Warbird Information Exchange

So I checked this photo on my good flatscreen monitor when I got to work:




and the serial looks like P3618 to me, which is a valid Hurricane I serial... here's what the ASN has to say about it:

Date: 05-NOV-1940
Time: 13.40
Type: Hawker Hurricane Mk.I
Operator: RAF 238.Sqn.
Registration: P3618
C/n / msn:
Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Airplane damage: Substantial
Location: Tarrant Hinton, Dorset - United Kingdom
Phase: En route
Nature: Military
Departure airport: Chisbolton
Destination airport:
Narrative:
Damaged by Bf109,bellylanded.
Crew:
P/O(81910)Rudolf Roháček(Pilot)RAFVR-OK


Note the damage is "Substantial", not "Written Off"... could this then be P3618 after repair, in service with a training or maintenance unit? Or, could this actually be P3619- which would possibly explain the "19" on the fuselage, being the last two digits of the serial?

Lynn

Just managed to find my Air-Britain P-serials book which says that P3618 crashed in a forced-landing at Stockbridge,Hampshire on 14 November 1940. Note different date. Stockbridge is not far from Chilbolton airfield. Looks like it was written off (salvaged) as there is no note of any further service. P3619 served with 6 OTU then 56 OTU and was struck off charge on 1 Aug 44. OTUs sometimes used number codes although not usually connected to serial number.

The Tempest is definitely on a continental airfield, I'd say - never seen hangars like that in the UK. The aircraft behind looks to be a Spitfire XIV or XVIII - Griffon Spitfire anyway.

Paul M's said he's going to see what he can dig up on the '19' Hurricane, although it looks like the work so far is likely right.

Great stuff!

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Thanks for the great research on the subject of these old photos! Really helps me to caption the photos with a degree of accuracy. Much appreciated. A few more for you to look over in next post.
Blake Smith

The Wellington bomber served on the front line from the first day of the war until the end and was much liked by her crews for performance and rugged construction...these bombers were known to withstand unbelievable battle damage and return their crews to base. Appreciate thoughts on which unit this one belonged to. Dibnah photo


A quick Google search revealed: P/O Noel Karl Stansfield, Battle of Britain pilot with 7 victories. A Canadian flew with No 242 Squadron and No 229 Squadron. He was wounded on the 30th of September 1940 at 10:40hrs. He baled out after his Hurricane I (N2652) after combat with a Bf 109 over Ightham, Kent. He was awarded the D.F.C. on the 8th of October 1940. Dibnah photo


Group of Hurricanes are "bounced" at an Operational Training Unit (No1 OTU) most likely. Dibnah photo


DeHavilland Vampire possibly with 442 squadron, RCAF about 1948. R.H. Dibnah photo.

The first two air-to-air photos show a de Havilland Vampire aircraft belonging to 402 Squadron, RCAF Station Winnipeg, flying over the flat farmland of Manitoba. Note the "City of Winnipeg" crest on the aircraft nose. I believe the following two accident Vampire scenes involve a 402 Squadron aircraft. Let me dig thorugh my files to confirm it is a 402 aircraft and information on the accident.

Norman Malayney

Thanks Norman Malayney for the Vampire info. From what I have read the Vampire was popular among the RCAF pilots of the day...a delight to fly. Its been a while since I last spoke with you...hope all is well on your end!
Blake Smith

The 'LN' on the Wimpey says it's from 99 Squadron. They were re-equipped with the Wellington in October 1938.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._99_Squadron_RAF

Any guess on the serial?

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Thanks James K for identifying the unit the Wellington belongs to. I attempted to read the serial with a magnifying glass on photo I have, as well as zooming in on the scanned pic but it is still impossible to decipher...looks like WH?87 or WX?87 but I could be wrong.

Not sure what type of airplane wing this is...if anyone knows please comment. RH Dibnah photo


Pilots (and 2 dogs) from 91 & 41 squadrons, Tangmere, 1943. RH Dibnah photo

Nice to have such rare stuff to play with! Another one for Paul Mc...

Looks like a Fairey Battle, perhaps fitted with a Bristol turret for gunnery training in Canada.

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Looked in my Codes Book last night no OTU used the code '19' there were some Hurricanes in the P36XX batch that were used at various small units e.g. Merchant Ship Fighter Unit (MSFU) or Air Armament School (AAS) so it is possible that it could be be a local code.

Also P3848 has no Sqn 'history'

BTW Air Britain Crash Sites UK has P3816 on 14th Nov 1940 not 5th Nov 1940 -Need to check John Foreman forgotten months book for date

Played withj image in Picassa

It looks like it is P361x also there is the remains of a straight 'I' Sqn code on the image so could be a H or K, L, T, R or I in Sqn Code

Wellington Wxxxx Serials

W5352 W5611 Wellington II Vickers
W5612 W5735 Wellington Ic Vickers
W5795 W5815 Wellington Vickers


So maybe W5387 or W5487, W5587, W5687

19 Solved?? Sort Of

Notice new Hurricane picture, 'Group of Hurricanes are "bounced" at an Operational Training Unit (No1 OTU) most likely. Dibnah photo'


Some Hurricanes habe number 30 and 13 on side... so looks like a theme running here. And both photos taken at same time

So all we need now is to find the OTU!

Ignore.. Codes are 30 and 34 but I think this was taken in Canada as there is a lack of spinner and the barren countryside!

What I was trying to say was that some OTUs used a different number for each aircraft on strength. No 9 OTU went one further and some of its Beaufighters carried Greek letters!