"All of the photos in this set were taken by my father John S. Blyth flying a Sptifire MK XI. He was based at Mount Farm, UK with the 14th Squadron of the 7th PRG USAAF." Aerial Photos WW II - a set on Flickr ps this is not my father, but the father of the person who uploaded the pics
USMC, If you click on them to enlarge they show the location, town and country or location, ie, Juno Beach. It also goes to slide show format . These are facinating, the enormus areas of bomb cratering, especially compared to modern precision bombing. Thanks for the post!!!! GB
They were taken by an American - re information on the page "All of the photos in this set were taken by Lt John S. Blyth flying a Spitfire MK XI. He was based at Mount Farm, UK with the 14th Squadron of the 7th PRG USAAF." Fascinating to see what they saw.
I did read. USAAF I guess would be the First Clue. I asked was the Pilot Canadian? In the Black Watch we had Many US, Americans that joined the Regiment in WWII. I read of other Canadian Regiments that had Americans. I read of Canadian Pilots that joined a fought with the USAF, Like Canadians that fought in the Spanish Civil War. As example Of US American Pilots Flying for the RAF. In the late autumn of 1942 the USA had fully entered the war in Europe and the three RAF "Eagle" Squadrons were transferred to the 8th US Air Force and became the 4th Fighter Group. The promise not to transfer any members away lasted a month. Around 1/2 were transferred to other units, back to the states to train other pilots soon after becoming officers in the 8th Air Force. Initially the 4th FG continued to fly Spitfires till they were re-equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts. Some members refused to transfer into the US Forces and remained as part of the RAF throughout the war. Battle of Britain American Pilots
Spaniard, Your post, as is, makes no sense whatsoever. You ask if the pilot was Canadian but then go on to talk about Americans joining the Canadian army and RCAF. As evidence you show us that Americans served in the RAF. Not Canadians flying in the USAAF. Between 1939 and Pearl Harbor over 10,000 Americans came north and joined the RCAF. Those who were already pilots were not accepted into the pre war USAAF hence they came to Canada so they could fly. No Canadian would head south to fly because a) The US was still neutral and b) see previous paragraph on the sheer lack of openings for pilots. Or see my previous thread on the topic of Americans flying in the RAF and RCAF: http://www.ww2f.com/air-war-western-europe-1939-1945/42312-query-raf-pilots-usaf.html#post492791 Please show us numbers of Canadians who came south during the war to become airmen. There was no "MacKenzie Papineau Battalion". of Canadians coming south. The US has the bigger population so why would Canadians need to come to their defence during the war? During the time the US was neutral it was clearly the other way around. Steve, I doubt proprietary issues. A few of Lt Blyths photos have been done here: Google Earth Hacks - War-Related Overlays
Hello There are no proprietary issues with using Google Earth to do overlays with the photos from my Flickr account. I rather enjoy them when they are done properly. The pilot (my father) was born in Sheridan, Oregon USA and so was indeed American rather than Canadian. His father (my paternal grandfather) was as British as they come having been born in Tolleshunt Knights Essex UK. He did however serve as a captain in the trenches with the 67th Battalion of the Western Scots from Victoria BC in WW I. There is a recent BBC documentary with further info on the pilot. Try Googling "BBC Operation Crossbow" and watch the 4 episode version on You Tube. All the best Scott Blyth
I should probably add that there are currently a lot more photos in my Flickr Collection. Collection: World War II Aerial Photos
