RAF use of US L-birds

[L2Driver]

I've found some obscure references to possible RAF use of US liaison aircraft in the European theatre and was curious if anyone could verify any of the following info:

AM serials: FR792, FR793, FR794, FR795, FR886, FR887, FR888, FR889, VM286, HK936, HK939

One of the references I found indicated that several of the FR-serials listed above were assigned to Taylorcraft L-2s. It's entirely possible that these were Austers and not L-2s but the block numbers don't match the limited info I have for Austers. My interpretation of the notes lead me to believe these aircraft were on strength with either 5 (or 8?) MU or Boscombe Down for varying periods between mid-1942 and 1944.

My interest is that L-2s reportedly never served with US military outside of the US -- the type being used primarily to train artillery officers to fly -- largely at Fort Sill. I'm curious if and why a small number would have been officially acquired? Evaluation?

Can anyone point me to a source that might reveal what aircraft the serial numbers were assigned to?

Thanks.

Chris

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Chris,

Hope this helps to clear it up

Kittyhawk IIIs
FR792 5 SAAF, SOC 08 March 1944,
FR793 112 Sqn, Missing from MT attack 13 July 1943,
FR794 250 Sqn, SOC 29 March 1945,
FR795 112 Sqn, FTR 3 March 1944,

Alloted to Piper Cubs but no Form 78s recorded for service
FR886,
FR887,
FR888,
FR889,
Transferred to HK936, 937, 938 and 939

Piper L-4B acquired in Sept 1945
VM286, AAEE, ex 43-1360, SOC 18 March 1946

Piper Cubs transferred from USAAF in April 1943
HK936 WDCU SOC 29 Feb 1944,
HK937 WDCU SOC 28 June 1945,
HK938 WDCU Crashed on landing, Cuttela 25 Feb 1944,
HK939 WDCU/MECS Returned to USAAF 25 July 1946

WDCU was Western Desert Communications Unit/MECS was Middle East Communications Squadron.

Regards
Ross

[L2Driver]

Ross,
Thanks for a very quick and detailed accounting!

Per your post, can I correctly assume that FR886, FR887, FR888, FR889 were given the new serials HK936, 937, 938 and 939 when they arrived in the Middle East? I'm familiar with the squadron codes being changed to reflect unit of assignment but was changing the serial numbers a common practice? If so, were the original FR numbers reassigned to other aircraft?

Again, thanks for tidying up the serial numbers. I've been fumbling around with them for several months.

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Chris,

The FK*** serials would have been reserved for them when they were ordered.

Due to admin errors when the aircraft were finally delivered the FK*** serials had been alloted so they were given the next available serials HK***.

A common admin error for USAAF transfers. So no change of serial as the aircraft were never given the first batch.

Regards
Ross

[Ross_McNeill]

Looking at Piper..

Here are the RAF serials allocated and/or used:

Start End Model Manufacturer
BT440 BT442 Cub Coupe Piper
BV180 BV181 Cub Coupe Piper
BV984 BV991 Cub Coupe Piper
DG667 DG667 Cub Piper
DP852 DP852 Cub Piper
ES923 ES923 Cub Coupe Piper
FR886 FR889 Cub Piper
HK936 HK939 Cub Piper
HL530 HL531 Cub Piper
HM565 HM565 Cub Piper
LV769 LV769 Super Cruiser Piper
MA921 MA921 Cub Piper
MA923 MA923 Cub Piper
MA958 MA958 Cub Piper
VM286 VM286 L-4 Grasshopper Piper

Regards
Ross

[L2Driver]

Just of curiosity, do your references show any non-Auster Taylorcrafts? Potential descriptors for these would include the L-2 Grasshopper, DCO-65, DC-65, or tandem.

[Tulio]

May I suggest the book

"Air Arsenal North America"
Aircraft for the Allies 1938-1945
Purchases and Lend-Lease.

Phil Butler with Dan Hagedorn
ISBN 1-85780-163-6

Saludos,


Tulio

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Chris.

Nothing transferred from the USAAF.

A batch of Taylorcraft Plus C impressed from British Civil Register.

MA920, Taylorcraft BL-2, 172 Wing. Ex VT-ALW. Blown over in gale taxying at Cholavarum 4 Dec 1942.

MA924, Taylorcraft BL, 170 Wing. Ex VT-ALX. No further details recorded.

The others are Ds and Austers.

43-1404 was at AAEE post war for trials of the "Brodie" suspension.

Regards
Ross

Regards
Ross