Ludlow Probus Club hears talks on Battle of Britain hero and wartime decoys
Two presentations covered the life of a Ludlow-born RAF pilot who died in 1940 and the use of military decoys from ancient times to modern warfare
Members of Ludlow Probus Club heard about a local Battle of Britain pilot and the history of military deception at their latest meeting.
Club member David Trotter gave a talk remembering Pilot Officer Laurance Whitbread, who was born and educated in Ludlow before joining the RAF in 1939.
Whitbread served with 238 and 22 Squadrons and destroyed at least three German Me 109 aircraft during the Battle of Britain in 1940.
He was shot down while flying his Spitfire, N3203, and died over Rochester on September 20, 1940, aged 26.
His memory is honoured at Ludlow's annual Remembrance service, while members of the Probus Club also lay a wreath on his grave each year.
The second presentation was given by Tony Paulden, who explored the use of decoys throughout history, particularly in times of war.
He began with the famous Trojan Horse, used by the Greeks to gain entry to the city of Troy after a lengthy siege.
He went on to explain how decoys were used during the First and Second World Wars, including observation posts disguised as shattered trees and dummy military equipment designed to mislead enemy forces.
Other examples included Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's lookalike, who travelled to Gibraltar and Tangier in 1944 while the real Montgomery continued planning the D-Day landings.
The presentation also covered Stalin's doubles, inflatable tanks and artillery, dummy parachutists and radar jamming using metal strips.
Tony concluded by considering how deception might develop in the future with the use of drones and cyber warfare.