A lifelong Battle of Britain enthusiast and model maker has presented a very special gift to a relative of one of the airmen – a replica of the aircraft he was shot down in.
Dom Pound spent four weeks building and painting the Spitfire 1/48 scale Spitfire MKII Mk2, representing the Spitfire P7282 flown by PO Gilbert Draper from 41 Squadron. And has presented it, along with information and stories about him, to his daughter Penny.
PO Draper was shot down on 30 October, 1940 and Penny has grown up with the story. She recalls: “He was short down and his aircraft landed in a tree – that’s how he survived. A doctor who had been making his way to the hospital saw him coming down and went to where he was – he was so lucky.
“When I was at the annual Memorial Day in July, I met another guest who told me a story he had heard about a pilot who got stuck in a tree and rescued by a doctor – it was of course, my dad…and the story is true.
“I never stop feeling emotional when I relay it. He was sitting in a capsule surrounded by petrol, aged just 19. The fear, the realities of going up and flying, not knowing if they would come down again, or if their friends would too – I just can’t imagine it.
“It’s incredible to be given this replica model because it brings it all to life and Dom has shared so much information with me from his research which has been amazing to hear.”
Dom has, in the past, been to reunions meeting aircrew of aircraft he is now building. He said: “It’s emotional handing the models over, and making them for relatives is extra special – you’re bringing that little bit of connection back for them.”
This is the 50th model Dom, 34, has made, which have been gifted to museums, collections or to relatives. He has been making models since he was 12, having been inspired by his dad who he says, ‘made me virtually my own Air Force’.
The Battle of Britain has also received one of Dom’s models recently, as part of his 1940 ‘Project of Remembrance’ which honours more than 880 aircrew from both RAF and Luftwaffe.
He gifted us an incredibly detailed 1/48 scale Ju 87 Stuka, which joins the model of Wing Commander Geoffrey Page’s No. 56 Squadron Hurricane that Dom generously donated to the Memorial last year.
The Stuka represents the aircraft flown by Uffz V. Schroder and Gefr H. Lipsius of 6./StG 1. On 25 July 1940, it was shot down by pilots of No. 56 Squadron, including Geoffrey Page, creating a remarkable historical link between the two models now displayed at the Memorial.
Both can be seen on a visit to the Memorial.
