RAF VISIT BY HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI

And now, a mystery. The photograph below is of a visit to an aerodrome by His Majesty King George VI. 'No mystery in that!', you all say. Well, there is....

The aircrew standing proudly on parade in front of the Lockeed Hudson includes S/L Bill Coulson (fourth from the right in the photo). Bill was based at Silloth in August 1940, flying Hudsons. On August 15th.1940 he was ordered to lead a flight of three Hudsons to Eastleigh, near Southampton, where they dropped two planes and all nine crew members in Bill's plane headed back to Silloth. On takeoff they clipped a balloon cable and crashed: all nine men were killed.

Visit by King George VI. Does anyone know when, though?

David Scarth is the nephew of S/L Bill Coulson, and wishes to find out the following:

Apart from Bill Coulson (fourth from RHS), who are the rest of the airmen?
Was the photograph taken at RAF Silloth?
If so, what was the date of the visit?
What are the buildings visible in the background?

Can anyone help David and his family find out more about his Uncle Bill, and why three Lockeed Hudsons were sent to Eastleigh at the height of the German air activity over England in 1940?

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