Group Captain Peter Gilpin - S/C

[Shaun]

This set up belonged to Group Captain Peter Gilpin CBE DFC, now in full working order on one of our demo rigs. What an outstanding,fearless pilot and very brave man he was and I was lucky enough to have a number of chats with him about his wartime escapades when he offered the gear to me a few years ago.

Flying Hurricanes he originally joined 253 Sqn later converting to Spitfire Mark 5s. Providing fighter cover he took part in the invasions of Sicily and North Africa. Latterly based in Italy flying a low level fighter sortie on the 2nd June 1944 over Yugoslavia he was hit by ground fire and baled out. Captured by Germans he was initially a PoW in Yugoslavia, later transferred to Stalag Luft 7a, Moosberg, Germany.

He was a brilliant fighter pilot but couldn't solder and had to return the set to MacGregor for service. What was interesting is they didn't fix it but just tell him what he had done wrong and returned it as sent...cracking customer service eh! Sadly I believe Peter passed away a few years ago

The grey blob is the Ivistor, a transistor switch to replace the unreliable relays of the time. From memory this was available as an add on for the Mk 1 Ivy Rx's but included in the redesigned all transistor IVY Mk 2's.

Shaun

[RON]

Great story Shaun,

Keep em coming

Ron