Photos from old album

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Jan 02, 2010 8:45 pm

The Canadian connection to Collie's Battleship would be that Collie was Raymond Collishaw.

See: http://books.google.com/books?id=RzZQIn ... ip&f=false

I've found some more Hurri refs, so more when I've done what I'm supposed to be doing first!

JDK · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:13 am

Hurricane '19' is puzzling. I can't recall such a numeric code in the period, while there are pre-war, in Russia, and RN (IIRC) examples, nothing looks in the right area.

What we can conjecture is that the sky (rather than black) spinner, 18 inch rear fuselage band and black port wing were all introduced as per order of 27 November 1940, putting this pic after that date.

The P36xx series Hurricanes were heavilly involved in the battle, and at least one was converted to a Sea Hurricane afterwards.

Could it be an early Sea Hurricane? There's no hook, but it might have catapult spools on the rear fuselage and beside the radiator - there's marks on the image there, but not clear and it's too low res to be certain either way.

Mmmm. Interesting.

Any chance you can enlarge / enhance the serial or the Hurricane part of the picture?

Regards,

spartakle · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:43 am

Thanks James K for trying to solve the mystery of the 19 code on the Hurricane shot. On the photo I have I examined it more closely (better resolution) and the serial is still hard to read but looked to begin with a B36.. Could be wrong though.
Blake Smith

spartakle · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 12:05 pm

Trio of Canadian Car & Foundary-built Hurricanes

A pair of Hurricanes taking-off.

Avro Tutor #4229 of #112 (AC) sqdn RCAF, Winnipeg, Manitoba 1937.

Probably taken at RCAF air force base, Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1937 of airmen with Armstrong Whitworth Atlas (serial possibly 403 or 409).

Dave Smith · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 3:04 pm

I can give you more details for that severely bent Mustang. The accident happened at RAF Poulton, about 12 miles from where I am typing this. It was the satellite field for RAF Hawarden, where Screwball Beurling, Johnnie Johnson and quite a few other aces learned their trade. It was Mustang 1 AG385 of 41 Operational Training Unit and the date was 14 August 1943. According to the Operations Record Book for the OTU, Pilot Officer JN Varley landed heavily, bounced and, attempting to go round again, stalled with full power and flaps down. The port wing dropped and dug into the ground, causing the Mustang to cartwheel twice and come to rest against a blister hangar in three pieces. Varley had a miraculous escape and only sustained some abrasions. Sadly, I suspect that he did not survive the war as, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site, a P/O Norman Varley was killed in France on 13 June 44. Likely to be the same pilot but yet to be confirmed. The late Wing Commander David Annand, at that time the Chief Flying Instructor at 41 OTU, showed me several other photos of the same accident when I talked to him back in the 1980s.

JDK · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 5:53 pm

spartakle wrote:

Thanks James K for trying to solve the mystery of the 19 code on the Hurricane shot. On the photo I have I examined it more closely (better resolution) and the serial is still hard to read but looked to begin with a B36.. Could be wrong though.

Hi Blake,
I'm pretty sure it's P not B, as there weren't any Hurricanes coded Bxxxx. The BDxxx, BExxx and so forth Hurricanes were Mk.II types, whereas this is a Mk.I.

We need someone with the Air Britain P series book. I think I'll ask Paul 'serials' MacMillan to look in...

Pictures of Avro Tutors with the canopy fitted are very rare. Any more like that?

spartakle · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 6:48 pm

Original caption reads, "Sgt Cook's pranged Hurricane." I think this photo may have been taken in France very early in the war...any thoughts? The fuselage band looks to have a pinstripe border.

Caption on photo reads, "Anson prang."

No caption but I think this is R.H. Dibnah seated in a Hurricane. No date but probably about 1939.

Caption on photo reads, "14,000' over the Rockies." Assume that this photo would be dated 1939.

Caption on bottom of photo identifies these pilots (left to right) as Reese Richards, Jim Brady, S/L L.G. Scwab [6 victories flying Gloster Gladiators over Crete], self (R.H. Dibnah), Jeff Hartley, Guy Corbett[believe he scored 5 victories]. Other names hidden by fold in photo. RAF pilot being briefed. Loc/squadron/date unknown...any thoughts?
R.H. Dibnah photo

spartakle · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 6:53 pm

Thanks David Smith for the full report on the pranged Mustang...I'll add that info as the caption to the photo in my collection. Much appreciated!
Thanks James K for the Hurricane serial number info and your efforts to identify the one in the photo.
Blake

JDK · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:04 pm

I like the formation of three Canadian Hurricanes with somewhat weary paint and a rudder fabric patch!

The 'over the Rockies' was taken in an Airspeed Oxford.

'Sgt Cook's pranged Hurricane' is another interesting one! The rear fuselage band and outlined dark* single letter is another combination I don't recall seeing elsewhere. It may be France, but most (not all) French based Hurricanes had rudder and sometimes fin stripes.

What is also interesting is this is clearly the fabric-covered wing Hurricane (the lines visible inside the roundel by the left figure's arm) plus 'pole' mast but with the ejector exhaust stubs and armoured windscreen. What prop was fitted would be interesting - I'm expecting a Watts two blade wooden one (which could 'disappear' as here) rather than the three blade types.

More intrigue!

*Edit - depends if it's orthochromatic or pan- film.

JDK · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:10 pm

I'd guess your briefing shot would be in Canada as crates of Coke would've been common there and very rare on the other side of the Atlantic.

spartakle · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:54 pm

No caption on this R.H. Dibnah photo but it may be at an OTU.

Again no caption on original but is likely at RCAF Baggotville No 1 OTU, 1942. There must be an interesting story that goes with this shot!

R.H. Dibnah leading a flight of Hurricane IIb's, probably at No1 OTU Bagotville. Serials look to be 5393 5398 5395.

spartakle · **Posted:** Mon Jan 04, 2010 12:48 am

Hawker Tempest at unknown UK location with evidence of some leading-edge dents...possible impact with debris. R.H. Dibnah photo.

Hawker Hurricane on belly at RCAF base No 1 OTU Bagotville. Nov 15, 1942.

Hawker Typhoon, base unknown.

Hawker Hurricane on belly, RCAF base Bagotville, home of No 1 OTU Nov 15, 1942

Dave Smith · **Posted:** Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:20 am

Blake
Glad to set the record straight on the Mustang! As for that Tempest being in the UK, I doubt that very much as the design of the hangars is very strange. I would suggest a German airfield as being much more likely.

spartakle · **Posted:** Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:48 am

Re: odd looking hangars possibly being German... I thought too they looked different but was not certain. Some of the photos I have yet to post are on German airfields so this one could be from a later date since I'm not sorting them from earliest to latest. Also, the 5-bladed prop in the back of same photo...any ideas on a/c type?

Django · **Posted:** Mon Jan 04, 2010 11:26 am

A very timely post for me as I am reading The Few right now. Thanks for sharing!

That Mustang shot is pretty amazing.

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