Spectator N0 2497

[Matakari]

Hello,
Some help/hints would be appreciated for the following, please!
Thanks in advance!

ACROSS:
18 Index of sad ladies,
distraught with two sons
shot down (7) L???DE ( Alidade )?

24 Fleet assembly point in
Gaul is described by
Racine (5) ???IS

DOWN:
16 At heart Bleriot dreaded
briefings being 12 (3,
initials) ?A?

23 Loose woman with
marijuana and diamonds
advanced in the property
market (9 ) ?OR???GED

25 Leaf-gatherer on the
greensward sounds
depraved (8, two wds) ?A?N?AK?

[Calibax]

Alidiade - anagram of (s)adladie(s)

[Calibax]

*alidade

[JJ109]

25 Lawn Rake

[JJ109]

24. Aulis (hidden in the clue)

[bobbinwales]

RAF

[Neveracrossword]

23 Mortgaged

[bobbinwales]

at heart must be middle letter's of bleRiot dreAded brieFings

[Neveracrossword]

Being given the thematic entry should help you enormously, Matakari!

[Matakari]

Thanks for the great help, all! I'm done except for 42a and 19d
which I should soon crack!

[Neveracrossword]

Good, Matakari. Glad you're keen to finish unaided!