Pub in tribute to Spitfire hero ...77 years on
Mystery crash pilot remembered
IT was June 25 1944, just two weeks after he had made it back to Britain following months on the run from the Nazis, that the end came for Spitfire pilot “Red” Blumer.
He had taken off after emergency refuelling when his fighter plunged to the ground opposite the Hop Pole Inn.
Seventy-seven years on, the crash remains a mystery - and some believe the 23-year-old Aussie warrant officer from New South Wales had PTSD.
Richmond Blumer, nicknamed Red because of the colour of his hair, is now to be honoured in a special service at the Hop Pole Inn in Nettlestead, Kent.
He was no ordinary man. The dogfight veteran, who had been shot down over Northern France on November 6 1943, escaped to Spain from where he made it back to the UK to carry on the fight.
His exploits as a member of 91(Nigeria) Squadron had included shooting down a Messerschmitt Bf 109G fighter. Following D-Day on June 6 1944, he was also involved in downing the Nazis’ new V1 flying bombs.
The Hop Pole Inn will now welcome Australian diplomats to commemorate the pilot’s life. Manager Rosalind Barker knew little of the connection when she took over last summer.
She said: “We thought it would be nice to honour him and open up a games room in his name and do it on that day.”
Archaeologists excavated the crash site in 1992 and found items including a flying helmet, fragments of uniform, a seat harness, a watch and coins.
Since 2005, the village has held an annual service in his memory.
The pub’s games room will officially open on June 26. The ribbon will be cut by members of the Australian High Commission. Plans are in place for a photo gallery of Mr Blumer to be added to the pub’s restaurant area.