On Silver Wings

How a highly experienced and decorated Spitfire ace crashed on a routine test flight, and what happened when his remains were discovered in a field 62 years later. In July 1940, Desmond Ibbotson joined the RAF aiming to fly Spitfires. Flying with three of the RAF's elite squadrons, Desmond accumulated over 650 hours flying seven types of Spitfires, was credited with 11 confirmed victories and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar. How then was he killed on a routine test flight in 1944? When he had a marked grave, why was a Spitfire excavated from an Italian field 62 years later with his remains still inside? Presenting over 20 years' of meticulous research and writing, this detailed study respectfully relays the events of Desmond's short but eventful career as well as what happened next, investigating both his tragic death on a routine test flight, and how he came to have two graves. AUTHOR: Brian Wright is an ex- RAF officer and pilot trainee. He has been a volunteer oral historian with the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln, for over eight years and has interviewed numerous veterans from northwest England. He has written several articles on military history and veterans' stories and previously gave a 'pop-up' lecture about Desmond at Chalke Valley History Festival. 16 colour, 60 b/w illustrations