A Man of Mystery

Yesterday, the unmistakable sound of a Land Rover appeared in my driveway. As it wasn't driven into the side of the house, I quickly deduced that it wasn't uncle Bonkers on the scrounge. Instead, it was my neighbour, Little Les, who arrived with a picnic hamper containing family photograph albums.

They formed a scant record of her grandfather, Commander Jack Buckley, who flew with the Fleet Air Arm during WW2. He also raced bikes at the Isle of Man, and cars at Brookland ( and elsewhere). Little Les has tried to research her grandfather in the usual historical sources, but has drawn a blank. Not a mention of him anywhere.

I remain intrigued for the photos include shots of the old boy flying over the pyramids of Egypt during the War in both a Swordfish and an American Corsair fighter 'plane. What follows, therefore, is a glimpse into the long ago world of Little Les's grandfather, Commander Jack Buckley.