JDK wrote:
the EG-Y refers primarily to a RNZAF Mozzie on the Amiens raid (487 Squadron, RNZAF)
Actually James, although it was originally stated that the aircraft would be in the markings of an Amiens Prison raider, in the end the code EG-Y was chosen and none of the three Y's on the squadron were on that raid.
There was another No. 487 (NZ) Squadron aircraft that Warren was hoping to paint it as which had some interesting nose art and a lot of bomb markings but try as we might we could not determine its code and serial number. So in the end the back up plan was to use code letter Y.
Anthony Galbraith did some research for Avspecs and established the squadron had operated three Mossies with the code Y, all three having been lost in action with their crews killed. The info below on them was supplied to me by Andy Hosking of Avspecs. They were:
HX937 Served on 487 from 13/8/43 until failed to return from ops 9/10/43, HX937 of No.487 Squadron crashed near Stekene.
HX854 Served with No. 487 (NZ) Squadron from 3/10/43 until 14/2/44 then transferred to No. 107 Squadron crashing after take off on Sunday 23rd of April 1944
NT180 served on 487 from 8/6/44 until failed to return from ops 12/9/44
Note one crashed well before the Amiens Prison Raid, one transferred to another unit just before the raid where it later crashed and the other entered service after that raid date, which was 18th of February 1944.
The RNZAF operated four Mosquito Squadrons. No. 487 (NZ) Squadron in WWII was a specialist, some might say, elite low level pinpoint bombing squadron that did a lot of interesting raids on buildings such as Gestapo HQ's in Holland and Denmark.
No. 488 (NZ) Squadron in WWII was a nightfighter squadron who's Mossies were mostly the ones with the bulbous radar nose.
No. 489 (NZ) Squadron converted to them late in the war from their Beafighters, and operated the Mossie as a shipping strike aircraft in Coastal Command.
No. 75 Squadron RNZAF operated Mosquitoes from Ohakea in the 1950's before they were replaced by Vampires.
When Jerry agreed that a kiwi colour scheme should be applied, No. 487 (NZ) Squadron was the obvious choice given their amazing history as a special unit.
As James says it is a pure co-incidence that the squadron's famous codes EG (which if you look are also worn on Kermit Weeks' aircraft!) also stand for Elaine and Gerald, so the Y code for Yagen was a bonus. But the codes reflect genuine codes used in the squadron.
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). However the even sleeker and more impressive DH Hornet had handed engine/props.