Sgifford

Hi, The book is being published by Key Publishing and their website is showing an expected publication date of the 31st of March. There is a total of 192 photos in the book, the majority being unpublished. The chapter breakdown is as follows: Introduction Hawker Hurricane 1945-1946 P47D Thunderbolt 1945-1946 P51D Mustang 1945-1946 Merlin Supermarine Spitfires – MkV and MkVIII 1945-1947 Griffon Supermarine Spitfires – Mk XIV 1945-1948 Spitfires Mk 18 and 24, 1947 to 1950 Hawker Tempest II 1946-1947 and 1949-50 De Havilland Mosquito and Bristol Beaufighter 1945-50 Gloster Meteor F4 and De Havilland Vampire F3 1947-49 Japanese Fighter Aircraft with British Markings 1945-1946 I think its about 100 Spitfire photos across all the marks listed and the rest spread amongst the other types. Hope this helps give you an idea. Simon

Regarding the use of broad chord rudders on the Spitfire XIV. This was a postwar mandated modification that was necessary for the Spitfire XIV to use an under fuselage fuel tank. Without the broad chord rudder the Spitfire XIV (in both FXIV and FRXIV forms) was considered to have marginal directional stability, so the use of the long-range tanks was prohibited. This was a significant issue for the squadrons operating the Spitfire XIV in Malaya and Japan. The replacement program began in 1947. 3 Repair and Servicing Unit at Miho in Japan carried out the mod to aircraft of 11, 17 and 4RIAF Squadrons - although not all aircraft were done - particularly as 4 RIAF disbanded while the work was being carried out. By this time, only 28 Squadron in Malaya were also flying the Spitfire XIV in the Far East - at least some of their aircraft were also modified by 390MU at Seletar. Photos of Spitfire XIVs with the broad chord rudder can be found in the forthcoming book: RAF Fighters in the Far East 1945-50. There are over 60 photos on Spitfire XIVs in the book, amongst the other aircraft covered. Simon

Assuming the date on the photo is correct, this is likely to have been an aircraft left behind at Detling following the squadrons move to Odiham at the beginning of March to convert to Typhoons. The squadron had been heavily engaged in January and February 1944 with RP equipped Hurricane IVs. Photo shows the armoured radiator and RP rails. Unfortunately 184 squadron records do not record any serials or aircraft codes. There is nothing in their records regarding non-standard markings - my only thought is that the squadron also flew channel stop ops at night - so possibly this aircraft had had some of the more visible elements of the markings, code letters tail band, roundels toned down. Given the Australian origin of the photo, I would suggest taken by a member of 453 Squadron that were based at Detling at this time

Harvard is FE600 of 42 Squadron. Delivered to the squadron on 2/3/45 - no mention of the unique colour scheme in the orb - suggests the diamonds added on squadron - possibly to tone down the bright yellow scheme - 30 Squadron painted their Harvard with a single dark colour over the upper surfaces. FE600 Remained with the squadron and damaged in storm at Chakulia on 23/5/45 when blown into scrub. Retained large underwing serials - colour scheme looks to be original yellow over painted with he diamonds that seem to be in dark earth/ dark green. (Similar tones to photos taken at some time of 615 Sqn Spitfires) the iWM photos probably taken on 20/4/45 - sadly no mention of Harvard being borrowed in the squadron orb.

For the overseas based Hurricanes the only met fitting seems to have been a strut psychrometer fitted to the starboard wing. The fitting seems to have designed for the Hurricane Iic such that late in 1945/ early 1946 one of the India based met flights (don’t have the exact one to hand) was issued with a Hurricane Iid and the orb highlights that the aircraft wa unsuitable as issued until it had the mainplanes replaced by those of another replaced aircraft to allow the psychrometer to be fitted. I assume this is also the case for the the Hurricane IV - at least one of which made it as far as Malaya and was briefly on the strength of 28 Squadron at Kuala Lumpar. Adding to the difficulties is that a few Hurricanes were also used for met duties in southern Rhodesia but in this case these were Hurricane I aircraft. sadly photos of these aircraft are difficult to find - particularly showing the fittings of the strut psychrometer- although the basic instruments were the same as fitted to Spitfire V aircraft modified for the same task. I’ve not seen the T-aerials fitted on any overseas aircraft.

N1951 was certainly with 803 Sqn by the middle of November 1940. Following the squadron’s embarkation on Formidable the squadron was only ashore for three periods prior to the convoy action where N1951 was involved in the attack on the Ju88. 1. three days on an airfield in South Africa where nine aircraft had compass swings and gun alignment carried out. 2. Roughly 10 days on the RAF airfield at port Sudan - it looks like the squadron flew most days on various exercises. 3. Having gone through Suez, another 10 days or so at Aboukir - again squadron flying exercises during this period. Although none of the above precludes N1951 being repainted, I would suggest that at the time of the action if would still be carrying the markings as applied in the UK - later replacement aircraft arriving in the various different markings seen in some of the available photos. Simon

In regards to 20 Squadron and the Hurricane IV, towards the end of 1945 the squadron was suffering from a shortage of rockets and so the decision was taken to take two of the B flight Hurricane IVs and fit them with spare 40mm guns to help A flights IId aircraft on flying offensive recce sorties. It looks like the two aircraft were LF502 and LF593 - identified in one pilots logbooks as IId at this time due to the gun fitting. Simon

For those of you interested in 6 Squadron and the Hawker Hurricane IV, I’ve just published a book on the squadron’s history with the Hurricane IV from 1943 to 1947. Rocket Fighter: 6 Squadron and the Hurricane IV 1943-47 by Simon Gifford. There are about 50 photos in the book, including some of the silver Hurricane IV and the last Hurricane issued for squadron service KZ610

Just to add that in the postwar period all Spitfire XIVs that were in service should have been fitted with the broad chord rudder - this includes the high back Spitfires. For example, 3 Repair and Servicing Unit at Moho in Japan started replacing rudders on the Spitfires of 11 and 17 Squadrons in July 1947. the first aircraft being a high back example RM991, which was an ex 132 Squadron aircraft shipped from Hong Hong as a spare aircraft and was one of a few that were issued back to a squadron. 2 Squadron in Germany used RM795 (high backed) along side the low back aircraft it usually was allocated in 1948. It remained in camouflage compared to the silver low crack aircraft and definitely had the broad rudder mod completed. I suspect that the high back XIVs used by the RAuxAF sans briefly will have been modified in this timescale. The other main user of high backed aircraft was the Central Fighter Establishment on the Day Fighter Leaders Squadron - they kept these into 1949. Regards, Simon

Ansons and Vickers Warwicks received silver type paint due to severe problems with their fabric coverings failing due to the conditions in India and the Middle East. Photos of both types suggest the transition began sometime in 1945 - probably coincident with aircraft such as the Mosquito also being accepted without camouflage. The Anson was effectively replaced in India by Beech C45 aircraft which were considered by aircrews as far superior. With end of lend lease Anson I aircraft were returned to use in various comms units in India as the C45s and Argus aircraft were returned to the Americans. 2 (Indian) Group Comms Flight had Anson Is into early 1947 although at least one was soc at the end of one flight due to its poor condition (noted in its wireless operator). A number of Later model Anson were despatched as replacements. Simon

Hi Troy, not sure about the back armour but the side panels on the front windscreen were specific to the Hurricane IV. The last few Hurricane IVs that were produced by 320 MU at Drigh Road in India in 1945 were held up due to a lack of the starboard front panels - eventually the remaining crated airframes were not assembled and just written off. Simon

In addition to what gingerbob has written 130 Squadron also deployed to Norway with 88 Group. There is a bit in the Camouflage and Markings RAF Fighters 1945-50 UK Bases book by Paul Lucas on the Spitfire squadrons deployed to Norway that might help. The photos of 165 Squadron I have are small original prints that I found years ago when researching for a possible book (on the back burner) and as you say I haven’t seen much else from this period. Simon

Hi, Spitfire MJ482 first listed in ORB on 8/6/45 flown by F/O Tynan on sortie lasting 25 mins under testing and checking. He flew from Duce to Sumburgh on 17th June and then to to Norway on the 20th. During the period in Norway the squadron primarily focused on formation flying although other sorties such as aerobatics, practice dogfighting etc are listed. Individual pilots did not get a huge amount of flying - F/Lt Rae recording 14 hrs in July and just over 8 in August. 165 Squadron flew back to Manston at the beginning of November and then flew to 3 Armament Practice School at Charter Hall in the first week of December. here the pilots flew air to air, air to ground and dive bombing sorties. At this time, the squadron received a new C/O , S/Ldr Dorian, a Blenheim pilot who had been shot down and taken Pow in 1940. Following his release he had been given command of 667 Sqn before taking over 165. It seems with little experience on fighters much of the flying was led by the flight commanders. MJ482 was flown for various sorties during the camp. At the end of the camp, the squadron moved to its new home at Duxford, bringing the Spitfire back to its first base. The ORB has little detail from this time on, in particular regarding individual aircraft. The main activity from April 1946 onwards were practice sorties for operation BIg Bull, the victory FlyPast over London in June 1946. F/Lt Rae flew T on April 30 for Big Bull no 5. I have a couple of photos of 165 Sqn aircraft at Duxford - still in their wartime markings and certainly not semi glossy. However at the end of June 1946, the squadron carried out a formation fly past for Denhem Film Studios. I would suggest that their aircraft may have been tarted up either for the victory FlyPast or for the film studio. Hope this helps, Simon

Hi Kari, I think you did pretty well - I have done a lot of research on 6 Squadron and their Hurricanes, the postwar stuff went into a book but have a lot on the wartime era as well. Had a quick scan of my notes and the Tito visit to the airfield was on September 2, 1944 so I would suggest that the August 31 sorties would be the most likely - I have a photo of the airfield that shows the proximity of the hills to the single runway. during this time 6 Squadron was still based in Italy with Vis as a detachment so the ORB only records operational details of what was happening there - so it is not surprising that the filming is not mentioned. Always happy to talk about the squadron and their Hurricanes, Simon

Hi, I think that the footage was taken at the airfield at Vis (the proximity of the hills in the background is clearly visible when the Hurricanes are taking off). Likely dates would be in August/September 1944 when LD233 ‘C’ and KZ224 ‘F’ we’re flown on a number of sorties from the island - including on 14 September when LD233 was shot down with the loss of the pilot. Sadly there is no reference to the filming in the squadron ORB. Hurricane LD233 ‘C’ was unusual in that it carried the aircraft letter under the front of the nose - see the photo in Troy’s original post. This photo is one of a sequence taken by an American photographer of aircraft at Vis during the visit of Tito to the Yugoslav Spitfire squadron based on the Island of Vis - it is not unreasonable that the RAF film crew were present at the same time. All of the squadron’s Hurricanes that were flown to Italy were repainted to day fighter colours before leaving Egypt but later aircraft were supplied from maintenance units in Italy and Egypt and show a degree of variation in markings - certainly a few made it into action in desert colours as shown from the sequence of photos taken by RAF photographers at Aragon’s airfield in October 1944. Simon

The radiator mesh guard is visible on a photo of Hurricane KZ320 taken from the front quarter I have. Unfortunately, in pretty much every other photo where it might be possible to see the guard the radiator is in shadow so no detail can be made out. Simon

All 6 Squadron Hurricanes retained the Merlin XX through to the types final withdrawal in Jan 1947. The use of the Merlin XX actually became problematic with the squadron struggling with serviceability. The ORB refers to the availability of 2 or 3 Merlin XX for the squadron’s use in Nov 46 by HQ RAF Middle East at Kolundia. Simon

N2265 was on strength of 771 Sqn in 1942/43 period and could well have been coded R5P which could explain some confusion regarding its use over the Orkney Isles,,particularly if the profile is taken from a typically poor wartime photo?

Hi Tony, I think the code B is for the comms unit - I have another photo with an Argus aircraft also wearing the B code. simon

Hi Troy, I’m beginning to think that you are going through my Hurricane photo folder - I bought this one as well. This was one of a number of photos of aircraft belonging to the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Forces Comm Flight at Bari in early 1944. Most of these units rarely mention serials in their records so a lot of comms aircraft are unknown hence not being listed in the Air Britain serials books. simon

Hi Troy, it is that photo which I bought - there were no other Hurricane photos unfortunately. I am very interested in the Hurricane IV but few photos ever come up - in particular shots of them in the UK seem particularly rare so I am on a constant look out. Simkb

Hi Steve, I bought the Hurricane photo from the vendor - as you say lots of unpublished shots - but a lot of interest. Still rare chance to get a photo of a Hurricane IV in the U.K. I think the captured Luftwaffe photos went for a significant amount. cheers, Simon

Hurricane is LD863 ‘S’ of 438 Sqn. Photo taken on December 30 or 31 while escorting a ME110 and Ju88 to various USAAF bomber airfields (there is a reference in the ORB). Aircraft was still on strength towards the end of March 1944 before being allocated away. hope this helps, Simon