Rusty LeitH AM DFC
Rusty LeitH AM DFC
An Australian Spitfire Pilot’s wartime memorabilia and photos.
No. 453 Squadron
1945-1990
In 1945 in East Anglia (from left) Rusty, Jack Stansfield and Norman Marsh pose for a photograph in front of a Mark XVI Spitfire.
Forty-five years later (1990), Russell's son David took a picture of the same trio in front of a Mark XVI Spitfire that Rusty himself flew in the war. This plane was restored to flying condition and exhibited in New Zealand where this photo was taken.
Spitfire scamble!
Squadron mate Jim Furlong (left) and Rusty are all smiles after combat action over Drem, Scotland in 1942 in which they were scrambled to intercept two German JU-88s.
Behind enemy lines
Rusty (right in the group photo) with two downed US airmen behind enemy lines in France in August 1944. Rusty had made a forced landing after destroying a Messerschmitt 109 fighter. Alfred Sutkowski (left), from Connecticut, was an air-gunner in a medium bomber which had crash landed. Stanley Canner (centre), from Boston, was a Mustang pilot who had baled out of his damaged plane.
The French Resistance sheltered all three. Behind them in the photo is the farmhouse owned by the Renoult family at Cernay, Normandy where they hid from Germans who were swarming through the area after the D-Day Invasion.
The Drem boys
No. 453 Squadron at Drem, Scotland in July 1942. Rusty is standing third from right.
The pilot to his right (with the sergeant's stripes sitting on the wing root) is DH “Spit" Steele who died in a flying accident a month after this photo was taken. He and Rusty were climbing to 30,000 feet to practise dives and steep turns with Rusty as No. 1 and Steele as No. 2. Steele simply disappeared. When he failed to answer radio calls Rusty flew back to Drem to report what had happened. Steele's aircraft was found next day half buried in soft ground in the Lammermuir Hills. He appeared to have dived straight in, perhaps having lost consciousness through oxygen starvation.
No. 453 Squadron DFC recipients
Three fighter pilots who earned the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) during service in 453 Squadron of the RAAF - (from left) Rusty,
Squadron Leader Ernie Esau and Flight Lieutenant Bob Clemesha at Lympne airfield in Kent in 1945.
Rubbing shoulders with Royalty
Rusty is pictured outside Buckingham Palace after his investiture by the King. With him (L-R) are UK friends Mrs Margery Dickson and Mrs Hooper and Mrs Gwen Cox. It was the custom of Australian fighter pilots to leave the top button of their tunic undone and Rusty obviously saw no reason to depart from it.
Passing time in the dispersal hut
Long periods of inactivity were almost as testing as aerial combat. Rusty passes the time at Hornchurch fighter station in late 1942 playing patience but he is ready to scramble at a moment's notice.
Spitfires in formation
Formation flying was an important part of fighter pilots' skills. It could be dangerous and mid-air collisions were always possible. How much safer and effective to practise on the ground using bicycles. This photo of 453 Squadron pilots was taken at Hornchurch airbase near London in October 1942.
A rare photo (right) of 453 Squadron with three sections in formation.
