F/O Robert James Gee 1 CACU

**Roy Nixon** · 21st February 2011, 13:47

Hello again,
F/O Robert James Gee,VR, 1280954/113831 is a mystery Spitfire pilot who flew with 1 Coastal Artillery Co-op Unit (Flt) which was based at Detling during 1942. First using Spitfire II then Vb.
They flew ops over France at very low level such as 22-10-42 when F/O Gee in Spitfire Vb, P8522 collided with birds over enemy territory at 1045hrs.
Again on 5-12-42 F/O Gee in Spitfire Vb, P8464 had a bird strike 5ml W/Le Touquet at 1500hrs, sustaining damage to spinner and prop blades. but landed back at Detling.
On 29-1-43 F/O Gee in Spitfire Vb, P8643 crash landed at Rye, Kent at 1100hrs, Cat B after low level attack on a transport train over France. P8643 hit a tree and limped back making a belly landing. F/O Gee was injured
Can anyone please help on info on F/Lt RJ Gee and also on 1 CACU, which little seems to be known about.
Thanks,
Roy

**Jim Robinson** · 22nd February 2011, 20:17

That is interesting. One would have thought that that unit would be unlikely to fly over enemy territory.

**Tim Bishop** · 22nd February 2011, 21:28

Hello Roy,

I corresponded with F/Lt 'Jimmy' Gee back in the ninties with regard to his 'unofficial' attachment to No.2 A.A.C.U. 'D' Flight at Detling. With that said I do have a two or three photocopied pages from his logbook during 1943 which relate to No.1 C.A.C.U., I can scan these in if these are of any use? For additionl information Jimmy also served with No.2, 4, 16, 26, 269 and 614 Squadrons.

Kind regards

Tim

**Roy Nixon** · 23rd February 2011, 08:08

Hi Tim,
Thats fantastic, I never thought I would ever find anything on Gee or 1 CACU. Thanks for replying.
I would like to have the scans please. I am at rDOTnixonATliveDOTcoDotuk (just change the Dot and At).
Also do you know where he came from and approx dates for his other sqn postings please.
Thanks,
Roy

**Roy Nixon** · 1st March 2011, 12:45

Hi Tim,
Thanks very much for all your help.
This is developing into an interesting subject.
Regards,
Roy

**MacAlloa** · 19th November 2021, 19:59

Hello - I'm new to this forum - can anybody help.

I'm also interested in Spitfire Mk.IIB, serial P8643 - one of the so called Presentation Aircraft. Also the pilot, F/O R.J.Gee.

This Spitfire was named Margaret Helen after the wealthy socialite Margaret Greville, who donated the aircraft, she was daughter and heiress to the prominent Scottish brewer William McEwan.

Any assistance gratefully acknowledged.

**Andy Marden** · 20th November 2021, 09:59

Welcome to the forum.
What sort of info do you need about P8643? - there are some details in the Air-Britain book "Gifts of War".

**MacAlloa** · 2nd December 2021, 11:15

Originally Posted by Andy Marden

Welcome to the forum.
What sort of info do you need about P8643? - there are some details in the Air-Britain book "Gifts of War".

Andy - A thousand apologies for being so slow in getting back to you - I need to get my act together.

I'm interested in this aircraft's service record, and the units it seved with etc.

**Andy Marden** · 2nd December 2021, 13:20

A short precis from "Gifts of War":

29Apr41: TOC by 12 MU Kirkbride
21May41: to 222 Sqn Coltishall (damaged 24Jun41)
4Jul41: to Air Service Training for repairs
12Aug41: to 37 MU Burtonwood
1941: to 266 Sqn (damaged 8Oct41)
11Nov41: to 5 MU Kemble
17Jul42: to 1 Coast Artillery Co-Operation Unit at Thorney Island (damaged 29Jan43)
11Feb43: to Westland at Ilchester for repairs
23Mar43: to Air Service Training for further repairs
5Sep43: to 33 MU Lyneham (damaged 12Nov43)
24Feb44: to 9 MU Cosford
30Mar44: to 61 OTU Rednal
11Sep44: retired to 45 MU Kinloss
30Dec44: SOC