Hi Skipper, thank you for the translation.
I posted it on the Luftwaffe forum, so I am curious what it may be...

Also I want to wish everybody a happy new year.

Regards,
Nick

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Eine Lichtung im Walde wo die Sonne scheint.
Eingeschlossen durch Bäume sind wir gefangen,
in dieser Lichtung Gottes...

Well there are not that many items on an aircraft that need two actions at the same time, so it's quite an interesting challenge. I have a turbo device from a ME109 G6 but these handles work with a key attached to a small chain, not a button and a handle. Gilze Rijen mostly had Junkers Ju88 and Dorniers (several types), so I would focuss on a Ju88 device first. If you are looking for a Junker (Nightfighter) item, I would think of a wing flap or a landing gear retrieval device. Thanks for your wishes Nick. Happy New year to you and don't eat too many oliebollen.

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I will go easy on the Oliebollen.

Fijn nieuwjaar.

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Eine Lichtung im Walde wo die Sonne scheint.
Eingeschlossen durch Bäume sind wir gefangen,
in dieser Lichtung Gottes...

What do you find of this guys.
2 English photo's of B77 (Fliegerhorst Gilze Rijen).
The best part... I've got them for free!
BTW, they are large photo's.

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Eine Lichtung im Walde wo die Sonne scheint.
Eingeschlossen durch Bäume sind wir gefangen,
in dieser Lichtung Gottes...

Excellent postings Nick. These are really nice ! Have you tried to identify the Squadron or the pilots. The a.c. behind looks like a Typhoon (or a Spitfire it 's a bit vague), if you tell me the calling code I can tell you the squadron.

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Hi Skipper,
I have not yet searcht for which sqoudron, I am a bit more busy with the German side of the Fliegerhorst for now. But I am very curious!
What do you mean with the calling code? The code on the Typhoon?

BTW, soon I will go to that B17 site again, I'll hope I find something!

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Eine Lichtung im Walde wo die Sonne scheint.
Eingeschlossen durch Bäume sind wir gefangen,
in dieser Lichtung Gottes...

Yes the code on the fuselage . I believe I can see an "L" but can't read the two main letters which are the identification of the Squadron. This is however not mission impossible. I'm certain somebody will know was was based at Gilze Rijen at the end of 1944.

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Typhoon or Tempest ?

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E ~

I'll throw this out but 123 wing based here with the Typhoon 609 squad as example, the other squads were : 164, 183 and the 198th

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E ~

The shape of the tailfin is certainly that of a Hawker Typhoon....

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

609 flew Typhoons and arrived in Holland in November 1944. Their calling code is PR . the Typhoon on the picture could be PR-L (providing it is 609 squadron )
Here is a link that shows Belgian 609 squadron Ace Lallemant (nickname "the Horse")with Typhoon PR-D painted in a similar camo pattern.


Google Image Result for http://worldwar2.free.fr/typhoon2.jpg

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Holy Crap!
I'm not sure how I missed this thread for the past few days but this is great reading! Nick, I am very jealous of you being able to walk those fields! The pics are fantastic!
positive rep given for this great thread! I'll be watching and waiting for more! Maybe I can get you to show me this airfield when I come to visit next year!?

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Scott

Hello friends!
Erich, Skipper and Martin thank you for your trouble regarding the Brittish photo. Its amaze me that you can get so much information of such as small photo! Thumbs up for you guys.

I am a bit sorry for my late reply, I just visit the former Camp Tophat near Antwerp yesterday and I was a bit broken. I think I almost didn't sleep this year.

Hello Bigfun, offcourse I can show you some stuff here, no problem. Sounds nice.

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Eine Lichtung im Walde wo die Sonne scheint.
Eingeschlossen durch Bäume sind wir gefangen,
in dieser Lichtung Gottes...

Something more Nick. The gentleman reading the paper on one picture is the same as the one standing near the tent on the other one. Most important I believe he is reading a copy of the ....... telegraph (Daily Telegraph?) This mean there could be a date on this paper. Could you scan this detail with the highest resolution possible ? It could give us the exact date (or aprroximately) considering we think this was taken after Nov. 1944 anyway.

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Yes that is the same person I noticed.
I can see what I can do, back in a few minutes...

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Eine Lichtung im Walde wo die Sonne scheint.
Eingeschlossen durch Bäume sind wir gefangen,
in dieser Lichtung Gottes...

This is the best I can give you for know.
My own camera (far more better quality) is broken.
But the pictures are a bit blury either.

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Eine Lichtung im Walde wo die Sonne scheint.
Eingeschlossen durch Bäume sind wir gefangen,
in dieser Lichtung Gottes...

At least I can see it's not telegraph but more something that ends with "aple" .Also the letter I read on the Typhoon is "L" sor PR-L is still my best guess.

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HF-L
HE-L

?

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Eine Lichtung im Walde wo die Sonne scheint.
Eingeschlossen durch Bäume sind wir gefangen,
in dieser Lichtung Gottes...

HF = 54 Squadron . 54 is impossible because it left to Australia in 1942

HE = 263 Squadron = interesting and they flew Typhoons.

No. 263 Squadron RAF - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are many sites for this squadron on the web . So you might be looking for the pilot who flew HE-L

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guys look again at the numbers of the 4 squadrons I posted above ....

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E ~

well, i tried to clear it up, but to no avail! i don't have the right software!

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Scott

What are the codes Erich?

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not sure but it might be HE as you mentioned Skipper only for the possible fact the Typhoon is in transit before flying back to it's own base ?

Here a very rare piece of ammunition found near Rijen, is a cartridge for the German Kampfpistole.

On the left the standard Sprenggranatpatrone.
On the right the Sprenggranatpatrone ZZ.

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Eine Lichtung im Walde wo die Sonne scheint.
Eingeschlossen durch Bäume sind wir gefangen,
in dieser Lichtung Gottes...

Wow what's the use of that? It's the first time I see this.

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