An EMOTIONAL 19,000 miles 'Round the World' Spitfire Tale with
Southwood C. (South) Creagh
ex Royal Australian Air Force who FLEW the Arbroath Spitfire!
An Amazing thing happened to me last week - I made contact with Pilot Officer South Creagh RAAF who is 92 years old and he actually flew The Arbroath Spitfire!
I am an aviation enthusiast, which is somewhat unusual for a girl – I live in Arbroath and have done since the age of 11 so I consider myself ‘a local’. That pride in ‘My’ town and interest in aviation was enhanced this year with my research in to Arbroath’s "Red Lichtie" Spitfire - little did I know that a small town called Mt. Tamborine in Queensland, Australia ~ some 9500 miles form Arbroath ~ would make such a huge impact on my life.
The Royal Burgh of Arbroath bought a Spitfire for the war effort 70 years ago this year and the Town is marking this with several special events. My company, Squadron Prints Ltd, have issued the “RED LICHTIE” Squadron Print trying to also raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund and through this my interest in ARBROATH’s Spitfire has developed into a passion. From communicating with Legendary Fighter Ace Johnnie Johnson’s family down South and Canada, working with Squadron Associations and museums it has been a wonderful experience. From the start of my involvement in this project I always said how magical it would be if we could find someone who actually flew Arbroath’s Spitfire but it was doubtful considering that many of the Pilots are flying in higher skies. Through contact with Michael Lewis, Chairman of the 610 Squadron Association we found out that there was a former Squadron Member still alive and after a fair bit of research we found out that he actually flew Arbroath’s Spitfire!. Pilot Officer South Creagh is his name so off went a letter and some prints, some information about Arbroath and some money for return postage!
Earlier this week as the sound of jet noise reverberated from RAF Leuchars, I felt safe in the knowledge that the £78 million Typhoon aircraft continue to defend our skies and our freedom but I always feel thankful and humbled for the sacrifice that ‘our servicemen and women’ gave in the 2 World Wars! The pilots are still young and continue to show their skills at the controls of these supersonic jets. Not much has changed really apart from speed, noise and technology! Thankfully we are not at war but these pilots still train on a daily basis, now are on high alert 365 days a year 24/7 and the Squadron camaraderie, banter and pride is passed on year in year out as people move on. Squadron Histories are also passed on and on the many occasions that I have been lucky enough to visit I have seen many a Squadron diary going back through the many years of service! Through my job I am honoured to work with these chaps on a daily basis and I treasure every minute of it! On Thursday my inbox on my laptop made a familiar “pop” and I thought it was probably another spam e-mail but then it “popped” again so I looked! I was shocked as the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end – it was from the son of the Spitfire Pilot! It said.
“Hi Gillian, How are you hope you are well. I am Andy Creagh, South’s youngest son, and we live about 8 km away so we are the closest direct family and keep an eye on him. He is doing extremely well, considering he lives on his own and is 93 next January, having only lost his driving licence 16 months ago! We received the package with the prints of the “ Red Lichtie” last Friday 13/4/12. I have included some snaps including pics of his log book. Note he was shot down during the raid on Dieppe August 19 1942 and was back flying the very next day!
Note also Johnnie Johnson’s comments in his log book as South was Johnnie Johnston’s wing man (log book pics 338 &339).
Pic 325 is him resting when back in Australia with 457 Squadron, based near Darwin NT, waiting for a Jap Zero! Cheers Andy
I was quite simply thrilled - from Arbroath to Mt Tamborine, over 9500 miles and with the click of a mouse I saw my Spitfire Pilot. A true hero of World War II and he flew OUR Spitfire. Now in his 93rd year Pilot Officer Creagh stood proud holding our Spitfire Print! I couldn’t hide my emotion and the tears ran down my cheeks! When I started researching in to this I never dreamt that there would still be someone alive who flew the ‘Red Lichtie’ but there he was right in front of my eyes!
On Monday of this week the story unfolded a little more with the arrival of a package and the 10 prints I had sent out were returned signed by P/O Creagh! They travelled 19,000 miles there and back, signed by a 92 year old hero and not a scratch on them – treasured and emotional? You bet!!!
Sirs, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping with this project, I thank you for your time and what you did for this country!
I am an aviation enthusiast, which is somewhat unusual for a girl – I live in Arbroath and have done since the age of 11 so I consider myself ‘a local’. That pride in ‘My’ town and interest in aviation was enhanced this year with my research in to Arbroath’s "Red Lichtie" Spitfire - little did I know that a small town called Mt. Tamborine in Queensland, Australia ~ some 9500 miles form Arbroath ~ would make such a huge impact on my life.
The Royal Burgh of Arbroath bought a Spitfire for the war effort 70 years ago this year and the Town is marking this with several special events. My company, Squadron Prints Ltd, have issued the “RED LICHTIE” Squadron Print trying to also raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund and through this my interest in ARBROATH’s Spitfire has developed into a passion. From communicating with Legendary Fighter Ace Johnnie Johnson’s family down South and Canada, working with Squadron Associations and museums it has been a wonderful experience. From the start of my involvement in this project I always said how magical it would be if we could find someone who actually flew Arbroath’s Spitfire but it was doubtful considering that many of the Pilots are flying in higher skies. Through contact with Michael Lewis, Chairman of the 610 Squadron Association we found out that there was a former Squadron Member still alive and after a fair bit of research we found out that he actually flew Arbroath’s Spitfire!. Pilot Officer South Creagh is his name so off went a letter and some prints, some information about Arbroath and some money for return postage!
Earlier this week as the sound of jet noise reverberated from RAF Leuchars, I felt safe in the knowledge that the £78 million Typhoon aircraft continue to defend our skies and our freedom but I always feel thankful and humbled for the sacrifice that ‘our servicemen and women’ gave in the 2 World Wars! The pilots are still young and continue to show their skills at the controls of these supersonic jets. Not much has changed really apart from speed, noise and technology! Thankfully we are not at war but these pilots still train on a daily basis, now are on high alert 365 days a year 24/7 and the Squadron camaraderie, banter and pride is passed on year in year out as people move on. Squadron Histories are also passed on and on the many occasions that I have been lucky enough to visit I have seen many a Squadron diary going back through the many years of service! Through my job I am honoured to work with these chaps on a daily basis and I treasure every minute of it! On Thursday my inbox on my laptop made a familiar “pop” and I thought it was probably another spam e-mail but then it “popped” again so I looked! I was shocked as the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end – it was from the son of the Spitfire Pilot! It said.
“Hi Gillian, How are you hope you are well. I am Andy Creagh, South’s youngest son, and we live about 8 km away so we are the closest direct family and keep an eye on him. He is doing extremely well, considering he lives on his own and is 93 next January, having only lost his driving licence 16 months ago! We received the package with the prints of the “ Red Lichtie” last Friday 13/4/12. I have included some snaps including pics of his log book. Note he was shot down during the raid on Dieppe August 19 1942 and was back flying the very next day!
Note also Johnnie Johnson’s comments in his log book as South was Johnnie Johnston’s wing man (log book pics 338 &339).
Pic 325 is him resting when back in Australia with 457 Squadron, based near Darwin NT, waiting for a Jap Zero! Cheers Andy
I was quite simply thrilled - from Arbroath to Mt Tamborine, over 9500 miles and with the click of a mouse I saw my Spitfire Pilot. A true hero of World War II and he flew OUR Spitfire. Now in his 93rd year Pilot Officer Creagh stood proud holding our Spitfire Print! I couldn’t hide my emotion and the tears ran down my cheeks! When I started researching in to this I never dreamt that there would still be someone alive who flew the ‘Red Lichtie’ but there he was right in front of my eyes!
On Monday of this week the story unfolded a little more with the arrival of a package and the 10 prints I had sent out were returned signed by P/O Creagh! They travelled 19,000 miles there and back, signed by a 92 year old hero and not a scratch on them – treasured and emotional? You bet!!!
Sirs, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping with this project, I thank you for your time and what you did for this country!
