Page 57
Spitfire LF Mk.lXc, F/O Desmond Ibbotson,
No. 601 Sqn., Italy, Summer 1944
Spitfire LF Mk.lXc, P/O Jerry Billing, No. 401 Sqn.,
RAF Tangmere, United Kingdom, June 1944
Spitfire LF Mk.lXc, P/O Jerry Billing, No. 401 Sqn.,
France, July 1944
MJ250 was flown by No. 601 “County of London”
Squadron from July 1944. The unit was operating
from the airfields at Perugia, Loreto and Fano at
that time. The aircraft was used primarily for dive-
bombing operations. MJ250 survived the war but
was scrapped shortly afterward. The MJ250 was
regularly flown by F/O Desmond Ibbotson, DFC
& Bar who is credited with 11 confirmed and four
probable kills plus five damaged aircraft. He died
on November 19, 1944 at the controls of Spitfire
MH614. The camouflage colors of MJ250 were
removed except for the upper engine and fuel
tank cowling. These parts seem to be taken from
another aircraft which retained the camouflage
colors. Note the unit badge on the fin tip.
Jerry Billing was one of many Canadians serving
with RAF. He volunteered in October 1942
to help the Malta defense. After joining No. 185
Squadron, he fought over the island until March
1943, when he was downed by a Bf 109. Billing
was transferred to No. 401 Squadron in 1944.
He downed a Ju 88 bomber and damaged two
Fw 190s on June 7, 1944, the second day of the
invasion of Normandy. On July 1, 1944, his Spitfire
ML135 was hit by AA fire and Billing belly-landed
in no-man’s land in France. He managed to get
back to the UK with the help of a French family.
After WWII, Jerry Billing re-enlisted in the Royal
Canadian Air Force and became an instructor.
In 1951 he joined the Blue Devils, a Canadian
aerobatics team flying Vampire jets. Billing left
the RCAF in 1964, becoming DeHavilland test pilot.
Jerry Billing was shot down at the controls of
ML135 on July 1, 1944 and belly-landed seven
miles south of Carentan, France. The D
-
Day
stripes were left on the undersides only and
the female name “Dorothy” appeared under the
windscreen.
KITS 03/2024
INFO Eduard
57
March 2024