Corgi AA36806 Westland Lysander MK3a – restored as V9673, RAF 161 Sqn, Hugh Verity, IWM Duxford, Cambs

Lysanders of 161 squadron (Special Duties) formed part of the Special Operations Executive (S.O.E) based at Tempsford in Bedfordshire from April 1942. The role most associated with the squadron was that of inserting or retrieving secret agents, resistance fighters or downed aircrew after making a pre-arranged landing in enemy occupied territory. These clandestine operations were usually flown at low level and in full moonlight. Squadron Leader Hugh Verity DFC took command of the Lysander flight in 1943, overseeing one of the busiest periods of airborne undercover operations and completing a personal tally of over 30 missions. His trusty plane, Westland Lysander III, V9673, MA-J, was given the nickname ‘Jiminy Cricket’ and the cartoon character was painted below the cockpit along with ‘V for Victory’ markings that were added after each mission Hugh Verity gave an excellent account of his wartime exploits in his book ‘We landed by Moonlight’ and The Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambs has on display a Lysander restored in the colours of Verity’s Lysander V9673.