This moving biography of an ‘unknown’ WWII RAF fighter ace
charts Desmond Ibbotson’s career, the story ending with a twist
when his remains are discovered in Italy in 2005
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Photo Credit: Alamy
Author James B Wright | Price £22 (Hardback) | Released Out now | Reviewer Andy Saunders
The sub-title of this superb work, A Spitfire Ace Rediscovered, succinctly encompasses its theme: the rediscovery of a young pilot’s tragically short career and, sadly, the discovery of his remains in Italy at the crash site of a Spitfire.
With the Battle of Britain in full flow, Desmond Ibbotson was keen to complete his training and join the fray. Yet on 23 July 1940 he had only just enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve.
Flying training, let alone operational flying, was months away. After the obligatory route through basic and elementary training, service flying school and, eventually, time at an operational training unit in June 1941 to train on Spitfires, he was ready for his first squadron posting.
When that posting came, it was to 129 ‘Mysore’ Squadron at RAF Leconfield. It was a long way from the epicentre of activity in the south of England, but Ibbotson need not have fretted. No 129 Squadron proved a ‘holding’ unit for him, with transfer to 54 Squadron at Hornchurch coming a month later.
Almost immediately thrown into action, he was credited with a Bf 109 damaged on 27 September. But this was just a taster for Ibbotson, his career stepping up a notch with his next posting – this time to the Middle East.
Arriving at 112 Squadron in the Western Desert during June 1942, Ibbotson was now flying P-40 Kittyhawks and quickly established a name for himself with claims against a Junkers 87, Junkers 88 and three Bf 109s. Nevertheless, a posting to 601 Squadron (once popularly known as the ‘Millionaires Squadron’) in October 1942, still in the Western Desert, saw Ibbotson once again back on Spitfires.
Here, his tally rose to seven by the year’s end, but it saw him being shot down and taken prisoner in December 1943 by Rommel’s staff officers and later meeting Rommel himself. However, he managed to escape that same night and with the help of friendly Arabs returned to his unit.
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross the next year, Ibbotson’s service continued apace, and after a brief rest from operations he returned to 601 Squadron, where he achieved more victories. Then, inexplicably, his Spitfire dived into the ground at Castelnuovo, Italy, during an air test in November 1944. Ibbotson, aged just 23, was killed instantly.
What could be found of Ibbotson was buried at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery near Assisi, but it was in 2005 that a group of enthusiasts found more remains buried in the wreckage of his Spitfire. Those remains were reburied with military honours in Ibbotson’s original grave, and it was this ‘rediscovery’ that led to James Wright compiling this wonderful account of the short but eventful service life of a forgotten Spitfire ace.
On Silver Wings is a superbly well-written and comprehensively illustrated book which will appeal to those with an interest in RAF history and battlefield archaeology. Very highly recommended.
– Andy Saunders
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