC.



2nd Lt. James 'Goody' Goodson and Capt. 'Dixie' Alexander sought permission from squadron CO, Maj. Don Blakeslee, to make the first flight of an American-marked fighter over the European continent, and he granted it with one proviso - they had to paint over the British roundels with white stars first. The only template handy was a crew chief's medallion, hence the somewhat-ironic use of the Star of David on these Spitfires.

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 52nd Fighter Group 109th Observation Squadron 336th Fighter Squadron No 133 'Eagle' Squadron 2nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885165
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Captain Frederick J. Christensen, of the 56th Fighter Group with his P-47 Thunderbolt. Printed caption on reverse: 'AP 30306. Top Scoring U.S. Fighter Group. Captain Frederick J. Christensen of Watertown, Massachusetts, an ace in the "Zemke Wolf Pack," the top-scoring U.S. fighter group in England, has shot down 22 enemy planes, six of these on Independence Day, July 4, 1944. He is the holder of the Air Medal and three clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with the four clusters and the Silver Star. The "Z
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11047421 / O-794920
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885241
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885168
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Llandow, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan CF71, UK 22 January 1942 Delivered to No 38 MU 22-1-42.

Assigned

North Weald Airfield, Merlin Way, North Weald, Essex CM16 6HR, UK 28 February 1942 Assigned to 222 Sqn 28-2-42.

Other

Combat damage

North Weald Airfield, Merlin Way, North Weald, Essex CM16 6HR, UK 4 June 1942 Cat B damage on Op's 4-6-42.

Other

Factory repair

Yeovil, Somerset, UK 5 June 1942 - 29 August 1942 To Westland for repair.

Assigned

Northolt, Greater London, UK 30 August 1942 Assigned to 306 Sqn (City of Torun) Polish 30-8-42.

Other

Transferred

London Biggin Hill Airport, Main Road, Biggin Hill, Bromley, Kent TN16 3BH, UK 29 September 1942 Transferred to 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF 29-9-42.

Other

Transferred

Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK 1 October 1942 Transferred to 336th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF USAAF. 1-10-42.

Crashed

Chivenor, Braunton, Barnstaple, Devon EX31, UK 28 October 1943 Taxiing accident RAF Chivenor Cat 3 damage pilot Lt Don E Colton 107th RS 67th RG 9th AF 28-10-43.

Other

Transferred

Hawarden, Deeside, Flintshire CH5, UK 17 August 1944 Transferred to 57 OTU 17-8-44.

Crashed

Eshott, Morpeth, Northumberland NE65, UK 12 October 1944 Take off in coarse pitch hit obstacle Eshott Cat E damage 12-10-44.

Other

Struck Off Charge SOC

Hawarden, Deeside, Flintshire CH5, UK 13 October 1944 Struck Off Charge.

Manufactured

Castle Bromwich, West Midlands, UK Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
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ContributorAl_Skiff
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ContributorAl_Skiff
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Contributorapollo11
Changes
Sources

Personal research & 4th fighter Group 'Debden Eagles' by Chris Bucholz.

BL722: Gallery (2 items)