LEWENDON E R Fl Lt 1426 Flight (EAC)

1426 (EAC) FLIGHT
Enemy Aircraft Circus
“Rafwaffe”

This was a flying unit of RAF pilots established on 21/11/1941 who made the rounds of American and British stations in captured airplanes such as the Focke-Wulf 190 ME 110, Ju-88 and Henschel 129s, giving actual demonstrations of the planes abilities.
Probably the only British flyer who wore the swastika wings of the Luftwaffe pilot along with his RAF pilot’s insignia was Fl/Lt E R Lewendon. Other members of the crew were P/O Osborne and P/O D G M Gough. The unit’s planes were emblazoned on the underside with the bright yellow of non-combatant aircraft and ventured no further than 5 miles from their Collyweston base without a fighter escort. The units seventh tour commenced on the 14th October 1942 and visited a number of RAF stations including, Churchstanton, Exeter and Harrowbeer and returned to Duxford on 2nd December 1942.
Fl/Lt Lewendon drew one of their planes on the George & Dragon’s ceiling—-the HM 509 JU-88 which was taken by the unit at Chivenor on 26/11/1941. On 13th October 1944 Fl/Lt Lewendon while flying a FW 190A-4/U8 PE882 out of Collyweston crashed on the Stamford to Kettering Rd. The aircraft was seen to be on fire as it crashed through three walls and came to rest in the garden of a house where the aircraft completely burnt out. Fl/Lt Lewendon was killed. P/O Gough subsequently took over command of the squadron. 1426 Flight was disbanded on 17th January 1945. Only four of the aircraft operated survive today, BF 109E DG200, BF109 G2 RN228, Fiat CR42 BT474 and HJU88 R-1 PJ876. All are currently displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum, London

Pl Off E R Lewendon in 1944 wearing a Luftwaffe LKp W101 flying helmet