The compass shown below is the one found in the wreckage of the W7531 MacRobert's Reply that crashed in Gals Klint Forest, Denmark, on 18 May 1942. My thanks to Bo Summerby for his detective work in finding the current owner of this piece.

This compass also starts another story to unfold here over the forthcoming months. The navigator on the last flight of W7531 was Flying Officer John (Buck) Ryan, RCAF. After 60 years since his death I am delighted to now be in touch with John's son and other members of his family in New Zealand, and shortly John's memorial page will be expanded with lots of new information and photographs kindly donated by the Ryan family overseas. Keep watching .....

This compass also links us to another crew member who my regular visitors are already familiar with. On that last flight John Ryan was tutoring an additional member of the crew, a young rookie named Ronnie Maycock. Ronnie's memorial page already has a photograph donated by his sister and niece who I met in Denmark for the 60th memorial celebrations.

So, with one new addition to the site, we are able to begin a new chapter in our story, namely the 'navigator's of the MacRobert's Reply'.

I wish also to note my thanks to Linzee Druce (WW2 researcher and owner of the definite web site on the Tirpitz raids) who came up with the idea that eventually put me in touch with John Ryan's son. Without her touch of genius this would not have happened. Thanks Linzee.